This document provides an overview of government in the United States from the federal level down to local levels. It outlines the branches and responsibilities of the federal government as established in the Constitution. It also summarizes the Bill of Rights and process for amending the Constitution. Additionally, it discusses state and local governments and how citizens can get involved in the political process through activities like voting, learning about elected officials, and civic participation.

1. OUR GOVERNMENT
And what you can do about it

2. •Outline of Government – Federal, State, Local
•Overview of Constitution and Bill of Rights
•Political Parties
•Running for Office
•How to find out about your elected officials
•What money does in political campaigns
•What your elected officials know about you
•Where you can get involved
What this will cover

3. From the least important to the most important
(theoretically)
Government High Level Overview

4. Federal Government
This is where your
members of Congress and
US Senate ‘work’
President - Every 4 years
Congress – Every 2 years
(People’s House)
Senate - Every 6 years
(after 17 amendment)
Responsibilities specified in
US Constitution

5. Federal Government
 From the US Constitution
 Legislative - Makes the law (Article I)
 Executive - Executes the law (Article II)
 Judicial - Interprets the law (Article III)
 NO branch is supposed to take on the role of the
other!

6. Overview of Constitution
 Article:
1. Establishes and defines the powers of Congress.
2. Establishes the presidency.
3. Establishes the court system.
4. Says that each state must give "full faith and
credit" to the laws of other states.
5. Explains how to amend the Constitution.
6. Establishes the Constitution as the "supreme
law of the land.“
7. Says that if nine of the 13 states ratifies the
Constitution, it will take effect.

7. Most good quotes are from the Declaration
 “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
 “When in theCourse of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to
assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which
the Laws of Nature and of Nature'sGod entitle them, a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel
them to the separation.”
 "...with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
 "But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same
object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their
right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards
for their future security."

8. Congress follows the Constitution
(pause for laughter)
 Constitution can’t be changed, but it can be
Amended (ArticleV)
 Representative James Madison introduced 20
Amendments in first Congress to further
define power split between govt. and people
 Congress consolidated it to 12
 States ratified 10 (numbers 3 – 12) as Bill of
Rights
 Ratified number 2 in 1992 as the 27th
Amendment

9. Among Madison’s Proposals...
 Article the First – Apportionment (still pending)
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the
Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty
thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after
which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there
shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than
one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the
number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after
which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there
shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than
one Representative for every fifty thousand persons
Is now about one Representative for every 700,000

10. Didn’t make the cut, unfortunately
Madison wanted to go back and ‘tweak’ the Constitution, but Congress
was worried about the impression. He wanted a Pre-Preamble:
“First.That there be prefixed to the Constitution a declaration, that all
power is originally vested in, and consequently derived from, the
people.
That Government is instituted and ought to be exercised for the benefit
of the people; which consists in the enjoyment of life and liberty,
with the right of acquiring and using property, and generally of
pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
That the people have an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right
to reform or change their Government, whenever it be found
adverse or inadequate to the purposes of its institution.”

11. How to remember the Bill of Rights
1 - Freedom of religion, speech, and the press.
2 - Keep and bear arms.
3 - Forced quartering of troops.
4 - Unreasonable searches and seizures.
5 -Trial by jury, due process, double jeopardy self-incrimination.
6 - Rights of the accused, speedy public trial, have an attorney.
7 -Trial by Jury
8 - Cruel and unusual punishments, Excessive bail.
9 - Rights that are not enumerated in the Constitution are retained
by the people (Constitution doesn’t list all rights).
10 - Reserves for the states (or people) all powers that are not
explicitly granted to the federal government

12. Notes on Bill of Rights
 Citizen cannot violate another citizen’s rights
 Jason Carter – Government “doles out” our
rights?
 Power comes from the people and is only on
loan to the government
 Consequently government cannot do
anything you can’t do yourself

13. Citizens have the power!

14. Amending the Constitution
 Two ways amendments are proposed:
 Congress proposes
 States propose (Convention of States or ArticleV
Convention)
 Proposed amendments sent to states,Three
Fourths (38) must ratify

15. State Government
Georgia General Assembly
(House and Senate)
All members elected every
2 years
Governor – Every 4 years
Responsibilities specified in
Georgia State Constitution
Has its own police force

16. County Government
Run by County
Commissioners
Chairman + 1
Commissioner for each of 4
districts
Primarily Land Use
Decisions (zonings, roads,
parks, etc.)
Elected every 4 years
Has its own police force

17. Local Government (sometimes)
Run by City Council
Mayor plus Councilmen
Primarily Land Use
Decisions (zonings, roads,
parks, etc.) within City
boundaries
Frequently has its own
police force
NOTE – At every level, only
elected officials can make
law, raise taxes, condemn
property

18. Planning and Zoning
County and City
Planning and Zoning
Commissioners
(appointed)
Can not approve or deny –
make recommendations to
elected officials
Combined with City
Council or County
Commission have great
control over what you can
do with your ‘private’
property

