CONSTITUTION OF THE (Revised January 1991) Designated as The Constitution of the State of Georgia Copies may be obtained from Max Cleland Secretary of State State Capitol Atlanta, Georgia 30334-1505 Designated as The Constitution of the State of Georgia CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I. ARTICLE II. ARTICLE Ill. ARTICLE IV. ARTICLE V. ARTICLE VI . ARTICLE VII. ARTICLE VIII. ARTICLE IX. ARTICLE X. ARTICLE XI. Page Bill of Rights ..................................................I Voting and Elections ....................................6. Legislative Branch .........................................9 Constitutional Boards and Commissions ....21 Executive Branch ........................................24 Judicial Branch ...........................................2. 8 Taxation and Finance..................................36 Education .................................................... 45 Counties and Municipal Corporations .........50 Amendments to the Constitution .................61 Miscellaneous Provisions............................63 CERTIFICATE GEORGIA, N L T O N COUNTY This is to certify that, pursuant to the provisions of Article XI, Section I, Paragraph V of the proposed new Constitution of the State of Georgia, the undersigned,who constitutethe entire membership of the Commission created by said Paragraph, have performed the duties prescribed in said Paragraph and have incorporated the separate amendment referred to in said Paragraph into the Constitution which is attached. The undersigned further certify that the attached document is being delivered to the Secretary of State and, as provided in said Paragraph, such document, on July 1, 1983, shall be the Constitution of the State of Georgia. This 1st day of March, 1983. Joe ~ r a n k ~ ~ a rGr iosv,ernor dx- Zell iller, LieutenantGovernor Thomas B. Murphy, Speaker House of Representatives 7 5 ' 7 4 9 L Michael J. Bowers, At mey General Frank H. Edwards, Legislative Counsel CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA PREAMBLE To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity [heenjoymcn~of liberty. we the people ot'(;eorg~a, relyillg upon the protection and guidan;: of Alln~ghtyGod. do ordam and e\rahlrsh this Conrtitution. ARTICLE I. BILL OF RIGHTS SECTION I. RIGHTS OF PERSONS Paragraph I. Life, liberty, and property. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property except by due process of law. Paragraph 11. Protec,tion to person and property; equal protection. Protection to person and property is the paramount duty of government and shall be impartial and complete. No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws. Paragraph 111. Freedom of conscience. Each person has the natural and inalienable right to worship God, each according to the dictatesof that person's ownconscience, and no human authority should, in any case, control or interfere with such right of conscience. Paragraph IV. Religious opinions;freedom of religion. No inhabitant of this state shall be molested in person or property or be prohibited from holding any public office or trust on account of religious opinions; but the right of freedom of religion shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state. Paragraph V. Freedom of speech and of the press guaranteed. No law shall be passed to curtail or restrain the freedom of speech or of the press. Every person may speak, write, and publish sentiments on all subjects but shall be responsible for the abuse of that liberty. Paragraph VI. Libel. In all civil or criminal actions for libel, the truth may be given in evidence; and, if it shall appear to the trier of fact that the matter charged as libelous is true, the party shall be discharged. Paragraph VII. Citizens, protection of. All citizens of the United States, resident in this state, are hereby declared citizens of this state; and it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to enact such laws as will protect them in the full enjoyment of the rights, privileges, and immunities due to such citizenship. Paragraph VIII. Arms, right to keep and hear. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne. Paragraph 1X. Right to assemble and petition. The people have the right to assemble peaceably for their common good and to apply by petition or remonstrance to those vested with the powers of government for redress of grievances. Paragraph X. Bill of attainder; cJxpost fac,to laws; and retroactive laws. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, retroactive law, or laws impairing the obligation of contract or making irrevocable grant of special privileges or immunities shall be passed. Paragraph XI. Right to trial by jury; number ($jurors; selection and compensation of jurors. (a) The right to trial by jury shall remain inviolate, except that the court shall render judgment without the verdict of ajury in all civil cases where no issuable defense is filed and where a jury is not demanded in writing by either party. In criminal cases, the defendant shall have a public and speedy trial by an impartial jury; and the jury shall be the judges of the law and the facts. (b) A trial jury shall consist of 12 persons; but the General Assembly may prescribe any number, not less than six, to constitute a trial jury in courts of limited jurisdiction and in superior courts in misdemeanor cases. (c) The General Assembly shall provide by law for the selection and compensation of persons to serve as grand jurors and trial jurors. Paragraph XII. Right to the courts. No person shall be deprived of the right to prosecute or defend, either in person or by an attorney, that person's own cause in any of the courts of this state. Paragraph XIII. Searches, seizures, and warrants. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue except upon probable cause supported by oath or affirmation particularly describing the place or places to be searchedand the persons or things to be seized. Paragraph XIV. Benefit of counsel; accusation; list of witnesses; compulsory process. Every person charged with an offense against the laws of this state shall have the privilege and benefit of counsel; shall be furnished with a copy of the accusation or indictment and, ondemand, with alist of the witnesses on whose testimony such charge is founded; shall have compulsory process to obtain the testimony of that person's own witnesses; and shall be confronted with the witnesses testifying against such person. Paragraph XV. Haheas corpus. The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it. Paragraph XVI. Self-incrimination. No person shall be compelled to give testimony tending in any manner to be self-incriminating. Paragraph XVII. Bai1;fines;punishment;a r r e ~ ta,buse ($prisoners. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted; nor shall any person be abused in being arrested, while under arrest, or in prison. Paragraph XVIII. .Ieopurdy of life or liberty more than oncefiwbiddcn. No person shall be put in jeopardy of life or liberty more than once for the same offense except when a new trial has been granted after conviction or in case of mistrial. Paragraph XIX. Treason.Treason againstthe Stateof Georgia shall consist of insurrection against the state, adhering to the state's enemies, or giving them aid and comfort. No person skill be convicted of treason excevt on the testimoni of G o witnesses to the same ohallnot exc~xdone-fourth m ~ lol n each dollur o f the ashe3st.d value of the property. (b) So long as the method of taxation in effect on December 31, 1980, for the taxation of shares of stock of banking corporations and other monied capital coming into competition with such banking corporations continues in effect, such shares and other moniedcapital may be taxed at an annual rate not exceeding five mills on each dollar of the assessed value of the property. Paragraph 111. Uniformity; classification cfproperty; assessment of agricultural land; utilities. (a) All taxes shall be levied andcollected under general laws and for public purposes only. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (E), (d), and (e), all taxation shall be uniform upon the same class of subjects within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax. (b) (I) Except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph (b), classes of subjects for taxation of property shall consist of tangible property and one or more classes of intangible personal property including money. (2) Subject to the conditions and limitations specified by law, each of the following types of property may be classified as a separate class of property for ad valorem property tax purposes and different rates, methods, and assessment dates may be provided for such properties: (A) Motor vehicles, including trailers. (B) Mobile homes other than those mobile homes which qualify the owner of the home for a homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation. (c) Tangible real property, but no more than 2,000 acres of any single property owner, which is devoted to bona fide agricultural purposes shall be assessed for ad valorem taxation purposes at 75 percent of the value which other tangible real property is assessed. No property shall be entitled to receive the preferential assessment provided for in this subparagraph if the property which would otherwise receive such assessment would result in any person who has a beneficial interest in such property, including any interest in the nature of stock ownership, receiving the benefit of such preferential assessment as to more than 2,000 acres. No property shall be entitled to receive the preferential assessment provided for in this subparagraph unless the conditions set out below are met: (I) The property must be owned by: (A) (i) One or more natural or naturalized citizens; (ii) An estate of which the devisee or heirs are one or more natural or naturalized citizens; or (iii) A trust of which the beneficiaries are one or more natural or naturalized citizens; or (B) A family-owned farm corporation, the controlling interest of which is owned by individuals related to each other within the fourth degree of civil reckoning, or which is owned by an estate of which the devisee or heirs are one or more natural or naturalized citizens, or which is owned by a trust of which the beneficiaries are one or more natural or naturalized citizens,and such corporation derived 80percent or more of its gross income from bona fide agricultural pursuits within this state within the year immediately preceding the year in which eligibility is sought. (2) The General Assembly shall provide by law: (A) For a definition of the term "bond fide agricultural purposes," but such tern1 shall include timber production; (B) For additional minimum conditions of eligibility which such properties must meet in order toaualifv for the preferential assessment provided for herein, including, but not limited to, the requirehent th; the owner be requiredro enter into a covenant w i h the appropriate taxing authorities to maintain the use of the properties in bona fide agricultural purposes for a period of not less than ten years and for appropriate penalties for the breach of any such covenant. (3) In addition to the specific conditions set forth in this subparagraph (c), the General Assembly may place further restrictions upon, but may not relax, the conditions of eligibility for the preferential assessment provided for herein. (d) The General Assembly shall be authorized by general law to establish as a separate class of property for ad valorem tax purposes any tangible real property which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or in a state historic register authorized by general law. For such purposes, the General Assembly is authorized by general law to establish aprogram by which certain properties within such class may be assessed for taxes at different rates or valuations in order to encourage the preservation of such historic properties and to assist in the revitalization of historic areas. (e) The General Assembly shall provide by general law: (1) For the definition and methods of assessment and taxation, such methods to include a formula based on current use, annual productivity, and real property sales data, of: "bona fide conservation use property" to include bona fide agricultural and timber land not to exceed 2,000 acres of a single owner; and "bona fide residential transitional property," to include private single-family residential owner occupied property located in transitional developing areas not to exceed five acres of any single owner. Such methods of assessment and taxation shall be subject to the following conditions: (A)A property ownerdesiring the benefitofsuch methods ofassessment and taxation shall be required to enter into a covenant to continue the property in bona fide conservation use or bona fide residential transitional use; and (B)A breach of such covenant within ten years shall result in arecapture of the tax savings resulting from such methods of assessment and taxation and may result in other appropriate penalties; (2) That standing timber shall be assessed only once, and such assessment shall be made following its harvest or sale and on the basis of its fair market value at the time of harvest or sale. Said assessment