---
title: Ga. Const. Art. IX, Sec. I, Para. IV. Civil service systems.
collection: code
id: ga-const:art-ix-sec-i-para-iv
cite_as: Ga. Const. Art. IX, Sec. I, Para. IV
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text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/constitution/ga/art-ix-sec-i-para-iv/text
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date: 2016
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
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publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSTITUTION OF THE / COUNTIES AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS / COUNTIES
---

# Ga. Const. Art. IX, Sec. I, Para. IV. Civil service systems.

A constitution provision shown as in force is in force as printed in the volume. A court decision can make a printed provision unenforceable without changing the volume, and the volume does not record that.

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.

## Cross References

Civil service systems for county employees, § 36-1-21.

## 1976 Constitution.

There was no similar provision in the 1976 Constitution.

## Sheriff’s Office Under Personnel System.

County personnel system was not void as against public policy to the extent it attempts to restrain the sheriff’s power to appoint and discharge the sheriff’s employees. Wayne County v. Herrin, 210 Ga. App. 747, 437 S.E.2d 793 (1993).

## Termination of Employee.

Employee who was hired by a county solicitor general under O.C.G.A. § 15-18-71 was not an employee of the county, and the solicitor general did not bring the employee into the county’s civil service system under O.C.G.A. § 36-1-21(b). Therefore, the employee lacked a protected property interest in the job and could be terminated without cause and without a hearing. Thomas v. Lee, 286 Ga. 860, 691 S.E.2d 845 (2010).