19. Planning and Zoning
 You purchased a home in an area with certain characteristics
 Because you live there, you are vitally interested in your
quality of life and development effect on your property value
 While any development near you may affect either of these, a
change in zoning can have a major (negative) impact!
(NIMBY)
 Double Edged Sword
 Rights of the neighborhood override rights of the individual property owner
 Individual property owner value protected through stability of values
 Only acts on changes in zoning
 Every applicant says property not best use

20. Property also controlled
through permitting
 City/County can rarely force new zoning laws on you
 New regulations are enforced through permitting
process and things like C/O
 Conditions also imposed on new construction (sidewalks)
 Eminent Domain:
 Takings for public good
 Kelo v. City of New London – 2005

21. Political Parties
 Not related to government at all – more like a
club
 Make their own rules (subject to laws)
 Have ballot access (no petitions necessary)
 Run their own elections or nominations
 Present a single candidate for the ‘official’
election in the Fall

22. Republican Party (GOP) in GA
 National Party
 State Party
 Congressional District Party
 County Party
 Each party is independent, has its own
officers, runs its own elections
 How you join, what could be done...

23. What is the Tea Party?
 Not an official Political Party
 Not organized nationally
 EachTea Party makes its own rules
 Truly ground up
 Anyone can start aTea Party
 Most are tax exempt for donations

24. Running for Office
 3 main ways to get on the ballot (Ballot Access)
 Through a Party (and therefore a primary election or nomination)
 Run as an independent
 Run as a write-in (similar to independent but can qualify later)
 Independent or write-in needs a petition with 5% of registered
voters in your district. *
 Cost (all candidates must pay)
 US House/Senate - $5,220
 State House/Senate - $400 (other offices are in between)
* 2014 GA SOS recommended changes, including making that 5% of likely voters, but
General Assembly rejected that idea.

25. Who can carry a gun – and where
 Georgia does not require any license to buy or own a
firearm.
 No permit required to carry a long gun openly
 No permit required to carry a handgun in your car, home or
personal business
 Permit required for open carry
 Even with permit, can't carry:
 at a state mental institution
 in a courthouse, jail or prison
 in a secure government building
 at a nuclear power plant
 at a park operated by US corps of engineers
 within 150 ft of polling place
 in a public school (?)
 It is not illegal to carry in business that doesn't allow
weapons.

26. Why can’t churches preach politics?
 Johnson Amendment (1954)
 Tax code change: Organizations recognized
under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code
are subject to limits or absolute prohibitions
on engaging in political activities and risk loss
of status as tax exempt status if violated.
 If you take money from someone, you owe
them
 Pulpit Freedom Initiative

27. What can you find out about them?
•Voting history and record
•Ratings by well known groups
•Who they get money from
•Who they give money to
•Their contact information (address, phone, email)
Elected Officials

28. About your Representatives

29. Voting History (VoteSmart.org)

30. Ratings (VoteSmart.org)

31. Ratings (GovTrack.us)

32. Ratings (AFPScorecard.org)

33. Ratings (heritageactionscorecard.com)
Notice the fairly typical
ratings drop over time:
2011 – 87%
2012 – 85%
2013 – 68%
2014 – 69%

34. Ratings (FreedomWorks.org)

35. Who they get money from
Each candidate is required
to fill out Campaign
Disclosure Reports.
Here is one forWoodall
for 7/1/14 through 9/30/14
(3 months) (fec.gov)
State Candidates file
with Georgia SOS

36. Who they get money from

37. Who they get money from (fec.gov)

38. Who they get money from (fec.gov)

39. Who they give money to (fec.gov)
Heritage Ratings:
Buerkle – 63%
Canseco – 68%
Gibson – 27%
Gosar – 90%
Landry – 74%
Long – 65%
Lungren – 25%
Others he gave to:
Webster – 35%
Runyan – 32%
Ribble – 65%
Benishek – 55%

40. What can they find out about you?
•Your voting history and record
•Who you give money to
•Your interests
•Your contact information (address, phone, email)
Voters

41. Unusual because
everyone is a
registered voter
1 – Mark Hard and
Soft Republicans
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
2 – Mark Hard and
Soft Democrats
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
3 – Identify
Unknown
?

42. Decide how to
proceed based on
additional info:
SHERIDAN & SHERRYL BAILEY
W-White / Caucasian
Over 70
B-Day - 10/1/1942, 9/25/1947
English/Welsh decent
Not Likely to have a child
Income - $75000-99999
Bach Degree Likely
Professional/Technical
Upper Management/Executive
Family Magazine
DIY Magazine
Health/Fitness Magazine
Donate to Charity
Don’t give to politicians
Bought home 2008 for $276k
Vote in Primaries and Runoff
SCBAILEY@COMCAST.NET
770-614-1535
34.079993, -83.945846

43. Typical Canvassing App

44. Now you know. What will you do?
 Vote (but research first!)
 Learn the names of all your representatives and
get to know them
 Think of issues you care about, ask your reps
 Stay involved:
 Join local GOP and attend monthly breakfast
 Continue to attendTea Party meetings
 Attend government meetings
 Write letters to the editor, post on websites
 It is not hard – it just takes time. But there are
not many things that are more important!