Georgia was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and ratified the Constitution of the United States on January 2, 1788.

[6] Following the end of the American Civil War, Georgia during Reconstruction was part of the Third Military District, which exerted control over governor appointments and elections.

The longest-serving governors are George Busbee, Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller, Sonny Perdue, and Nathan Deal, each of whom served two full four-year terms; Joseph E. Brown, governor during the Civil War, was elected four times, serving seven and a half years.

The shortest term of the post-revolutionary period is that of Matthew Talbot, who served 13 days after succeeding his predecessor who died in office.

This was challenged by the Lieutenant Governor-elect Melvin Thompson, who maintained that the state constitution authorized him to assume the office upon the death of the governor.

[12] This prevented any of the claimants to the governorship from executing any business until the Supreme Court of Georgia could make a ruling on the rightful winner.

Thompson was eventually declared "acting governor" until a special election could be held to fill the remainder of the original term.

[13] Herman Talmadge won the special election and served out the remaining portion of his father's term.

According to Article V, Section I, Paragraph IV of the Georgia Constitution, to be eligible for the office of governor one needs to meet the following qualifications:[14] Under Georgia's Rules and Regulations of 1776, considered by some to be the first constitution, the chief executive was a president chosen by the legislature every six months.

The Constitution provides as follows:"There shall be a Governor who shall hold office for a term of four years and until a successor shall be chosen and qualified.

"An election for Governor shall be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November of 1986, and the Governor-elect shall be installed in office at the next session of the General Assembly.