shall be two and one-half times the assessed percentage of value fixed by law for other real property taxed under the uniformity provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph but in no event greater than its fair market value; and fora method of temporary supplementation of the property tax digest of any county if the implementation of this method of taxing timber reduces the tax digest by more than 20 percent, such supplemental assessed value to be assigned to the properties otherwise benefiting fro~nsuchmethodoftaxing timber. (f) The General Assembly may provide for a different method and time of returns, assessments, payment, and collection of ad valorem taxes of public utilities, but not on a greater assessed percentage of value or at a higher rate of taxation than other properties, except that property provided for in subparagraph (c), (d), or (e). SECTION 11. EXEMPTIONS FROM AD VALOREM TAXATION Paragraph I. Unauthorized roarexemptions void. Except as authorized in or pursuant to this Constitution, all laws exempting property from ad valorem taxation are void. Paragraph 11. Exemptions from taxation ofproperty. (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, no property shall be exempted from ad valorem taxation unless the exemption is approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the General Assembly in a roll-call vote and by a majority of the qualified electors of the state voting in a referendum thereon. (2) Homestead exemptions from ad valorem taxation Levied by local taxing jurisdictions may hcgrmitr~lby lo~,aIlan co~ltlilioncdupon ;ippro\al hy ;I mqior~t)o i l l l e q ~ ; ~ l ~ f i c d e l ~ c l o r \ rcilding \ \ . I ~ ~ I IthI e lini~t0>1'thc Ioial ~ ; I X I I jI u~ ri\d~it~ovnollng 111a rctcrr.ndu~nIhcrzon. (3) Laws subject to the requirement of a referendum as provided in this subparagraph (a) may originate in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. (4) The requirements of this subparagraph (a) shall not apply with respect to a law which codifies or recodifies an exemption previously authorized in the Constitution of 1976 or an exemption authorized pursuant to this Constitution. (b)The grant of any exemption from ad valorem taxation shall be subject to the conditions, limitations, and administrative procedures specified by law. Paragraph 111. Exemptions which may he authorized locally. (a) (I) The governing authority of any county or municipality, subject to the approval of a majority of the qualified electors of such political subdivision voting in a referendum thereon, may exempt from ad valorem taxation, including all such taxation levied for educational purposes and for state purposes, inventories of goods in the process of manufacture or production, and inventories of finished goods. ( 2 ) Ekrmpt~on\granted pur\u;~ntlo this \~~bp;~ri~grlaitp) h1113)0111j he revoked by a rcferrn~lunsi lrctlc~nc;~llcdant1 c o ~ ~ d u c tac\ ~plrovidrtl by In\(.The call for such rel'rrcndurn shall not be issued within five years from the date suchexemptions were first granted and, if the results of the election are in favor of the revocation of such exemptions, then such revocation shall be effective only at the end of a five-year period from the date of such referendum. (3) The implementation, administration, and revocation of the exemptions authorized in this subparagraph (a) shall be provided for by law. Until otherwise provided by law, the grant of the exemption shall be subject to the same conditions, limitations, definitions, and procedures provided for the grant of such exemption in the Constitution of 1976 on June 30, 1983. (b) That portion of Article VII, Section I, Paragraph IV of the Constitution of 1976 which authorized local exemptions for certain property used in solar energy heating or cooling systems and in the manufacture of such systems is adopted by this reference as a part of this Constitution as completely as though incorporated in this Paragraph verbatim. This subparagraph (b) is repealed effective July 1, 1986. Paragraph IV. Current property tax exemptions preserved. Those types of exemptions from advalorem taxation providedforby law on June 30,1983, are hereby continued in effect as statutory law until otherwise provided for by law. Any law which reduces or repeals any homestead exemption in existence on June 30, 1983, or created thereafter must be approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the General Assembly in a roll-call vote and by a majority of the qualified electors of the state or the affected local taxing jurisdiction voting in a referendum thereon. Any law which reduces or repeals exemptions granted to religious or burial grounds or institutions of purely public charity must be approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the General Assembly. Paragraph V. Disabled veteran's homestead exemption. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the amount of the homestead exemption granted to disabled veterans shall be the greaterof $32,500.00 or the maximum amount which may be granted to adisabled veteran under Section 802 of Title 38 of the United States Code as hereafter amended. Such exemption shall be granted to: those persons eligible for such exemption on June 30, 1983; to disabled American veterans of any war or armed conflict who are disabled due to loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with the loss or loss of use of one upper extremity which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair; and to disabled veterans hereafter becoming eligible for assistance in acquiring housing under Section 801 of the united States Code as hereafter amended. The General Assembly may by general law provide for a different amount or a different method of determining the amount of or eligibility for the homestead exemption granted to disabled veterans. Any such law shall be enacted by a simple majority of the votes of all the members to which each house is entitled and may become effective withoutreferendum. Such law may provide that the amount of oreligibility fortheexemption shall be determined by reference to laws enacted by the United States Congress. SECTION 111. PURPOSES AND METHOD OF STATE TAXATION Paragraph I. Taxation; purposes for whic,h powers may bu exercised. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the power of taxation over the whole state may be exercised for any purpose authori~edby law. Any purpose for which the powers of taxation over the whole state could have been exercised on June 30, 1983, shall continue to be a purpose for which such powers may be exercised. (b) Subject to conditions and limitations as may be provided by law, the power of taxation may be exercised to make grants for tax relief purposes to persons for sales tax paid and not otherwise reimbursed on prescription drugs. Credits or relief provided hereunder may be limited only to such reasonable classifications of taxpayers as may be specified by law. Paragraph 11. Rulacwue to he paid into genera1,fund. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all revenue collected from taxes, fees, and assessments for state purposes, as authorized by revenue measures enacted by the General Assembly, shall be paid into the general fund of the state treasury. (b) (I) As authorized by law providing for the promotion of any one or more types of agricultural products. fees, assessments,and other charges collected on the sale or processing of agricultural products need not be paid into the general fund of the state treasury. The uniformity requirement of this article shall be satisfied by the application of the agricultural promotion program upon the affected products. (2) As used in this subparagraph, "agricultural products" includes, but is not limited to, registered livestock and livestock oroducts, ~ o u l t wand ~oultrvoroducts. timber and timber pGducts, fish and seafood, and thk products of thk l a r k s and-fbrests of this state. Paragraph 111. Grants to counties and municipalities. State funds may be granted to counties and municipalities within the state. The grants authorized by this Paragraph shall be made in suchmannerand form and subject to the procedures andconditions specified by law. The law providing for any such grant may limit the purposes for which the grant funds may be expended. SECTION IV. STATE DEBT Paragraph I. Purposesfor which debt may be incurred. The state may incur: (a) Public debt without limit to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the state in time of war. (b) Public debt to supply a temporary deficit in the state treasury in any fiscal year created by a delay in collecting the taxes of that year. Such debt shall not exceed. in the aggregate, 5 percent of the total revenue receipts, less refunds. of the state treasury in the fiscal year immediately preceding the year in which such debt is incurred. The debt incurred shall be repaid on or before the last day of the fiscal year in which it is incurred out of taxes levied for that fiscal year. No such debt may be incurred in any fiscal year under the provisions of this subparagraph (b) if there is then outstanding unpaid debt from any previous fiscal year which was incurred to supply a temporary deficit in the state treasury. (c) General obligation debt to acquire, construct, develop, extend, enlarge, or improve land, waters, property, highways, buildings, structures, equipment, or facilities of the state, its agencies, departments, institutions, and of those state authorities which were created and activated prior to November 8, 1960. (d) General obligation debt to provide educational facilities for county and independent school systems and to provide public library facilities for county and independent school systems, counties, municipalities, and boards of trustees of public libraries or boards of trustees of public library systems, and, when the construction of such educational or library facilities has been completed, the title to such facilities shall be vested in the respective local boards of education, counties, municipalities, or public library boards of trustees for which such facilities were constructed. (e) General obligation debt in order to make loans to counties, municipal corporations, political subdivisions, local authorities, and other local government entities for water or seweragefacilities orsystems. It shall not be necessary forthe state or a state authority to hold title to or otherwise be the owner of such facilities or systems. General obligation debt for these purposes may be authori~edand incurred for administration and disbursement by a state authority created and activated before, on, or after November 8, 1960. (0Guaranteed revenue debt by guaranteeing the payment of revenue obligations issued by an instrumentality of the state if such revenue obligations are issued to finance: (1) Toll bridges or toll roads (2) Land public transportation facilities or systems. (3) Water facilities or systems. (4) Sewage facilities or systems. ( 5 )Loans to, and loan programs for, citizens of the state for educational purposes. Paragraph 11.State general obligation deht and guaranteed revenue debt; limitutions. (a) As used in this Paragraph and Paragraph 111of this section, "annual debt service requirements" means the total principal and interest coming due inany state fiscal year. With regard to any issue of debt incurred wholly or in part on a term basis, "annual debt service requirements" means an amount equal to the total principal and interest payments required to retire such issue in full divided by the number of years from its issue date to its maturity date. (b) No debt may be incurred under subparagraphs (c), (d), and (e) of Paragraph I of this section or Paragraph V of this section at any time when the highest aggregate annual debt service requirements for the then current year or any subsequent year for outstanding general obligation debt and guaranteed revenue debt, including the proposed debt, and the highest aggregate annual payments for the then current year or any subsequent fiscal year of the state under all contracts then in force to which the provisions of the second paragraph of Article IX, Section VI, Paragraph I(a) of the Constitution of 1976 are applicable, exceed 10 percent of the total revenue receipts, less refunds of the state treasury in the fiscal year immediately preceding the year in which any such debt is to be incurred. (c) No debt may be incurred under subparagraphs (c) and (d) of Paragraph I of this section at any time when the term of the debt is in excess of 25 years. (d) No guaranteed revenue debt may be incurred to finance water or sewage treatment facilities or systems when the highest aggregate annual debt service requirements for the then current year or any subsequent fiscal year of the state for outstanding or proposed guaranteed revenue debt for water facilities or systems or sewage facilities or systems exceed I percent of the total revenue receipts less refunds, of the state treasury in the fiscal year immediately preceding the year in which any such debt is to be incurred. (e) The aggregate amount of guaranteed revenue debt incurred to make loans for educational purposes that may be outstanding at any timFshall not exceed $18 million, and the aggregate amount of