State and Local Government

General Assembly

Georgia's legislative branch of government

Municipality

a city, town, or other district possessing corporate existence and usually its own local government

Initiative

a procedure by which a specified number of voters may propose a statute, constitutional amendment, or ordinance, and compel a popular vote on its adoption

Town

a thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government

City

an incorporated municipality, usually governed by a mayor and a board of aldermen or councilmen

Zoning

any continuous tract or area that differs in some respect, or is distinguished for some purpose, from adjoining tracts or areas, or within which certain distinctive circumstances exist or are established

New Federalism

is a political philosophy of devolution, or the transfer of certain powers from the United States federal government to the states

Statutory Laws

laws that are written down by the legislature; subordinate to higher constitutional laws

Concurrent Powers

powers shared by the federal and state governments

Special Districts

set-up by a county or city; government carries out a particular function

County

the largest administrative division of a U.S. state

Referendum

the principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative body to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection

Recall

the removal or the right of removal of a public official from office by a vote of the people taken upon petition of a specified number of the qualified

Extradition

the surrender of an alleged fugitive from justice or criminal by one state, nation, or authority to another

Direct Democracy

usually refers to citizens making policy and law decisions in person, without going through representatives and legislatures