Laws governing the initiative process in Georgia
Article X of the Georgia Constitution establishes two ways in which the constitution can be altered, revised or amended over time, either vialegislatively referred constitutional amendments or constitutional conventions.
Some noteworthy features of Article X:
- It contains a prohibition found in very few state constitutions in that it explicitly restricts the type of amendment that can be offered by saying, “Only amendments which are of general and uniform applicability throughout the state shall be proposed, passed, or submitted to the people.”
- The governor is also explicitly forbidden from vetoing acts of the legislature to propose amendments or call conventions.
- Newly approved amendments or revisions are effective on the first day of January following their approval.
- The state legislature can vote to put an entire new constitution on a statewide ballot, rather than just an amendment.
- Unlike in many other states that allow for constitutional conventions, the legislature can unilaterally call for a convention without submitting that proposal to a vote of the people.
Georgia Marijuana Ballot Initiatives for 2016
The following is a list of state measures currently being considered (Source: BallotPedia.org):