State constitution
Constitution of Georgia
Data from Georgia Secretary of State
The 1983 Georgia Constitution has 11 articles and a three-tier structure (Article -> Section -> Paragraph). Article I (Bill of Rights) is captured at the paragraph level (num shown as section.paragraph); Articles II-XI are captured at the Section level with each section's paragraphs condensed into its summary. Read the verbatim text, including every paragraph, at the source link.
Article I Bill of Rights
§ 1.1 Sec. I, Par. I — Life, liberty, and property
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property except by due process of law.
§ 1.2 Sec. I, Par. II — Protection to person and property; equal protection
Protection to person and property is the paramount duty of government and shall be impartial and complete, and no person shall be denied equal protection of the laws.
§ 1.3 Sec. I, Par. III — Freedom of conscience
Each person has the natural and inalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.
§ 1.4 Sec. I, Par. IV — Religious opinions; freedom of religion
No inhabitant shall be molested for religious opinions or compelled to support any ministry against their consent.
§ 1.5 Sec. I, Par. V — Freedom of speech and of the press guaranteed
No law shall abridge freedom of speech or of the press, and each person may speak and publish freely, being responsible for abuse of that liberty.
§ 1.6 Sec. I, Par. VI — Libel
In libel cases the truth may be given in evidence, and the jury judges the law and the facts.
§ 1.7 Sec. I, Par. VII — Citizens, protection of
All citizens are entitled to the same protection and the same rights.
§ 1.8 Sec. I, Par. VIII — Arms, right to keep and bear
The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, though the legislature may regulate the manner of bearing arms.
§ 1.9 Sec. I, Par. IX — Right to assemble and petition
The people may peaceably assemble and petition for redress of grievances.
§ 1.10 Sec. I, Par. X — Bill of attainder; ex post facto laws; retroactive laws
No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or retroactive law impairing vested rights shall be passed.
§ 1.11 Sec. I, Par. XI — Right to trial by jury; number of jurors; selection and compensation of jurors
The right to trial by jury shall remain inviolate.
§ 1.12 Sec. I, Par. XII — Right to the courts
No person shall be deprived of the right to prosecute or defend their own cause in the courts.
§ 1.13 Sec. I, Par. XIII — Searches, seizures, and warrants
The people are secure against unreasonable searches and seizures, and warrants require probable cause and particularity.
§ 1.14 Sec. I, Par. XIV — Benefit of counsel; accusation; list of witnesses; compulsory process; trial
Every accused person has the right to counsel, to be informed of the charges, to confront witnesses, to compulsory process, and to a trial.
§ 1.15 Sec. I, Par. XV — Habeas corpus
The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of rebellion or invasion.
§ 1.16 Sec. I, Par. XVI — Self-incrimination
No person shall be compelled to give testimony tending in any manner to be self-incriminating.
§ 1.17 Sec. I, Par. XVII — Bail; fines; punishment; arrest, abuse of prisoners
Excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment are prohibited, and prisoners shall not be abused.
§ 1.18 Sec. I, Par. XVIII — Jeopardy of life or liberty more than once forbidden
No person shall be put in jeopardy of life or liberty more than once for the same offense.
§ 1.19 Sec. I, Par. XIX — Treason
Treason against the state consists only in levying war against it or adhering to its enemies.
§ 1.20 Sec. I, Par. XX — Conviction, effect of
Conviction of a crime shall not work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.
§ 1.21 Sec. I, Par. XXI — Banishment and whipping as punishment for crime
Neither banishment beyond the state nor whipping shall be imposed as a punishment for crime.
§ 1.22 Sec. I, Par. XXII — Involuntary servitude
Involuntary servitude is prohibited except as punishment for a crime after conviction.
§ 1.23 Sec. I, Par. XXIII — Imprisonment for debt
There shall be no imprisonment for debt.
§ 1.24 Sec. I, Par. XXIV — Costs
No person shall be compelled to pay costs in a criminal case except after conviction.