guaranteed revenue debt incurred to purchase, or to lend or deposit against the security of, loans for educational purposes that may be outstanding at any time shall not exceed $72 million. Paragraph 111. State general obligation deht and guaranteed revenue deht; conditions upon issuance; sinking funds und reservc~funds. (a) (I) General obligation debt may not be incurred until legislation is enacted stating the purposes, in general or specific terms, for which such issue of debt is to be incurred, specifying the maximum principal amount of such issue and appropriating an amount at least sufficient to pay the highest annual debt service requirements for such issue. All such appropriations for debt service purposes shall not lapse for any reason and shall continue in effect until the debt for which such appropriation was authorized shall have been incurred, but the General Assembly may repeal any such appropriation at any time prior to the incurring of such debt. The General Assembly shall raise by taxation and appropriate each fiscal year, in addition to the sum necessary to make all payments required under contracts entitled to the protection of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a), Section VI, Article IX of the Constitution of 1976, such amounts as are necessary to pay debt service requirements in such fiscal year on all general obligation debt. (2) (A) The General Assembly shall appropriate to a special trust fund to be designated "State of Georgia General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund" such amounts as are necessary to pay annual debt service requirements on all general obligation debt. The sinking fund shall be used solely for the retirement of general obligation debt payable from the fund. If for any reason the monies in the sinking fund are insufficient to make, when due, all payments required with respect to such general obligation debt, the first revenues thereafter received in the general fund of the state shall be set aside by the appropriate state fiscal officer to the extent necessary to cure the deficiency and shall be deposited by the fiscal officer into the sinking fund. The appropriate state fiscal officer may be required to set aside and apply such revenues at the suit of any holder of any general obligation debt incurred under this section. (B) The obligation to make sinking funddeposits as provided in subparagraph (2)(A) shall be subordinate to the obligation imposed upon the fiscal officers of the state pursuant to the provisions of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a) of Section VI of Article IX of the Constitution of 1976. (b) (1) Guaranteed revenue debt may not be incurred until legislation has been enacted authorizing the guarantee of the specific issue of revenue obligations then proposed, reciting that the General Assembly has determined such obligations will be self-liquidating over the lifeof the issue (which determination shall beconclusive), specifying themaximum principal amount of such issue and appropriating an amount at least equal to the highest annual debt service requirements for such issue. (2) (A) Each appropriation made for the purposes of subparagraph (b)(l) shall be paid upon the issuance of said obligations into a special trust fund to be designated "State of Georgia Guaranteed Revenue Debt Common Reserve Fund" to be held together with all other sums similarly appropriated as a common reserve for any payments which may be required by virtue of any guarantee entered into in connection with any issue of guaranteed revenue obligations. No appropriations for the benefit of guaranteed revenue debt shall lapse unless repealed prior to the payment of the appropriation into the common reserve fund. (B) If any payments are required to be made from the common reserve fund to meet debt service requirements on guaranteed revenue obligations by virtue of an insufficiency of revenues, the amount necessary to cure the deficiency shall be paid from the common reserve fundby the appropriate statefiscal officer. Upon any such payment,the common reserve fund shall be reimbursed from the general funds of the state within ten days following the commencement of any fiscal year of the state for any amounts so paid; provided, however, the obligation to make any such reimbursements shall be subordinate to the obligation ~ r n ~ o \ cupdon the li\c.al olflLer\oi the rtrltc [)ur>uantto the ,scond [magraph of 1'aragr;lph I ( ; I ~ O ~ S CVLII, .I-~\rtI~IcIcIX ot'thcCon\titut1o1101' 1076;tnd \hall al\o he >uhonl~nattco thc obligation to make sinking fund deposits for the benefit of general obligation debt. The appropriate state fiscal officer may be required to apply such funds as provided in this subparagraph (b)(2)(B) at the suit of any holder of any such guaranteed revenue obligations. (C) The amount to the credit of the common reserve fund shall at all times be at least equal to the aggregate highest annual debt service requirements on all outstanding gu'dranteed revenue obligations entitled to the benefit of the fund. If at the end of any fiscal year of the state the fund is in excess of the required amount, the appropriate state fiscal officer, as designated by law, shall transfer the excess amount to the general funds of the state free of said trust. (c)The funds in the general obligation debt sinking fund and the guaranteed revenue debt common reserve fund shall be as fully invested as is practicable, consistent with the requirements to make current principal and interest payments. Any such investments shall be restricted to obligations constituting direct and general obligations of the United States government or obligations unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the United States government, maturing no longer than 12 months from date of Paragraph IV. Certain contrac,tsprohibited. The state, and all state institutions, deparments and agencies of the state are prohibited from entering into any contract, except contracts pertaining to guaranteed revenue debt, with any public agency, public corporation, authority, or similar entity if such contract is intended to constitute security for bonds orother obligations issued by any such public agency, public corporation, or authority and, in the event any contract between the state, or any state institution, department or agency of the state and any public agency, public corporation, authority or similarentity, or any revenues from any such contract, is pledged or assigned as security for the repayment of bonds or other obligations, then and in either such event, the appropriation or expenditure of any funds of the state for the payment of obligations under any such contract shall likewise be prohibited. Paragraph V. Refunding of debt. The state may incur general obligation debt or guaranteed revenue debt to fund or refund any such debt or to fund or refund any obligations issued upon the security of contracts to which the provisions of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a), Section VI. Article IX of the Constitution of 1976 are a,~,~ l i c a b lTeh.e issuance of anv such tlebt lor thcpurpo\csof\;~itliundingor rcfuntl~ng\llall bc subject to the I0 pcrccnl l~n~itation In l'aragraph 11th)of thi\ \ectlon to the \amec\;tcnt a\ debt incurred under Paragri~ph1 of t h ~ \ section; p;ovided, however, in making such computation the annual debt service requirements and annual contract payments remaining on the debt or obligations being funded or refunded shall not be taken into account. The issuance of such debt may be accomplished by resolution of the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission without any action on the part of the General Assembly and any appropriation made or required to be made with respect to the debt or obligation being funded or refunded shall immediately attach and inure to the benefit of the obligations to be issued in connection with such funding or refunding. Debt incurred in connection with any such funding or refunding shall be the same as that originally authorized by the General Assembly, except that general obligation debt may be incurred to fund or refund obligations issued upon the security of contracts to which the provisions of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a), Section VI, Article 1X of the Constitution of 1976 are applicable and the continuing appropriations required to be made under this Constitution shall immediately attach and inure to the benefit of the obligation to be issued in connection with such funding or refunding with the same force and effect as though said obligations so funded or refunded had originally been issued as a general obligation debt authorized hereunder. The term of a funding or refunding issue pursuant to this Paragraph shall not extend beyond the term of the original debt or obligation and the total interest on the funding or refunding issue shall not exceed the total interest to be paid on such original debt or obligation. The principal amount of any debt issued in connection with such funding or refunding may exceed the principal amount being funded or refunded to the extent necessary to provide for the payment of any premium thereby incurred. Paragraph V1. Faith and credit of state pledged debt may he validated. The full faith, credit, and taxing power of the state are hereby pledged to the payment of all public debt incurred under this article and all such debt and the interest on the debt shall be exempt from taxation. Such debt may be validated by judicial proceedings in the manner provided by law. Such validation shall be incontestable and conclusive. Paragraph VII. Georgia State Financing andlnvestment Commission; duties. There shall be a Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. The commission shall consist of the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the State Auditor, the Attorney General, the director, Fiscal Division, Department of Administrative Services, or such other officer as may be designated by law, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. The commission shall be responsible for the issuance of all public debt and for the proper application, as provided by law, of the proceeds of such debt to the purposes for which it is incurred; provided, however, the proceeds from guaranteed revenue obligations shall be paid to the issuer thereof and such proceeds and the application thereof shall be the responsibility of such issuer. Debt to be incurred at the same time for more than one purposemay becombined in one issue without stating the purpose separately but the proceeds thereof must be allocated, disbursed and used solelv in accordance with the original vumose and without exceeding the principal amount aut6orized for each purpose set forth in the authorization of the General Assembly and to the extent not so used shall be used to purchase and retire public debt. The commission shall be responsible for the investment of all proceeds to be administered by it and, as provided by law, the income earned on any such investments may be used to pay operating expenses of the commission or placed in a common debt retirement fund and used to purchase and retire any public debt, or any bonds or obligations issued by any public agency, public corporation or authority which are secured by a contract to which the provisions of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a) of Section V1, Article IX of the Constitution of 1976 are applicable. The commission shall have such additional responsibilities, powers, and duties as are provided by law. (b) Notwithstanding subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, proceeds from general obligation debt issued for making loans to local government entities for water or sewerage facilities or systems as provided in Paragraph I (e) of this section shall be paid or transferred to and administered and invested by the unit of state government or state authority made responsible by law for such activities, and the proceeds and investment earnings thereof shall be applied and disbursed by such unit or authority. Paragraph VIII. State aidforhidden.Except as provided in this Constitution, the credit of the state shall not be pledged or loaned to any individual, company, corporation, or association. The state shall not become ajoint owner or stockholder in or with any individual, company, association, or corporation. Paragraph IX. Construction.Paragraphs I through VIII of this section are for the purpose of providing an effective method of financing the state's needs and their provisions and any law now or hereafter enacted by the General Assembly in furtherance of their provisions shall be liberally construed to effect such purpose. Insofar as any such provisions or any such law may be inconsistent with any other provisions of this Constitution or of any other law, the provisions of such Paragraphs and laws enacted in furtherance of such Paragraphs shall be controlling; provided, however, the provisions of such Paragraphs shall not be so broadly construed as to cause the same to be unconstitutional and in connection with any such construction such Paragraphs shall be deemed to contain such implied limitations as shall be required to accomplish the foregoing. Paragraph X. Assumption of debts forbidden; exceptions. The state shall not assume the debt, or any part thereof, of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state, unless such debt be contracted to enable the state to repel invasion, suppress civil disorders or insurrection, or defend itself in time of war. Paragraph XI. Section nor to unlawfully impuir contracts or revive obligarionspreviously voided. The provisions of this section shall not be construed so as to: (a) Unlawfully impair the obligation of any contract in effect on June 30, 1983. (b) Revive or permit the revival of the obligation of any bond or security declared to be void by the Constitution of 1976 or any previous Constitution of this state. ARTICLE VIII. EDUCATION SECTION I. PUBLIC EDUCATION Paragraph I. Public education;free public education prior to college or postsecondary 1evel:sunnorthv taxation. The~rovisionoafnadeauate~ubliceducationfotrhecitizens shall be a obligation of the state of Georgia. ~ i b l i ecducation for the citizens prior to the collegeor postsecondary level shall be free and shall be provided for by taxation. The expense of other public education shall be provided for in such manner and in such amount as may be provided by law. SECTION 11. