Introduction
Historically, every country has had to develop its governance framework. A constitution is a legal document specifying how a country should be governed by specifying every citizen’s rights, regulations, and requirements. The U.S. and the State of Georgia have constitutions written in different historical times and contain several similarities and differences. Evaluating the common points, disparities, and amendment processes reveals the merits and demerits of citizen involvement in the constitutional amendment process.
Similarities and Differences
There are several similarities between the U.S. and the State of Georgia constitutions. Firstly, both have a Bill of Rights, which is among the key elements in the Constitution. It covers citizens’ protections and fundamental rights afforded by the government. Some of the rights described herein include freedom of religion, speech, and association.
Secondly, the separation of powers is a common theme in both constitutions, where the government is divided into the executive, judiciary, and legislative branches (Vile, 2021). Thirdly, individual sovereignty is affirmed in both constitutions, where all political power is said to belong to the people. Despite having these common points, the U.S. and the State of Georgia constitutions differ in various ways, as described below.
One of the main differences between the U.S. Constitution and the State of Georgia is the length of the two documents. While the former has seven articles, the latter is more detailed with a preamble and eleven articles (Hill et al., 2018). Regarding the scope of authority, the Constitution of the State of Georgia covers the issues relevant to the state and the provisions of its government, while the U.S. Constitution is all about federal jurisdiction as it describes the structure, powers, and rules governing the federal government. Lastly, the two constitutions’ amendment processes differ significantly. The U.S. constitutional amendment process is complex and lengthy, while the State of Georgia’s approach is rather straightforward.
The Amendment Process, Ease, and Citizen Involvement
Changing any part of the Constitution necessitates an amendment process. Article V of the U.S. Constitution states that the Constitution is amended by a congressional or constitutional proposal, which is ratified by at least three-quarters of the members (Vile, 2021). The State of Georgia follows a simpler process whereby the state legislature makes a proposal that requires the approval of two-thirds of the members in the Senate and House of Representatives (Hill et al., 2018). Later, this is subjected to a popular vote determining whether it passes as part of the Constitution.
The State of Georgia requires that the public vote for every proposed amendment, allowing for more citizen participation. It is also easier to navigate because it only requires approval by two-thirds of the legislature, followed by the popular vote (Hill et al., 2018). In contrast, the U.S. Constitution is more complex because three-quarters of the states must ratify every amendment before it becomes law, and it does not allow citizen participation (Vile, 2021).
Some benefits of citizen participation include democratic legitimacy and the ability to effectively address local issues. However, relying on the popular vote may be disadvantageous in undermining the voice of minorities. It may be polarized due to media influence and campaigns.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the U.S. and the State of Georgia have constitutions that serve as legal documents describing how the governments ought to govern the people. These documents are similar regarding fundamental citizen rights, powers, and sovereignty. However, they differ in scope of authority, amendment process, and length. Allowing citizen involvement enforces democratic legitimacy but may be disadvantageous in overlooking the needs of minorities.
References
Hill, Melvin B., Hill G. LaVerne Williamson, and Roy E. Barnes. 2018. The Georgia State Constitution. Oxford University Press.
Vile, John R. 2021. A companion to the United States Constitution and its amendments. ABC-CLIO.