§ 1.25 Sec. I, Par. XXV — Status of the citizen
The social status of a citizen shall never be the subject of legislation.
§ 1.26 Sec. I, Par. XXVI — Exemptions from levy and sale
Provides a homestead and personal-property exemption from levy and sale.
§ 1.27 Sec. I, Par. XXVII — Spouse's separate property
The separate property of each spouse remains theirs and is not liable for the debts of the other.
§ 1.28 Sec. I, Par. XXVIII — Enumeration of rights not denial of others
The enumeration of rights in this constitution shall not deny others retained by the people.
§ 2.1 Sec. II, Par. I — Origin and foundation of government
All government originates with the people, is founded upon their will, and is instituted for their benefit.
§ 2.2 Sec. II, Par. II — Object of government
The people have the right to alter or reform their government whenever the public good may require it.
§ 2.3 Sec. II, Par. III — Separation of legislative, judicial, and executive powers
The legislative, judicial, and executive powers shall remain forever separate and distinct.
§ 2.4 Sec. II, Par. IV — Contempts
The power of the courts to punish for contempt shall be limited by legislative acts.
§ 2.5 Sec. II, Par. V — What acts void
Legislative acts contrary to this constitution are void, and the judiciary shall so declare them.
§ 2.6 Sec. II, Par. VI — Superiority of civil authority
The civil authority shall be superior to the military.
§ 2.7 Sec. II, Par. VII — Separation of church and state
No money shall be taken from the public treasury to aid any church or sectarian institution.
§ 2.8 Sec. II, Par. VIII — Lotteries; nonprofit; bingo; raffles
Prohibits lotteries except a state-operated lottery and specified nonprofit and charitable gaming.
§ 2.9 Sec. II, Par. IX — Sovereign immunity; waiver
Preserves the state's sovereign immunity except as waived and provides for a state tort claims fund.
§ 3.1 Sec. III, Par. I — Eminent domain
Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public purposes without just and adequate compensation.
§ 3.2 Sec. III, Par. II — Private ways
Provides for private ways of necessity across another's land upon payment of compensation.
§ 3.3 Sec. III, Par. III — Tidewater titles confirmed
Confirms the state's title to the beds of tidewaters, subject to public rights.
§ 4.1 Sec. IV, Par. I — Recognition of marriage
(Recognized only the union of man and woman as marriage — now unenforceable under Obergefell v. Hodges.)
Article II Voting and Elections
§ I Method of Voting; Right to Register and Vote
Guarantees the secret ballot and sets the age, residency, and registration qualifications to vote, with disqualification for felony conviction or mental incompetency.
§ II General Provisions
Provides for run-off elections, persons ineligible to hold office, resign-to-run rules, and the recall of elected officials.
§ III Suspension and Removal of Public Officials
Provides for suspending and removing public officials indicted or convicted of a felony.
Article III Legislative Branch
§ I Legislative Power
Vests the legislative power of the state in a General Assembly consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
§ II Composition of General Assembly
Sets the composition, districts, terms, and qualifications of the two houses of the General Assembly.
§ III Officers of the General Assembly
Provides for the presiding officers and other officers of each house.
§ IV Organization and Procedure of the General Assembly
Governs sessions, quorum, rules, journals, and the legislative immunity of members.
§ V Enactment of Laws
Governs how bills become law, including single-subject, three-readings, recorded votes, and the governor's veto.
§ VI Exercise of Powers
Enumerates the General Assembly's powers and prohibited actions, including limits on gratuities and special legislation.
§ VII Impeachments
The House of Representatives impeaches and the Senate tries impeachments of state officials.
§ VIII Insurance Regulation
Provides for the regulation of insurance.
§ IX Appropriations
Governs the state budget and appropriations process and requires a balanced budget.
§ X Retirement Systems
Governs public retirement systems and their funding.