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION Paragraph I. StateBoardofEducation. (a)There shall be aState Boardof Education which shall consist of one member from each congressional district in the state appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor shall not be a member of said board. The ten members in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve out the remainder of their respective terms. As each term of office expires, the Governor shall appoint a successor as herein provided. The terms of office of all members appointed after the effective date of this Constitution shall be for seven years. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed andqualified. In the event of a vacancy on the board by death, resignation, removal, or any reason other than expiration of a member's term, the Governor shall fill such vacancy; and theperson so appointed shall serve untilconfirmedby the Senate and, upon confirmation, shall serve for the unexpired term of office. (b) The State Board of Education shall have such powers and duties as provided by law. (c) The State Board of Education may accept bequests, donations, grants, and transfers of land, buildings, and other property for the use of the state educational system. (d) The qualifications, compensation, and removal from office of the members of the board of education shall be as provided by law. SECTION 111. STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT Paragraph I. State School Superintendent. There shall be a State School Superintendent, who shall be the executive officer of the State Board of Education, elected at the same time and in the same manner and for the same term as that of the Governor. The State School Superintendent shall have such qualifications and shall be paid such compensation as may be fixed by law. No member of the State Board of Education shall be eligible for election as State School Superintendent during the time for which such member shall have been appointed. SECTION IV. BOARD OF REGENTS Paragraph I. University Sysrcjm ofGeorgia; hoard oj'regents. (a) There shall be a Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia which shall consist of one member from each congressional district in the state and five additional members from the state at large, appointed by the Governor andconfirmed by the Senate.TheGovernor shall not beamember of said board. The members in office on June 30,1983, shall serve out the remainder of their respective terms. As each term of office expires, the Governor shall appoint a successor as herein provided. All such terms of members shall be for seven years. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy on the board by death, resignation, removal, or any reason other than the expiration of a member's term, the Governor shall fill such vacancy; and the person so appointed shall serve until confirmed by the Senate and, upon confirmation, shall serve for the unexpired term of office. (b) The board of regents shall have the exclusive authority to create new public colleges, junior colleges, and universities in the State of Georgia, subject to approval by majority vote in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Such vote shall not be required to change the status of a college,~institutionor university existing on the effective date of this constitition. The government, control, and management of the University System of Georgia and all of the institutions in said system shall be vested in theBoardof Regentsofthe University System of Georgia. (c) All appropriations made for the use of any or all institutions in the university system shall be paid to the board of regents in a lump sum, with the power and authority in said board to allocate and distribute the same among the institutions under its control in such way and manner and in such amounts as will further an efficient and economical administration of the university system. (d) The board of regents may hold, purchase, lease, sell, convey, or otherwise dispose of public property, execute conveyances thereon, and utilize the proceeds arising therefrom; may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by law; and shall have such other powers and duties as provided by law. (e) The board of regents may accept bequests, donations, grants, and transfers of land, buildings, and other property for the use of the University System of Georgia. (0The qualifications, compensation,and removal from office ofthe members of the board of regents shall be as provided by law. SECTION V. LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS Paragraph I. School systems continued; consolidution of school systems autlzorized; new independent school systems prohibited. Authority is granted to county and area boards of education to establish and maintain public schools within their limits. Existing county and independent school systems shall be continued, except that the General Assembly may provide by law for the consolidation of two or more county school systems, independent school systems, portions thereof, or any combination thereof into a single county or area school system under the control and management of a county or area board of education, under such terms and conditions as the General Assembly may prescribe; but no such consolidation shall become effective until approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each separate school system proposed to be consolidated. No independent school system shall hereafter be established. Paragraph 11.Boards~feduc,ationE. ach school system shall be underthe management and control of a board of education, the members of which shall be elected or appointed as provided by law. School board members shall reside within the territory embraced by the school system and shall have such compensation and additional qualifications as may be provided by law. Paragraph 111. Sc,hool superintendents. There shall be a school superintendent of each system who shall be the executive officer of the board of education and shall have such qualifications, powers, and duties as provided by general law. Paragraph IV. C h a n ~ e sin sc,hool boards and superintendent. (a) The composition of school boards, the term of office, and the methods of selecting board members and school superintendents, including whether elections shall be partisan or nonpartisan, shall be as provided by law applicable thereto on June 30, 1983,but may be changed thereafter only by local law, conditioned upon approval by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in the system affected. It shall not be necessary for a local law which reapportions election districts from which members of a local board of education are elected to be conditioned on the approval of the voters as herein required. (b) School systems which are authorized on June 30, 1983, to make the changes listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph by local law without areferendum may continue to do so. Paragraph V. Poww (fboar.ds to contrac.t with each other. (a) Any two or more boards of education may contract with each other forthe care, education, and transportation of pupils and for such other activities as they may be authorized by law to perform. (b)The General Assembly may provide by law for the sharing of facilities or services by and between local boards of education under such joint administrative authority as may be authorized. Paragraph VI. P o ~ v orfboards to accept bequests,donations, grants, and transfers. The board of education of each school system may accept bequests, donations, grants, and transfers of land, buildings, and other property for the use of such system. Paragraph VII. Spec.ial schools. (a) The General Assembly may provide by law for the creation of special schools in such areas as may require them and may provide for the participation of local boards of education in the establishment of such schools under such terms and conditions as it may provide; but no bonded indebtedness may be incurred nor a school tax levied for the support of special schools without the approval of a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each of the systems affected. Any special schools shall be operated in conformity with regulations of the State Board of Education pursuant to provisions of law. The state is authorized to expend funds for the support and maintenance of special schools in such amount and manner as may be provided by law. (b) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to affect the authority of local boards of education or of the state to support and maintain special schools created prior to June 30, 1983. SECTION VI. LOCAL TAXATION FOR EDUCATION Paragraph I. Local taxation for education. (a) The board of education of each school system shall annually certify to its fiscal authority or authorities a school tax not greater than 20 mills per dollar for the support and maintenance of education. Said fiscal authority or authorities shall annually levy said tax upon the assessed value of all taxable property within the territory sewed by said school system, provided that the levy made by an area board of education, which levy shall not be greater than 20 mills per dollar, shall be in such amount and within such limits as may be prescribed by local law applicable thereto. (b) School tax funds shall be expended only for the support and maintenance of public schools, public vocational-technical schools, public education, and activities necessary or incidental thereto, including school lunch purposes. (c) The 20mill limitationprovidedfor in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall not apply to those school systems which are authorized on June 30,1983, to levy a school tax in excess thereof. . (.d). The method of certification and levv of the school tax orovided for in suboaraL~ra, o.h(a.) of t h ~ sP;lragraph shall nut ;~ppl)to those \y\tcm\ that arc cluthorlrcd o n June 30. 1983, to utili/e (Itliffcrcnt mcthod ofcen~f~catioand lev) of\uch tau; but the Cieneral A>\cn>bl>ma) by law require that such systems be brought into conformity with the method of certification and levy herein provided. Paragraph 11. Increasing or removing tax rate. The mill limitation in effect on June 30, 1983, for any school system may be increased or removed by action of the respective boards ofeducation, but only after suchaction has been approved by amajority ofthequalifiedvoters voting thereon in the particular school system to be affected in the manner provided by law. Paragraph 111. School tax collection reimbursement. The General Assembly may by general law require local boards of education to reimburse the appropriate governing authority for thecollection of school taxes, provided that any rate established may be reduced by local act. SECTION VII. