Each of the General Assembly's 236 members serve two-year terms and are directly elected by constituents of their district.

[1] For example, the origination of appropriations bills only occurs in the House, while the Senate is tasked with confirmation of the governor's appointments.

The first location of the Assembly was Savannah, then Augusta and Louisville, moving from there to Milledgeville, and finally to Atlanta in 1868.

Augusta changed hands three times during the war, finally returning to American possession in July 1781.

[3] Between 1783 and 1785, the Georgia General Assembly met in both Savannah and Augusta—moving from there when tensions arose between the two cities, causing then Governor Lyman Hall to officially reside in both places.

The commission recommended Louisville, which would become Georgia's first planned capital and would hold her first capitol building.

Due to the fact that the capital would have to be built from the ground up, and because of numerous construction delays, it took a decade to build the city.

The new state house, a two-story 18th century Gregorian building of red brick, was completed in 1796.

Subsequently, an act was passed authorizing construction of a new capital city on 3,240 acres (13 km2) in the area currently known as Baldwin County.

On January 19, delegates voted for Georgia to secede from the Union—208 in favor with 89 against—drafting a new constitution, and declaring the state an independent Republic.

Later that year, the legislature also voted to send $100,000 to South Carolina for "the relief of Charlestonians" who suffered a disastrous fire in December 1861.

As the American Civil War came to a close with the federal government in military control of Georgia, the legislature reconvened at the Capitol in Milledgeville.

[3] In 1867, Major General John Pope, military governor of Georgia, called for an assembly in Atlanta to hold a constitutional convention.

Construction began October 26, 1884, and the building was completed (slightly under budget) and occupied on June 15, 1889.

[3] Notably, the dome atop the capitol building is plated with real gold, most of which came from the Dahlonega, Georgia area.

[5] The roofing gives rise to local colloquialisms—for instance, if one knowledgeable Georgian wanted to ask another what the General Assembly was doing, he might ask what was happening "under the gold dome.

"[6] The General Assembly meets in regular session on the second Monday in January for no longer than 40 legislative (rather than calendar) days each year.

When the General Assembly is not sitting, legislative committees may still meet to discuss specific issues.

In order for a bill to become law, it must be passed by both chambers of the General Assembly, and receive the governor's signature.

Committees will hear testimony from a bill's sponsor, as well as experts in the public and private sectors and concerned citizens.

Power in House Rules is highly centralized, and the committee usually acts as a rubber stamp for decisions already made by the chairperson, the speaker, and even the governor.

[7] If the vacancy occurs anytime prior to the end of the legislative session in the second year of a term, the governor must issue a writ of special election within ten days of the vacancy occurring, and, if the vacancy occurs after the end of the legislative session in the second year of a term, then the governor may choose to issue a writ of special election.

But, if the vacancy exists at the time that an extraordinary session is called, then the governor must issue a writ of special election within 2 days after the call for the extraordinary session, and, if the vacancy occurs after the call but before the special session has concluded, then the governor must issue a writ of special election within 5 days of the occurrence.

Punishments for such conduct include: However, no member may be expelled except upon a two-thirds vote of the house in which he or she sits.

Otherwise, Peach Sheets articles should be included in the Georgia State Law Review databases on Lexis, Westlaw and HeinOnline.

After the enactment of the Georgia Constitution of 1789, the body was changed to a bicameral legislature of a Senate and House of Representatives, both to be directly elected.

Moreover, the powers the Constitution gives the Assembly include land use restrictions to protect and preserve the environment and natural resources; the creation, use and disciplining through court martial of a state militia which would be under the command of the Governor of Georgia acting as commander-in-chief (excepting times when the militia is under Federal command); The power to expend public money, to condemn property, and to zone property; The continuity of state and local governments during times of emergency; state participation in tourism.

Paragraph V of Article III Section VI states that: Members of the Georgia General Assembly maintain two important privileges during their time in office.