The Basics of American Government 3E

Summary

Written by: Maria J. Albo, and Mary Catherine Beutel (student contributor)

The state of Georgia has emerged as an important player in policy decisions over the past several decades. Georgia experienced a major population (and economic) boom in the 1990s with its business friendly laws and relatively inexpensive housing. The capital city of Atlanta gained worldwide attention in 1996 hosting the Olympics. The state at one time leaned Democratic but Republicans gained the majority in the late 1990s. Today the “right” dominates Peach State politics with political powerhouses like Representative Newt Gingrich leading the “Republican Revolution” with his election as Speaker of the House in 1995 and his popular “Contract with America”. In 2002 Georgians elected Sonny Perdue to serve as the first Republican governor since the Reconstruction Era, further strengthening conservative ideology within the state. The next Governor, Nathan Deal, was also a Republican who formerly represented Georgia’s 9th Congressional District (which includes the University of North Georgia) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Nathan Deal was elected to Congress in 1993 as a Democrat and then switched to a Republican in 1995 (reportedly because he was inspired fellow Georgian Gingrich’s “Contract with America”). Deal took office in 2010 as Governor of Georgia and was reelected in 2014 (Office of the Governor, 2016). Despite his party allegiance, Deal at times moved away from the conservative agenda and acted as a trustee of the state (see chapter seven) in his role as Governor.