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE Paragraph I. Educational assistance programs authorized. (a) Pursuant to laws now or hereafter enacted by the General Assembly, public funds may be expended for any of the following purposes: (I) To provide grants, scholarships, loans, or other assistance to students and to parents of students for educational purposes. (2)To provide for a program of guaranteed loans to students and to parents of students for educational purposes and to pay interest, interest subsidies,and fees to lenders on such loans. The General Assembly is authorized to provide such tax exemptions to lenders as shall be deemed advisable in connection with such program. (3) To match funds now or hereafter available for student assistance pursuant to any federal law. (4) To provide grants, scholarships, loans, or other assistance to public employees for educational purposes. ( 5 )To provide for the purchase of loans made to students for educational purposes who have completed a program of study in a field in which critical shortages exist and for cancellation of repayment of such loans, interest, and charges thereon. (b) Contributions made in support of any educational assistance program now or hereafter established under provisions of this section may be deductible for state income tax purposes as now or hereafter provided by law. (c) The General Assembly shall be authorized by general law to provide for an education trust fund to assist students and parents of students in financing postsecondary education and to provide for contracts between the fund and purchasers for the advance payment of tuition by each purchaser for a qualified beneficiary to attend a state institution of higher education. Such general law shall provide for such terms, conditions, and lin~itationsas the General Assembly shall deem necessary for the implementation of this subparagraph. Notwithstanding any provision of this Constitution to the contrary, the General Assembly shall be authorized to provide for the guarantee of such contracts with state revenues. Paragraph 11. Guaranteed revenue debt. Guaranteed revenue debt may be incurred to provide funds to make loans to students and to parents of students for educational purposes, to purchase loans made to students and to parents of students for educational purposes, or to lend or make deposits of such funds with lenders which shall be secured by loans made to students and to parents of students for educational purposes. Any such debt shall be incurred in accordance with the procedures and requirements of Article VII, Section IV of this Constitution. Paragraph 111. Public authorities. Public authorities or public corporations heretofore or hereafter created for such purposes shall be authorized to administer educational assistance programs and, in connectibn ;herewith, may exercise such powers as may now or hereafter be provided by law. Paragraph IV. Waiver of tuition. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia shall be authorized to establish programs allowing attendance at units of the University System of Georgia without payment of tuition or other fees, but the General Assembly may provide by law for the establishment of any such program for the benefit of elderly citizens of the state. ARTICLE IX. COUNTIES AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS SECTION I. COUNTIES Paragraph I. Countic~as body corporate andpolitic.Each county shall be a body corporate and politic with such governing authority and with such powers and limitations as are provided in this Constitution andas provided by law. Thegoverning authorities of the several counties shall remain as prescribed by law on June 30, 1983, until otherwise provided by law. Paragraph 11. Number of counties limited; county boundaries and county sires; county consolidation. (a) There shall not be more than 159 counties in this state. (b) The metes and bounds of the several counties and the county sites shall remain as prescribed by law on June 30, 1983, unless changed under the operation of a general law. (c) The General Assembly may provide by law for the consolidation of two or more counties into one or the division of a county and the merger of portions thereof into other counties under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe; but no such consolidation, division, or merger shall become effective unless approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each of the counties proposed to be consolidated, divided,ormerged. Paragraph 111. County officers; c~lec,tiont;erm; compensation.(a) The clerk of the superior court, judge of the probate court, sheriff, tax receiver, tax collector, and tax commissioner, where such office has replaced the tax receiver and tax collector, shall be elected by the qualified voters of their respective counties for terms of four years and shall have such qualifications, powers, and duties as provided by general law. (b) County officers listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph may be on a fee basis, salary basis, or fee basis supplemented by salary, in such manner as may be directed by law. Minimum compensation for said county officers may be established by the General Assembly by general law. Such minimum compensation may be supplemented by local law or, if such authority is delegated by local law, by action of the county governing authority. (c)TheGeneral Assembly may consolidatethe officesof tax receiverand tax collector into the office of tax commissioner. Paragraph IV. Ci~,islervice systems. The General Assembly may by general law authorize the establishment by county governing authorities of civil service systems covering county employees or covering county employees and employees of the elected county officers. SECTION 11. HOME RULE FOR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES Paragraph I.Home rulefor-counties. (a)The governing authority of each county shall have legislative power to adopt clearly reasonable ordinances, resolutions, or regulations relating toits property, affairs,andlocal government for which no provision has beenmadeby general law and which is not inconsistent with this Constitution or any local law applicable thereto. Any such local law shall remain in force and effect until amended or repealed as provided in subparagraph (b). This, however, shall not restrict the authority of the General Assembly by general law to further define this power orto broaden, limit, orotherwise regulate theexercise thereof. The General Assembly shall not pass any local law to repeal, modify, or supersede any action taken by a county governing authority under this section except as authorized under subparagraph (c) hereof. (b) Except as provided in subparagraph (c), a county may, as an incident of its home rule power, amendor repeal the local acts applicable to its governing authority by following either of the procedures hereinafter set forth: (I) Such local acts may be amended or repealed by a resolution or ordinance duly adopted at two regularconsecutive meetings of thecounty governing authority not less than seven nor more than 60days apart. A notice containinga synopsis of theproposedamendment or repeal shall be published in the official county organ once a week for three weeks within a period of 60 days immediately preceding its final adoption. Such notice shall state that a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal is on file in the office of the clerk of the superior court of the county for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public. The clerk of the superior court shall furnish anyone, upon written request, a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal. No amendment or repeal hereunder shall be valid to change or repeal an amendment adopted pursuant to a referendum as provided in (2) of this subparagraph or to change or repeal a local act of the General Assembly ratified in a referendum by the electors of such county unless at least 12 months have elapsed after such referendum. No amendment hereunder shall be valid if inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution or if provision has been made therefore by general law. (2) Amendments to or repeals of such local acts or ordinances, resolutions, or regulations adoptedpursuant to subparagraph (a)hereof may be initiated by apetition filed with thejudge of the probate court of the county containing, in cases of counties with a population of 5,000 or less, the signatures of at least 25 percent of the electors registered to vote in the last general election; in cases of counties with a population of more than 5,000 but not more than 50,000, at least 20 percent of the electors registered to vote in the last general election; and, in cases of acounty with apopulation of more than 50,000, at least 10percent ofthe electors registered to vote in the last general election, which petition shall specifically set forth the exact language of the proposed amendment or repeal. The judge of the probate court shall determine the validity of such petition within 60 days of its being filed with the judge of the probatecourt. In theevent thejudgeof the probatecourt determines that such petition is valid, it shall be his duty to issue the call for an election for the purpose of submitting such amendment or repeal to the registered electors of the county for their approval or rejection. Such call shall be issued not less than ten nor more than 60 days after the date of the filing of the petition. He shall set the date of such election for a day not less than 60 nor more than 90 days after the date of such filing. Thejudge of the probate court shall cause a notice of the date of said election to be published in the official organ of the county once a week for three weeks immediately preceding such date. Said notice shall also contain a synopsis of the proposed amendment or repeal and shall state that acopy thereof is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court of the county for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public. The judge of the probate court shall furnish anyone, upon written request, a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal. If more than one-half of the votes cast on such question are for approval of the amendment or repeal, it shall become of full force and effect; otherwise, it shall be void and of no force and effect. The expense of such election shall be borne by the county, and it shall be the duty of the judge of the probate court to hold and conduct such election. Such election shall be held under the same laws and rules and regulations as govern special elections, except as otherwise provided herein. It shall be the duty of the judge of the probate court to canvass the returns and declare and certify the result of the election. It shall be his further duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (g) of this Paragraph. A referendum on any such amendment or repeal shall not be held more often than once each year. No amendment hereunder shall be valid if inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution or if provision has been made therefor by general law. In the event that the judge of the probate court determines that such petition was not valid, he shall cause to be published in explicit detail the reasons why such petition is not valid; provided, however, that, in any proceeding in which the validity of the petition is at issue, the tribunal considering such issue shall not be limited by the reasons assigned. Such publication shall be in the official organ of the county in the week immediately following the date on which such petition is declared to be not valid. (c) The power granted tocounties in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above shall not be construed to extend to the following matters or any other matters which the General Assembly by general law has preempted or may hereafter preempt, but such matters shall be the subject of general law or the subject of local acts of the General Assembly to the extent that the enactment of such local acts is otherwise permitted under this Constitution: (I) Action affecting any elective county office, the salaries thereof, or the personnel thereof, except the personnel subject to the jurisdiction of the county governing authority. (2) Action affecting the composition, form, procedure for election or appointment, compensation, and expenses and allowances in the nature of compensation of the county governing authority. (3) Action defining any criminal offense or providing for criminal punishment (4) Action adopting any form of taxation beyond that authorized by law or by this Constitution. (5) Action extending the power of regulation over any business activity regulated by the GeorgiaPublic Service Commission beyond that authorized by local or general law or by this Constitution. (6)Action affecting the exercise of the power of eminent domain. (7) Action affecting any court or the personnel thereof (8) Action affecting any public school system. (d) The power granted in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph shall not include the power to take any action affecting the private or civil law governing private or civil relationships, except as is incident to the exercise of an independent governmental power. (e) Nothing in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall affect the provisions of subparagraph (f)of this Paragraph. (f) The governing authority of each county is authorized to fix the salary, compensation, and expenses of those employed by such governing authority and to establish and maintain retirement or pension systems, insurance, workers' compensation, and hospitalization benefits for said employees. (g) No amendment or revision of any local act made pursuant to subparagraph (b) of this section shall become effective until a copy of such amendment or revision, a copy of the required notice of publication, and an affidavit of a duly authorized representative of the newspaper in which such notice was published to the effect that said notice has been published as provided in said subparagraph has been filed with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall provide for the publication and distribution of all such amendments and revisions at least annually. Paragraph 11.Home rulefor municipalities. The General Assembly may provide by law for the self-government of municipalities and to that end is expressly given the authority to delegate its power so that matters pertaining to municipalities may be dealt with without the necessity