Georgia Constitution of 1877

(as ratified by Georgia voters in December 1877)

ARTICLE XII.

THE LAWS OF GENERAL OPERATION IN FORCE IN THIS STATE.

Paragraph I. The laws of general operation in this State are, first, as the supreme law: The Constitution of the United States, the laws of the United States in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made under the authority of the United States;

Par. II. Second. As next in authority thereto: This Constitution;

Par. III. Third. In subordination to the foregoing: All laws now in force in the State, not inconsistent with this Constitution, and the ordinances of this Convention, shall remain in force until the same are modified or repealed by the General Assembly. The tax acts and appropriation acts passed by the General Assembly of 1877, and approved by the Governor of the State, and not inconsistent with the Constitution, are hereby continued in force until altered by law.

Par. IV. Local and private acts passed for the benefit of counties, cities, towns, corporations, and private persons not inconsistent with the supreme law, nor with this Constitution, and which have not expired nor been repealed, shall have the force of statute law, subject to judicial decision as to their validity when passed and to any limitations imposed by their own terms.

Par V. All rights, privileges and immunities which may have vested in, or accrued to, any person or persons, or corporation, in his, her, or their own right, or in any fiduciary capacity, under, and in virtue of, any act of the General Assembly, or any judgment, decree, or order, or other proceeding of court of competent jurisdiction, in this State, heretofore rendered, shall be held inviolate by all courts before which they may be brought in question, unless attacked for fraud.

Par. VI. All judgments, decrees, orders, and other proceedings, of the several courts of this State, heretofore made, within the limits of their several jurisdictions, are hereby ratified and affirmed, subject only to reversal by motion for a new trial, appeal, bill of review, or other proceeding, in conformity with the law of force when they were made.

Par. VII. The officers of the government now existing shall continue in the exercise of their several functions until their successors are duly elected, or appointed and qualified; but nothing herein is to apply to any officer, whose office may be abolished by this Constitution.

Par. VIII. The ordinances of this convention shall have the force of laws until otherwise provided by the General Assembly, except the ordinances in reference to submitting the homestead and capital question to a vote of the people, which ordinances, after being voted on, shall have the effect of Constitutional provisions.

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