FL Constitution & State Govt (Unit 7, Lesson 2)

Question 1

Florida’s current Constitution was written in

Answer 1

1968

Question 2

The state Constitution gives this

Answer 2

Rules for how a state government should run, including its branches of government.

Question 3

Rights states can give citizens

Answer 3

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land and cannot be violated. In this federal system, state constitutions cannot give state citizens fewer rights than the U.S. Constitution gives. However, state constitutions can guarantee more rights than the U.S. Constitution does. For example, a state constitution might give more protection for a right that is also in the U.S. Constitution. A state constitution might also include additional rights, or rules about things that are unique to that state.

Question 4

Describe the five methods to amending the Florida Constitution

Answer 4

Ballot Initiative Process
Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Revision Cmomission
Legislative Joint Resolution
Taxation and Budget Reform Commission

Question 5

Florida’s capital

Answer 5

Tallahassee

Question 6

Structure of Florida’s legislature

Answer 6

bicameral

Question 7

Senators in FL serve this term

Answer 7

4 years

Question 8

Reps in FL serve this term

Answer 8

2 years

Question 9

Number of Senators in FL

Answer 9

40

Question 10

Number of Reps in FL

Answer 10

120

Question 11

Minimum age to run for FL legislature

Answer 11

21

Question 12

Total career time in legislature

Answer 12

16 years

Question 13

Number of days FL legislature meets each year

Answer 13

60

Question 14

How FL legislature is similar to US Congress

Answer 14

There is a committee system and majority/minority party leadership system. The majority party holds the leadership of standing committees and assigns members to the committees.

Bills are first studied in committees. The committee can change, accept or reject the bill. Passage of a bill occurs when the bill is accepted by a majority of the members of one house. The passed bill goes to the other house of the Florida Legislature for review; that means a bill passed in the Senate goes to the House of Representatives for review and passage. The only bill required to be passed every year is the state’s budget.

When a bill is passed by both houses it is sent to the Governor for action. The Governor may sign the bill, allow it to become a law without a signature, or veto it.

Question 15

Florida Statutes

Answer 15

All laws in Florida

Question 16

Head of FL executive branch

Answer 16

Governor

Question 17

Terms of Governor

Answer 17

Max of 2 four-year terms

Question 18

Lieutenant Governor’s duties

Answer 18

Should the Governor become unable to serve, the Lieutenant Governor becomes “Acting Governor”. Should the Governor die or resign from office, the Lieutenant Governor takes over until the end of the term.

Question 19

Current FL Governor

Answer 19

Rick Scott, Republican

Question 20

Governor’s Cabinet

Answer 20

Florida’s Governor serves with a cabinet that is made up of three statewide elected officials including Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Question 21

Who can the Governor fire?

Answer 21

By executive order, the governor may suspend from office any state or county elected official who is not subject to impeachment.

Question 22

Who in FL would be subject to impeachment?

Answer 22

The governor cannot suspend the lieutenant governor, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, appellate judges, or circuit court judges. They can be removed only by legislative impeachment.

Question 23

How are county and city level judges put on the bench?

Answer 23

Elected

Question 24

Where do most jury trials take place?

Answer 24

Circuit court

Question 25

Number of circuit court districts

Answer 25

20

Question 26

Term of circuit court judges

Answer 26

6 years

Question 27

Circuit court actions

Answer 27

Circuit courts have general jurisdiction over matters not assigned to the county courts and also hear appeals from county court cases. Thus, circuit courts are at the same time the highest trial courts and the lowest appellate courts in Florida’s judicial system.

Question 28

Number of districts for courts of appeals

Answer 28

5

Question 29

District court judge term

Answer 29

6 years

Question 30

District court of appeals actions

Answer 30

The district courts can review actions taken by state agencies in carrying out the duties of the executive branch of government. A person who doesn’t like the decision of the court of appeals may ask for review in the FL Supreme Court and then the U.S. Supreme Court, but most of these requests are denied.

Question 31

Highest court in Florida

Answer 31

Supreme Court

Question 32

Number of justices in FL Supreme Court

Answer 32

7

Question 33

Actions of FL Supreme Court

Answer 33

The Supreme Court must review death sentences, district court decisions declaring a State statute invalid, bond validations, and certain orders of the Public Service Commission on utility rates and services.

The Supreme Court gives out rules about the procedure in all Florida courts, and can discipline and remove judicial officers.

Question 34

How FL Supreme Court justices get on the bench

Answer 34

Appointed, then voted on every 7 years by the people. Retire at age 70.