of action by the General Assembly. Paragraph 111.Supplementury powers. (a) In addition to and supplementary of all powers possessed by or conferred upon any county, municipality, or any combination thereof, any county, municipality, or any combination thereof may exercise the following powers and provide the following services: (1) Police and fire protection. (2) Garbage and solid waste collection and disposal. (3) Public health facilities and services, including hospitals, ambulance and emergency rescue services, and animal control. (4)Street androadconstmction andmaintenance, including curbs, sidewalks, street lights, and devices to control the flow of traffic on streets and roads constructed by counties and municipalities or any combination thereof. ( 5 ) Parks, recreational areas, programs, and facilities. (6) Storm water and sewage collection and disposal systems. (7) Development, storage, treatment, purification, and distribution of water. (8) Public housing. (9) Public transportation (10) Libraries, archives, and arts and sciences programs and facilities. (1 1) Terminal and dock facilities and parking facilities. (12) Codes, including building, housing, plumbing, and electrical codes. (13) Air quality control. ( 14)The power to maintain and modify heretofore existing retirement or pension systems, including such systems heretofore created by general laws of local application by population classification, and to continue in effect or modify other benefits heretofore provided as a part of or in addition to such retirement or pension systems and the power to create and maintain retirement or pension systems for any elected or appointed public officers and employees whose compensation is paid in whole or in part from county or municipal funds and for the beneficiaries of such officers and employees. (b) Unless otherwise provided by law, (1) No county may exercise any of the powers listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph or provide any service listed therein inside the boundaries of any municipality or any other county except by contract with the municipality or county affected; and (2) No municipality may exercise any of the powers listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph or provide any service listed therein outside its own boundaries except by contract with the county or municipality affected. (c) Nothing contained within this Paragraph shall operate to prohibit the General Assembly from enacting general laws relative to the subject matters listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph or to prohibit the General Assembly by general law from regulating, restricting, or limiting the exercise of the powers listed therein; but it may not withdraw any such powers. (d) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, the General Assembly shall act upon the subject matters listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph only by general law. Paragraph IV. Planning andzoning. The governing authority of each county and of each municipality may adopt plans and may exercise the power of zoning. This authorization shall not prohibit the General Assembly from enacting general laws establishing procedures for the exercise of such power. Paragraph V. Eminent domain. The governing authority of each county and of each municipality may exercise the power of eminent domain for any public purpose. Paragraph VI. Specialdistricts. As hereinafter provided in this Paragraph, special districts may be created for the provision of local government services within such districts; and fees, assessments, and taxes may be levied and collected within such districts to pay, wholly or partially, the cost of providing such services therein and to construct and maintain facilities therefor. Such special districts may be created and fees, assessments, or taxes may be levied and collected therein by any one or more of the following methods: (a) By general law which directly creates the districts. (b) By general law which requires the creation of districts under conditions specified by such general law. (c) By municipal or county ordinance or resolution, except that no such ordinance or resolution may supersede alaw enacted by the General Assembly pursuant to subparagraphs (a) or (b) of this Paragraph. Paragraph VII. Community redevelopment. (a) The General Assembly may authorize any county, municipality, or housing authority to undertake and carry out community redevelopment, which may include the sale or other disposition of property acquired by eminent domain to private enterprise for private uses. (b) In addition to the authority granted by subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the General Assembly is authorized to grant tocounties or municipalities for redevelopment purposes and in connection with redevelopment programs, as such purposes and programs are defined by general law, the power to issue tax allocation bonds, as defined by such law, and the power to incur other obligations, without either such bonds or obligations constituting debt within the meaning of Section V of this article, and the power to enter into contracts for any period not exceeding 30 years with private persons, firms, corporations, and business entities. Notwithstanding the grant of these powers pursuant to general law, no county or municipality may exercise these powers unless so authorized by local law and unless such powers are exercised in conformity with those terms and conditions for such exercise as established by that local law. The provisions of any such local law shall conform to those requirements established by general law regarding such powers. No such local law, or any amendment thereto, shall become effective unless approved in areferendum by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in the county or municipality directly affected by that local law. Paragraph VIII. Limitation on the taxing power and contributions of counties,municipalities, and political subdivisions. The General Assembly shall not authorize any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state, through taxation, contribution, or otherwise, to appropriate money for or to lend its credit to any person or to any nonpublic corporation or association except for purely charitable purposes. Paragraph 1X.Immunity of counties, municipulities, and school districts. The General Assembly may waive the immunity of counties, municipalities, and school districts by law. SECTION 111. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS Paragraph I. Intergovernmental contracts. (a) The state, or any institution, department, or other agency thereof, and any county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of the state may contract for any period not exceeding 50 years with each other or with any other public agency, public corporation, or public authority forjoint services, for the provision of services, or for the joint or separate use of facilities or equipment; but such contracts must deal with activities, services, or facilities which the contracting parties are authorized by law to undertake or provide. By way of specific instance and not limitation, a mutual undertaking by a local government entity to borrow and an undertaking by the state or a state authority to lend funds from and to one another for water or sewerage facilities or systems pursuant to law shall be a provision for services and an activity within the meaning of this Paragraph. (b) Subject to such limitations as may be provided by general law, any county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof may, in connection with any contracts authorized in this Paragraph, convey any existing facilities or equipment to the state or to any public agency, public corporation, or public authority. (c) Any county, municipality, or any combination thereof, may contract with any public agency, public corporation, or public authority for the care, maintenance, and hospitalization of its indigent sick and may as a part of such contract agree to pay for the cost of acquisition, construction, modernization, or repairs of necessary land, buildings, and facilities by such public agency, public corporation, or public authority and provide for the payments of such services and the cost to such public agency, public corporation, or public authority of acquisition, construction, modernization, or repair of land, buildings, and facilities from revenues realized by such county, municipality, or any combination thereof from any taxes authorized by this Constitution or revenues derived from any other source. Paragraph 11.Loca1,qovernment reor,qunizution. (a) The General Assembly may provide by law for any matters necessary or convenient to authorize the consolidation of the governmental and corporate powers and functions vested in municipalities with the governmental and corporate powers and functions vested in a county or counties in which such municipalities are located; provided, however, that no such consolidation shall become effective unless separately approved by amajority ofthequalifiedvotersofthecounty oreach of the counties and of the municipality or each of the municipalities located within such county or counties containing at least 10 percent of the population of the county in which located voting thereon in such manner as may be prescribed in such law. Such law may provide procedures and requirements for the establishment of charter commissions to draft proposed charters for the consolidated government, and the General Assembly is expressly authorized to delegate its powers to such charter commissions for such purposes so that the governmental consolidation proposed by a charter commission may become effective without the necessity of further action by the General Assembly; or such law may require that the recommendation of any such charter commission be implemented by a subsequent local law. (b) The General Assembly may provide by general law for alternatives other than governmental consolidation as authorized in subparagraph (a) above for the reorganization of county and municipal governments, including, but not limited to, procedures to establish a single governing body as the governing authority of a county and a municipality or municipalities located within such county or for the redistribution of powers between a county and a municipality or municipalities located within the county. Such law may require the form of governmental reorganization authorized by such law to be approved by the qualified voters directly affected thereby voting in such manner as may be required in such law. (c) Nothing in this Paragraph shall be construed to limit the authority of the General Assembly to repeal municipal charters without a referendum. SECTION IV. TAXATION POWER OF COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS Paragraph I. Power of taxation. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Paragraph, the governing authority of any county, municipality, or combination thereof may exercise the power of taxation as authorized by this Constitution or by general law. (b) In the absence of a general law: (1) County governing authorities may be authorized by local law to levy and collect business and occupational license taxes and license fees only in the unincorporated areas of the counties. The General Assembly may provide that the revenues raised by such tax or fee be spent for the provision of services only in the unincorporated areas of the county. (2) Municipal governing authorities may be authorized by local law to levy and collect taxes and fees in the corporate limits of the municipalities. (c) The General Assembly may provide by law for the taxation of insurance companies on the basis of gross direct uremiums received from insurance ~olicieswithin the unincorpo- rated areas o?counties. he tax authorized herein may be impbsed by the state or by couniies or by the state for county purposes as may be provided by law. The General Assembly may further provide by law for the reduction, only upon taxable property within the unincorporated areas of counties, of the ad valorem tax millage rate for county or county school district purposes or for the reduction of such ad valorem tax millage rate for both such purposes in connection with imposing or authorizing the imposition of the tax authorized herein or in connection with providing for thedistribution of the proceeds derived from the tax authorized herein. Paragraph 11. Power ofexpenditure. The governing authority of any county, municipality, or combination thereof may expend public funds to perform any public service or public function as authorized by this Constitution or by law or to perform any other service or function as authorized by this Constitution or by general law. Paragraph 111.Purposes of taxation; allocation of taxes. No levy need state the particular purposes for which the same was made nor shall any taxes collected be allocated for any particular purpose, unless otherwise provided by this Constitution or by law. SECTION V. LIMITATION ON LOCAL DEBT Paragraph I. Debt limitations of counties, municipalities,andotherpolitical subdivisions. (a)The debt incurred by any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state, including debt incurred on behalf of any special