Georgia House of Representatives - 1995/1996 Sessions

HB 10 - Elections; code of conduct for candidates; establish

Page Numbers - 1/ 2/ 3

Code Sections - 21-1-3/ 21-1-4

1. Buckner  95th          2. Kinnamon  4th           3. Perry  11th
4. Purcell  9th


House Comm: GAff       /                Senate Comm:            /                                   
House Vote: Yeas       Nays             Senate Vote: Yeas     Nays                                  
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               House          Action         Senate                                                 
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              1/13/95  Read 1st Time                                                                
              1/23/95  Read 2nd Time                                                                
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Code Sections amended: 21-1-3, 21-1-4                                                               


HB 10                                             LC 22 1325






                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                               AN ACT


  1- 1  To amend Chapter 1 of Title 21 of the Official Code of
  1- 2  Georgia Annotated, relating to elections in general, so as
  1- 3  to establish a code of conduct for candidates for elective
  1- 4  office; to provide for related matters; to repeal
  1- 5  conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

  1- 6       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

                         SECTION 1.

  1- 7  Chapter 1 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia
  1- 8  Annotated, relating to elections in general,  is amended by
  1- 9  adding at its end new Code sections to be designated as Code
  1-10  Sections 21-1-3 and 21-1-4 to read as follows:

  1-11    "21-1-3. (Index)

  1-12    There is established for and within the state a code of
  1-13    conduct for candidates for elective office which shall
  1-14    read as follows:

  1-15     CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING ELECTIVE OFFICE

  1-16      The Georgia General Assembly, through enactment of the
  1-17      Code of Conduct for Candidates Seeking Elective Office,
  1-18      acknowledges and affirms to every candidate for public
  1-19      office in the State of Georgia the moral obligation to
  1-20      adhere voluntarily to these principles.  Through Code
  1-21      Sections 21-1-3 and 21-1-4, candidates are encouraged to
  1-22      present a campaign which adheres to the highest
  1-23      principles of honest debate and fair and ethical
  1-24      practices.  Debate of issues will embrace the democratic
  1-25      process while demonstrating integrity and respect for
  1-26      the constitutional right of citizens to choose their
  1-27      governing representation.  Campaigns will be conducted
  1-28      so that citizens' understanding and confidence in the
  1-29      political process and government are expanded.  The goal
  1-30      of each candidate will be to foster respect, faith, and
  1-31      trust in elected officials and provide a foundation for
  1-32      government that will inspire citizens to unite with



                                 -1- (Index)

                                                  LC 22 1325

  2- 1      elected officials to resolve the issues that confront
  2- 2      our state.

  2- 3      Any person who is a candidate for any elective office in
  2- 4      this state should:

  2- 5        I. Put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to
  2- 6        country above loyalty to persons, party, or office.

  2- 7        II. Uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal
  2- 8        regulations of the United States and the State of
  2- 9        Georgia and of all governments therein and never be a
  2-10        party to their evasion.

  2-11        III. Give his or her earnest effort and best thought
  2-12        to the duties of the office sought.

  2-13        IV. Seek to find and employ more efficient and
  2-14        economical ways of getting tasks accomplished.

  2-15        V. Never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of
  2-16        special favors or privileges to anyone, whether for
  2-17        remuneration or not, and never accept, for self or
  2-18        family, favors or benefits under circumstances which
  2-19        might be construed by reasonable persons as
  2-20        influencing the performance of the governmental duties
  2-21        of the office sought.

  2-22        VI. Make no private promises of any kind binding upon
  2-23        the duties of office, since a government official has
  2-24        no private word which can be binding on public duty.

  2-25        VII. Engage in no business with the government, either
  2-26        directly or indirectly, which is inconsistent with the
  2-27        conscientious performance of the governmental duties
  2-28        of the office sought.

  2-29        VIII. Never use any information coming to him or her
  2-30        confidentially in connection with governmental affairs
  2-31        as a means for making private profit.

  2-32        IX. Expose corruption wherever discovered.

  2-33        X. Adhere to the highest standards of truthfulness in
  2-34        all campaign activities, recognizing that untruthful
  2-35        campaign statements debase the electoral process,
  2-36        lower the repute of government, and cast discredit
  2-37        upon all candidates for office.

  2-38        XI. Uphold these principles, ever conscious that
  2-39        public office is a public trust.



                                 -2- (Index)

                                                  LC 22 1325

  3- 1    21-1-4. (Index)

  3- 2    (a) The Secretary of State shall provide a depository
  3- 3    where candidates seeking elected office may submit items
  3- 4    that, in their opinion, are evidence of a violation of the
  3- 5    Code of Conduct for Candidates Seeking Elective Office.
  3- 6    The depository will be open for public inspection.

  3- 7    (b) Items placed in the depository will be held through
  3- 8    two campaign cycles before being purged.

  3- 9    (c) The Secretary of State will issue a depository
  3-10    notification to the author of the item received, or to the
  3-11    candidate to whose campaign the item refers, if said
  3-12    candidate is not the recognized author of the material.
  3-13    Said candidate may respond to the item being placed in the
  3-14    depository by submitting to the Secretary of State a
  3-15    letter of explanation or rebuttal that will also be placed
  3-16    in the depository."

                         SECTION 2.

  3-17  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
  3-18  repealed.



























                                 -3- (Index)