GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1976
(text as ratified by Georgia voters on November 2, 1976)

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

SECTION I.

Paragraph I. Proposals to amend the Constitution; new Constitution; submission to people. A new Constitution or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention. The proposal by the General Assembly to provide for a new Constitution or to amend this Constitution shall originate as a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives and, if approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the General Assembly in a roll call vote, such proposal shall be entered on the Journals of each branch with the "Ayes" and "Nays" taken thereon. Any proposal to amend this Constitution or any proposal for a new Constitution may be amended or repealed by the same General Assembly which adopted such proposal by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the General Assembly in a roll call vote entered on their respective Journals, if such action is taken at least two months prior to the date of the election at which such proposal is to be submitted.

The Governor, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State shall meet and determine whether a proposed amendment is general, and if not general, shall determine what political subdivision or subdivisions are directly affected by such proposed amendment. If a proposed amendment is general, it shall be punished [sic], as provided by law in full, once each week for three consecutive weeks immediately preceding the date of the election at which such proposed amendment is to be submitted, in one newspaper of general circulation in each Congressional District of the State. If such proposed amendment is not general, it shall be published, as provided by law, in full, once each week for three consecutive weeks immediately preceding the date of the election at which such proposed amendment is to be submitted, in one newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the directly affected political subdivision or subdivisions are located. In the event no such newspaper is located in such county, a newspaper in an adjoining county shall be used. A proposal for a new Constitution shall be published in the same manner as proposed general amendments.

Any proposed amendment which is general or a proposal for a new Constitution shall be submitted to the people of the entire State at the next general election which is held in the even-numbered years, and if ratified by a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly voting thereon, such amendment shall become a part of this Constitution or shall become the new Constitution, as the case may be. A proposed amendment which is not general shall be submitted at the next general election which is held in the even-numbered years, but shall only be submitted to the people of the political subdivision or subdivisions directly affected. The votes of the electors in each political subdivision affected shall be counted separately in determining whether such proposed amendment is ratified, and it must be ratified by a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly voting thereon in each such political subdivision before it shall become a part of this Constitution. The General Assembly, in the resolution, shall state the language to be used in submitting the proposed amendment or proposal for a new Constitution. When more than one amendment is submitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote on each amendment separately. A proposal for one or more changes within a single Article may be submitted as a single amendment. A proposal for one or more changes within a single Article and a related change or related changes in one or more other Articles may be submitted as a single amendment. A proposal for a new Article may be submitted as a single amendment. A proposal for a new Article and a related change or related changes m one or more other Articles may be submitted as a single amendment.

Paragraph II. Convention. How Called. No convention of the people shall be called by the General Assembly to revise, amend or change this Constitution, unless by the concurrence of two-thirds of all members of each house of the General Assembly. The representation in said convention shall be based on population as near as practicable. This Constitution shall not be revised, amended, or changed by the Convention until the proposed revision, amendment, or change has been submitted and ratified by the people in the manner provided for submission and ratification of amendments proposed by the General Assembly.

Paragraph III. Veto Not Permitted. The Governor shall not have the right to veto any proposal by the General Assembly to provide a new Constitution or to amend this Constitution.

Paragraph IV. Effective date of amendments. Unless the amendment itself shall provide otherwise, an amendment to this Constitution shall become effective on the first day of January following its ratification.

Return to top of Article XII page

Go to Article XIII

Return to Georgia Constitution of 1976 table of contents

Return to Georgia Constitution Web Page