district, shall never exceed 10percent of the assessed value of all taxable property within such county, municipality, or political subdivision; and no such county, municipality, or other political subdivision shall incur any new debt without the assent of a majority of the qualified voters of such county, municipality, or political subdivision voting in an election held for that purpose as provided by law. (b) Notwithstanding subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, all local school systems which are authorized by law on June 30,1983,to incur debt in excess of I0 percent of the assessed value of all taxable property therein shall continue to be authorized to incur such debt. Paragraph 11. Special district debt. Any county, municipality, or political subdivision of this state may incur debt on behalf of any special district created pursuant to Paragraph VI of Section I1of this article. Such debt may be incurred on behalf of such special district where the county, municipality, or other political subdivision shall have, at or before the time of incurring such debt, provided for the assessment and collection of an annual tax within the special district sufficient in amount to pay the principal of and interest on such debt within 30 years from the incurrence thereof; and no such county, municipality, or other political subdivision shall incur any debt on behalf of such special district without the assent of a majority of the qualified voters of such special district voting in an election held for that purpose as provided by law. No such county, municipality, or other political subdivision shall incur any debt on behalf of such special district in anamount which, when taken together with all other debt outstanding incurred by such county, municipality, or political subdivision and on behalf of any such special district, exceeds 10percent of the assessed value of all taxable propcrty w thin \uch county, munic~palityo, r pollt~cal\ubdiv~\~oln'h. e proccctls o i the I;IX collected u\ ~rovidedhcrc~nshirll be placctl In a \lnklne fund to bc held on helialf of \ucli special district and used exclusively io pay off the principal of and interest on such debt thereafter maturing. Such moneys shall be held and kept separate and apart from all other revenues collected and may be invested and reinvested as provided by law. Paragraph 111. Refunding of outstanding indebtedness. The governing authority of any county, municipality,or otherpolitical subdivisionofthisstatemay provide forthe refunding of outstanding bonded indebtedness without the necessity of a referendum being held therefor, provided that neither the term of the original debt is extended nor the interest rate of the original debt is increased. The principal amount of any debt issued in connection with such refunding may exceed the principal amount being refunded in order to reduce the total principal and interest payment requirements over the remaining term of the original issue. Theproceeds of the refunding issue shall be used solely to retire the original debt. The original debt refunded shall not constitute debt within the meaning of Paragraph I of this section; but the refunding issue shall constitute a debt such as will count against the limitation on debt measured by 10 percent of assessed value of taxable property as expressed in Paragraph I of this section. Paragraph IV. Exceptions to debt limitations. Notwithstanding the debt limitations provided in Paragraph I of this section and without the necessity for a referendum being held therefor, the governing authority of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may, subject to the conditions and limitations as may be provided by general law: (1) Accept and use funds granted by and obtain loans from the federal government or any agency thereof pursuant to conditions imposed by federal law. (2) Incur debt, by way of borrowing from any person, corporation, or association as well as from the state, to pay in whole or in part the cost of property valuation and equalization programs for ad valorem tax purposes. Paragraph V. Temporary loans authorized. The governing authority of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may incur debt by obtaining temporary loans in each year to pay expenses. The aggregate amount of all such loans shall not cxceell7.5pcrcent of the total fro\\ incomc from taxc\coIlected in the I ; I ~preceding ye;lr. Such loans shall be pa)ahlcon or bcfore December 3 I ol'thecalcndar year ill w h~chsuch loall is made. No such loin-maybe obtained when there is a loan then unpaid obtained in any prior year. No such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall incur in any one calendar year an aggregate of such temporary loans or other contracts, notes, warrants, or obligations for current expenses in excess of the total anticipated revenue for such calendar year. Paragraph VI. Levy cgtaxes to pay bonds; sinkingfund required. Any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall at or before the time of incurring bonded indebtedness provide for the assessment and collection of an annual tax sufficient in amount to pay the principal and interest of saiddebt within 30 years from the incurring of such bonded indebtedness. The proceeds of this tax, together with any other moneys collected for this purpose, shall be placed in a sinking fund to be used exclusively for paying the principal of and interest on such bonded debt. Such moneys shall be held and kept separate and apart from all other revenues collected and may be invested and reinvested as provided by law. Paragraph VII. Validiryofprior bond issues.Any and all bond issues validated and issued prior to June 30, 1983, shall continue to be valid. SECTION VI. REVENUE BONDS Paragraph I. Revenue bonds; general limitations. Any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may issue revenue bonds as provided by general law. The obligation represented by revenue bonds shall be repayable only out of the revenue derived from the project and shall not be deemed to be a debt of the issuing political subdivision. No such issuing political subdivision shall exercise the power of taxation for the purpose of paying any part of the principal or interest of any such revenue bonds. Paragraph 11.Revenue bonds;special limitations.Where revenue bonds are issued by any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state in order to buy, construct, extend, operate, or maintain gas or electric generating or distribution systems and necessary appurtenances thereof and the gas or electric generating or distribution system extends beyond the limits of the county in which the municipality or other political subdivision is located, then its services rendered and property located outside said county shall be subject to taxation and regulation in the same manner as are privately owned and operated utilities. Paragraph 111. Development authorities. The development of trade, commerce, industry, andemployment opportunities being apublic purpose vital to the welfare of the peopleof this state, the General Assembly may create development authorities to promote and further such purposes or may authorize the creation of such an authority by any county or municipality or combination thereof under such uniform terms and conditions as it may deem necessary. The General Assembly may exempt from taxation development authority obligations, properties, activities, or income and may authorize the issuance of revenue bonds by such authorities which shall not constitute an indebtedness of the state within the meaning of Section V of this article. Paragraph IV. Validation. The General Assembly shall provide for the validation of any revenue bonds authorized and shall provide that such validation shall thereafter be incontestable and conclusive. Paragraph V. Validity of prior revenue bond issues. All revenue bonds issued and validated prior to June 30, 1983, shall continue to be valid. SECTION VII. COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS Paragraph I. Creation. The General Assembly may by local law create one or more community improvement districts for any county or municipality or provide for the creation of one or more community improvement districts by any county or municipality. Paragraph 11. Purposes. The purpose of a comm~~niitmy provement district shall be the provision of any one or more of the following governmental services and facilities: (I) Street and roadconstruction and maintenance, including curbs, sidewalks,street lights, and devices to control the flow of traffic on streets and roads. (2) Parks and recreational areas and facilities. (3) Storm water and sewage collection and disposal systems. (4) Development, storage, treatment, purification, and distribution of water. ( 5 )Public transportation. (6) Terminal and dock facilities and parking facilities. (7) Such other services and facilities as may be provided for by general law. Paragraph 111. Administration. (a) Any law creating or providing for the creation of a community improvement district shall designate the governing authority of the municipality or county for which the community improvement district is created as the administrative body or otherwise shall provide for the establishment and membership of an administrative body for the community improvement district. Any such law creating or providing for the creation of an administrative body for the community improvement district other than the municipal or county governing authority shall provide for representation of the governing authority of each county and municipality within which the community improvement district is wholly or partially located on the administrative body of the community improvement district. (b) Any law creating or providing for the creation of a community improvement district shall provide that the creation of the community improvement district shall be conditioned upon: (1)The adoption of aresolution consenting to the creation of the community improvement district by: (A) The governing authority of the county if the community improvement district is located wholly within the unincorporated area of a county; (B) The governing authority of the municipality if the community improvement district is located wholly within the incorporated area of a municipality; or (C) The governing authorities of the county and the municipality if the community improvement district is located partially within the unincorporated area of a county and partially within the incorporated area of a municipality; and (2) Written consent to the creation of the community improvement district by: (A) A majority of the owners of real property within the community improvement district which will be subject to taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the administrative body of the community improvement district; and (B) The owners of real property within the community improvement district which constitutes at least 75 percent by value of all real property within the community improvement district which will be subject to taxes, fees, andassessments levied by theadministrative body of the community improvement district; and for this purpose value shall be determined by the most recent approved county ad valorem tax digest. (c) The administrative body of each community improvement district may be authorized to levy taxes, fees, and assessments within the community improvement district only on real property used nonresidentially, specifically excluding all property used for residential, agricultural, or forestry purposes and specifically excluding tangible personal property and intangible property. Any tax, fee, or assessment so levied shall not exceed 2 112 percent of the assessed value of the real property or such lower limit as may be established by law. The law creating or providing for the creation of a community improvement district shall provide that taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the administrative body of the community improvement district shall be equitably apportioned among the properties subject to such taxes, fees, and assessments according to the need for governmental services and facilities created by the degree of density of development of each such property. The law creating or providing for the creation of a community improvement district shall provide that the proceeds of taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the administrative body of the community improvement district shall be used only for the purpose of providing governmental services and facilities which are specially required by the degree of density of development within the community improvement district and not for the purpose of providing those governmental services and facilities provided to the county or municipality as a whole. Any tax, fee, or assessment so levied shall be collected by the county or municipality for which the community improvement district is created in the same manner as taxes, fees, and assessments levied by such county or municipality. The proceeds of taxes, fees, and assessments so levied, less such fee to cover the costs of collection as may be specified by law, shall be transmitted by the collecting county or municipality to the administrative body of the community improvement district and shall be expended by the administrative body of the community improvement district only for the purposes authorized by this Section. Paragraph IV. Debt. The administrative body of a community improvement district may incur debt, as authorized by law, without regard to the requirements of Section V of this Article, which debt shall be backed by the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the community improvement district but shall not be an obligation of the State of Georgia or any other unit of government of the State of Georgia other than the community improvement district. Paragraph V. Cooperation with local governments. The services and facilities provided pursuant to this Section shall be provided for in a cooperation agreement executed jointly by the administrative body and the governing authority of the county or municipality for which the community improvement district is created. