FL Constitution & State Govt (Unit 7, Lesson 2) Flashcards
Florida’s current Constitution was written in
1968
The state Constitution gives this
Rules for how a state government should run, including its branches of government.
Rights states can give citizens
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.
Describe the five methods to amending the Florida Constitution
Ballot Initiative Process Constitutional Convention Constitutional Revision Cmomission Legislative Joint Resolution Taxation and Budget Reform Commission
Florida’s capital
Tallahassee
Structure of Florida’s legislature
bicameral
Senators in FL serve this term
4 years
Reps in FL serve this term
2 years
Number of Senators in FL
40
Number of Reps in FL
120
Minimum age to run for FL legislature
21
Total career time in legislature
16 years
Number of days FL legislature meets each year
60
How FL legislature is similar to US Congress
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.
Florida Statutes
All laws in Florida
Head of FL executive branch
Governor
Terms of Governor
Max of 2 four-year terms
Lieutenant Governor’s duties
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.
Current FL Governor
Rick Scott, Republican
Governor’s Cabinet
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.
Who can the Governor fire?
By executive order, the governor may suspend from office any state or county elected official who is not subject to impeachment.
Who in FL would be subject to impeachment?
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.
How are county and city level judges put on the bench?
Elected
Where do most jury trials take place?
Circuit court
Number of circuit court districts
20
Term of circuit court judges
6 years
Circuit court actions
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.
Number of districts for courts of appeals
5
District court judge term
6 years
District court of appeals actions
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.
Highest court in Florida
Supreme Court
Number of justices in FL Supreme Court
7
Actions of FL Supreme Court
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.
How FL Supreme Court justices get on the bench
Appointed, then voted on every 7 years by the people. Retire at age 70.
