GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1945

(text as ratified by Georgia voters on Aug. 7, 1945)

ARTICLE XI.

COUNTIES AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS

SECTION I.

Paragraph I. Counties A Corporate Body; Boundaries. Each county shall be a body corporate with such powers and limitations as may be prescribed by law. All suits by or against a county shall be in the name thereof; and the metes and bounds of the several counties shall remain as now prescribed by law, unless changed as hereinafter provided.

Paragraph II. Number Limited. There shall not be more than one hundred and fifty-nine counties in this State.

Paragraph III. New Counties Permitted When. No new county shall be created except by the consolidation or merger of existing counties.

Paragraph IV. Consolidation of Counties; Method. The General Assembly shall have power, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the qualified voters of each of the counties to be affected who participate in elections held for that purpose, to provide for the consolidation of two or more counties into one, or the merger of one or more counties into another, or the division of a county, and the merger of portions thereof into other counties.

Paragraph V. Dissolution of Counties; Method. Any County may be dissolved and merged with a contiguous county or counties by two-thirds of the qualified voters of each of the counties affected who participate in elections held for that purpose.

Paragraph VI. County Governments Uniform; Exceptions. Whatever tribunal, or officers, may be created by the General Assembly for the transaction of county matters, shall be uniform throughout the State, and of the same name, jurisdiction, and remedies, except that the General Assembly may provide for Commissioners of Roads and Revenues in any county, may abolish the office of County Treasurer in any county, may fix the compensation of County Treasurers, and may consolidate the offices of Tax Receiver and Tax Collector in the office of Tax Commissioner, and may fix his compensation, without respect to uniformity.

Paragraph VII. Consolidation of Governments; Submission to Voters. The General Assembly may provide by general law optional systems of consolidated county and municipal government, providing for the organization and the powers and duties of its officers. Such optional systems shall become effective when submitted to the qualified voters of such county and approved by a majority of those voting.

Paragraph VIII. County Lines. County lines shall not be changed, unless under the operation of a general law for that purpose.

Paragraph IX. County Sites Changed; Method. No County site shall be changed or removed, except by a two-thirds vote of the qualified voters of the county, voting at an election held for that purpose and by a majority vote of the General Assembly.

SECTION II.

Paragraph I. County Officers; Election; Term; Removal; Eligibility. The county officers shall be elected by the qualified voters of their respective counties or districts, and shall hold their office for four years. They shall be removed upon conviction for malpractice in office; and no person shall be eligible for any of the offices referred to in this paragraph unless he shall have been a resident of the county for two years and is a qualified voter.

Paragraph II. Compensation of County Officers. County officers may be on a fee basis, salary basis, or fee basis supplemented by salary, in such manner as may be directed by law.

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