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit the authority of any county or municipality to provide services or facilities within any community improvement district; and any county or municipality shall retain full and complete authority and control over any of its facilities located within a community improvement district. Said control shall include but not be limited to the modification of, access to, anddegree and type of services provided through or by facilities ofthemunicipality or county. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to limit or preempt the application of any governmental laws, ordinances, resolutions, or regulations to any community improvement district or the services or facilities provided therein. Paragraph V1. Regulation by general law. The General Assembly by general law may regulate, restrict, and limit the creation of community improvement districts and the exercise of the powers of administrative bodies of community improvement districts. ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION SECTION I. CONSTITUTION, HOW AMENDED Paragraph I. Proposals to amend the Constitution; new Constitution.Amendments to this Constitution or a new Constitution may be proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention, as provided in this article. Only amendments which are of general an uniform applicability throughout the state shall be proposed, passed, or submitted to the people. Paragraph 11. Proposals by the General Assembly; submission to the people. A proposal by the General Assembly to amend this Constitution or to provide for anew Constitution shall originate as a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives and, if approved by iwo-thirds of the members to whicheach house is entitled in ;roll-call voteenteredon their respective journals, shall be submitted to the electors of the entire state at the next general election which is held in the even-numbered years. A summary of such proposal shall be prepared by the Attorney General, the Legislative Counsel, and the Secretary of State and shall be published in the official organ of each county and, if deemed advisable by the "Constitutional Amendments Publication Board," in not more than 20 other newspapers in the state designated by such board which meet the qualifications for being selected as the official organ of a county. Said board shall be composed of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Such summary shall be published once each week for three consecutive weeks immediately preceding the day of the general election at which such proposal is to be submitted. The language to be use in submitting aproposedamendment or anew Constitution shall be in such words as theGeneral Assembly may provide in the resolution or, in the absence thereof, in such language as the Governor may prescribe. A copy of the entire proposed amendment or of a new Constitution shall be filed in the office of the judge of the probate court of each county and shall be available for public inspection; and the summary of the proposal shall so indicate. The General Assembly is hereby authorized to provide by law for additional matters relative to the publication and distribution of proposed amendments and summaries not in conflict with the provisions of this Paragraph. If such proposals is ratified by a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly voting thereon in such general election, such proposal shall become a part of this Constitution or shall become a new Constitution, as the case may be. Any proposal so approved shall take effect as provided in Paragraph VI of this article. When more than one amendment is submitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote on each amendment separately, provided that one or more new articles or related changes in one or more articles may be submitted as a single amendment. Paragraph 111.Repeal or amendment ofproposal. Any proposal by the General Assembly to amend this Constitution or for a new Constitution may be amended or repealed by the same General Assembly which adopted such proposal by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members to which each house is entitled in a roll-call vote entered on their respective journals, if such action is taken at least two months prior to the date of the election at which such proposal is to be submitted to the people. Paragraph IV. Constitutional convention; how called. No convention of the people shall be called by the General Assembly to amend this Constitution or to propose a new Constitution, unless by the concurrence of two-thirds of the members to which each house of the General Assembly is entitled. The representation in said convention shall be based on population as near as practicable. A proposal by the convention to amend this Constitution or for a new Constitution shall be advertised, submitted to, and ratified by the people in the same manner provided for advertisement, submission, and ratification of proposals to amend the Constitution by the General Assembly. The General Assembly is hereby authorized to provide the procedure by which aconvention is to be calledand under which such convention shall operate and for other matters relative to such constitutional convention. Paragraph V. Veto not permitted. The Governor shall not have the right to veto any proposal by theGenera1 Assembly orby aconvention toamend thisConstitutionortoprovide a new Constitution. Paragraph VI. Effective date of amendments or of a new Constitution. Unless the amendment or the new Constitution itself or the resolution proposing the amendment or the new Constitution shall provide otherwise, an amendment to this Constitution or a new Constitution shall become effective on the first day of January following its ratification. ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION I. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Paragraph I. Continuation ofoficers, hoards, commissions,andauthorities. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the officers of the state and all political subdivisions thereof in office on June 30, 1983, shall continue in the exercise of their functions and duties, subject to the provisions of laws applicable thereto and subject to the provisions of this Constitution. (b) All boards, commissions, and authorities specifically named in the Constitution of 1976 which are not specifically named in this Constitution shall remain as statutory boards, commissions, and auihorities; and all constitutional and statutory provisions relating thereto in force and effect on June 30, 1983, shall remain in force and effect as statutory law unless and until changed by the General Assembly. Paragraph 11. Preser-vationof existing laws;judicial review. All laws in force and effect on June 30, 1983, not inconsistent with this Constitution shall remain in force and effect; but such laws may be amended or repealed and shall be subject to judicial decision as to their validity when passed and to any limitations imposed by their own terms. Paragraph 111. Proceedings of courts and administrative tribunals confirmed. All judgments, decrees, orders, and other proceedings of the several courts and administrative tribunals of this state, heretofore made within the limits of their several jurisdictions, are hereby ratified and affirmed, subject only to reversal or modification in the manner provided by law. Paragraph IV. Continuation cf certain constitutional amendmentsfor- a period of four years. (a) The following amendments to the Constitutions of 1877, 1945, and 1976 shall continue in force and effect as part of this Constitution until July 1, 1987, at which time said amendments shall be repealed and shall be deleted as a part of this Constitution unless any such amendment shall be specifically continued in force andeffect without amendment either by a local law enacted prior to July 1,1987,with or without a referendum as provided by law, or by an ordinance or resolution duly adopted prior to July 1, 1987, by the local governing authority in the manner provided for the adoption of home rule amendments to its charter or local act: (I)amendments to theconstitution of 1877and the Constitutionof 1945which were continued in force and effect as a part of the Constitution of 1976 pursuant to the provisions of Article XIII, Section I, Paragraph I1 of the Constitution of 1976 which are in force and effect on the effective date of this Constitution; (2)amendments to the Constitution of 1976 which were ratified as general amendments but which by their terms applied principally to a particular political subdivision or subdivisions which are in force andeffect on the effective date of this Constitution: (3) amendments to the Constitution of 1976 which were ratified not :I\ gcncrul sn1zndlnc.111u~~ I hLarc 111t'oriz a ~ i dcit;'it 011 the ~ ~ I ' C C I I(1Vx1~2o f thi\ C ~ t i \ t ~ t u t ~ o n : and 1 4 ,: ~ ~ i l c . n ~ lto~ t~lllc~C~oint\ti~tlition01' I970 ot'thc I) PC pro\ ~dcdtor In the illt~ncd~atcl! preceding two subparagraphs (2) and (3) of this paragraph which were ratified at the same time this Constitution was ratified. (b) Any amendment which is continued in force and effect after July 1,1987, pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be continued in force and effect as a part of this Constitution, except that such amendment may thereafter be repealed but may not be amended. (c) All laws enacted pursuant to those amendments to the Constitution which are not continued in force and effect pursuant to subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be repealed on July I, 1987.All laws validly enacted on, before, or after July I, 1987,and pursuant to the specific authorization of an amendment continued in force and effect pursuant to the provisionsof subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be legal,valid, and constitutional under this Constitution. Nothing in this subparagraph (c) shall be construed to revive any law not in force and effect on June 30. 1987. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b), the following amendments to the Constitutions of 1877 and 1945 shall be continued in force as a part of this Constitution: amendments to the Constitution of 1877 and the Constitution of 1945 which created or authorized the creation of metropolitan rapid transit authorities, port authorities, and industrial areas and which were continued in force as a part of the Constitution of 1976 pursuant to the provisions of Article XIII, Section I, Paragraph I1 of the Constitution of 1976 and which are in force on the effective date of this Constitution. Paragraph V. Special commission created. Amendments to the Constitution of 1976which were determined to be general and which were submitted to an ratified by the people of the entire state at the same time this Constitution was ratified shall be incorporated and made a part of this Constitution as provided in this Paragraph. There is hereby created a commission to be composed of the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General, and the Legislative Counsel, which is hereby authorized and directed to incorporate such amendments into this Constitution at the places deemed most appropriate to the commission. The commission shall make only such changes in the language of this Constitution and of such amendments as are necessary to incorporate properly such amendments into the Constitution and shall complete its duties prior to July 1, 1983. The commission shall deliver to the Secretary of State this Constitution with those amendments incorporated therein, and such document shall be the Constitution of the State of Georgia. In order that the commission may perform its duties, this Paragraph shall become effective as soon as it has been officially determined that this Constitution has been ratified. The commission shall stand abolished upon the completion of its duties. Paragraph VI. Effective date. Except as provided in Paragraph V of this section, this Constitution shall becomeeffective on July 1,1983;and, except as otherwise providedin this Constitution, all previous Constitutions and all amendments thereto shall thereupon stand repealed. Table of Amendments Year 1984 1986 1988 1990 Total proposed General 11 9 15 9 Ratified General 10 8 6 8 Rejected General 1 1 9 1 44 32 12 Total number of amendments ratified through 1990-32