Article IV Constitutional Boards and Commissions
§ I Public Service Commission
Establishes the elected five-member Public Service Commission to regulate utilities.
§ II State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Establishes the board with power to grant pardons, paroles, and other clemency.
§ III State Personnel Board
Establishes the board overseeing the state merit system.
§ IV State Transportation Board
Establishes the board governing the Department of Transportation.
§ V Veterans Service Board
Establishes the board overseeing veterans' services.
§ VI Board of Natural Resources
Establishes the board governing the state's natural resources.
§ VII Qualifications, Compensation, and Removal from Office
Sets common provisions on the qualifications, compensation, and removal of members of the constitutional boards and commissions.
Article V Executive Branch
§ I Election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Provides for the election, four-year terms, and qualifications of the governor and lieutenant governor.
§ II Duties and Powers of Governor
Vests executive power in the governor and enumerates the governor's duties and powers, including the veto.
§ III Other Elected Executive Officers
Provides for the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and other statewide elected executive officers.
§ IV Disability of Executive Officers
Provides procedures for determining the disability of executive officers.
Article VI Judicial Branch
§ I Judicial Power
Vests the judicial power of the state in the courts and lists the classes of courts.
§ II Venue
Fixes the venue for civil and criminal cases.
§ III Classes of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction
Governs the magistrate, probate, juvenile, and other courts of limited jurisdiction.
§ IV Superior Courts
Establishes the superior courts as the general trial courts of the state.
§ V Court of Appeals
Establishes the Court of Appeals as an intermediate appellate court.
§ VI Supreme Court
Establishes the Supreme Court as the highest court of the state.
§ VII Selection, Term, Compensation, and Discipline of Judges
Provides for the election, terms, and discipline of judges through the Judicial Qualifications Commission.
§ VIII District Attorneys
Provides for elected district attorneys.
§ IX General Provisions
Contains general provisions governing court administration and rules of court.
Article VII Taxation and Finance
§ I Power of Taxation
Governs the state's power to tax, requiring uniformity and enumerating permissible purposes.
§ II Exemptions from Ad Valorem Taxation
Enumerates the property exempt from ad valorem taxation.
§ III Purposes and Method of State Taxation
Limits the purposes for which the state may levy taxes and how the revenue is used.
§ IV State Debt
Governs the incurring of, and limits on, state public debt.
Article VIII Education
§ I Public Education
Declares the provision of an adequate public education a primary obligation of the State of Georgia.
§ II State Board of Education
Establishes the State Board of Education.
§ III State School Superintendent
Provides for the elected State School Superintendent.
§ IV Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
Establishes the Board of Regents governing the university system.
§ V Local School Systems
Provides for local school systems and elected boards of education.
§ VI Local Taxation for Education
Authorizes local taxation to support public education.
§ VII Educational Assistance
Authorizes scholarship, grant, and other educational-assistance programs.
Article IX Counties and Municipal Corporations
§ I Counties
Provides for counties, their governing authorities, and their consolidation.
§ II Home Rule for Counties and Municipalities
Grants counties and municipalities home-rule powers.
§ III Intergovernmental Relations
Authorizes intergovernmental contracts and cooperation among governments.
§ IV Taxation Power of Counties and Municipalities
Governs the taxing power of local governments.
§ V Limitations on Local Debt
Limits the debt local governments may incur without voter approval.
§ VI Revenue Bonds
Authorizes local governments to issue revenue bonds.
§ VII Community Redevelopment and Housing
Authorizes community redevelopment and housing programs.
Article X Amendments to the Constitution
§ I Constitution, How Amended
The constitution is amended by a two-thirds legislative proposal and ratification by the voters, or revised by a constitutional convention.
Article XI Miscellaneous Provisions
§ I Miscellaneous Provisions
Contains transitional and miscellaneous provisions continuing existing laws, offices, rights, and obligations under the 1983 constitution.
Full, verbatim text at Georgia Secretary of State