FL Constitutional Law Flashcards
Article II
General Provisions
Article III
Legislature
Article IV
Executive
Article V
Judiciary
Article VI
Suffrage & Elections
Article VII
Finance & Taxation
Article VIII
Local Government
Article IX
Education
Article X
Miscellaneous (e.g. Homestead)
Article XI
Amendments
Article XII
Schedule
State Constitutions are a limitation on state powers. The state as sovereign has certain reserved powers known as police powers. In Florida, the state has the power to provide for the ____________, ___________, ____________, and _____________ of its citizens.
General welfare; health; safety; morals
Declaration of Rights
FL’s counterpart to the federal Bill of Rights is the Article I, Declaration of Rights. Some of these rights are more expressly articulated than those found in the U.S. Constitution.
- Right to privacy
- Right to work
- Right to access to courts
Equal Protection
FL’s Equal Protection applies ONLY to state action. The same standards of review based upon the class of persons subject to the alleged discrimination or the types of rights allegedly infringed that apply under the U.S. Constitution apply under the FL Constitution.
The FL Constitution expressly forbids discrimination based on ________, _________, ___________, or ___________. Thus strict scrutiny is applied to these cases. For non-suspect classes, the rational basis test is applied.
Race; religion; national origin; physical handicap
Strict scrutiny requires:
State shows compelling state interest is served
Rational basis requires:
π must show not related to achievement of legitimate state interest
All persons have inalienable rights including but not limited to, the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry and to acquire possess and protect property. These rights are fundamental, so ______________ is applied.
Strict scrutiny
Freedom of Religion
FL’s constitution forbids regulation and establishment of religion by the government and guarantees free exercise of religion to each individual. However, it also states that religious freedom does not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, peace or safety. Also no revenue of the state shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in the aid of any church, religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.
Freedom of Religion - Lemon Test:
(1) Primarily secular purpose
(2) Primary effect neither advances nor inhibits religion
(3) Does not produce excessive entanglement with religion
Freedom of Speech and the Press
FL’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and no state law may be passed abridging freedom of speech or of the press. There is a strong presumption in favor of public access to court proceedings and records. The free speech and press provisions of the FL Constitution have generally been analyzed in the same manner as the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Prior Restraint
Not favored by courts
Time, Place, Manner restrictions:
OK if content neutral. (non-content based) IF is narrowly tailored, serving compelling state interest
Commercial Speech:
Not as protected as political speech
Obscenity
Act is prurient, offensive, & no artistic value
Freedom of Assembly
The FL Constitution provides that the people retain the right to assemble peaceably and to petition for redress of grievances.
Right to Work
The right of a person to work shall NOT be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor organization. The rights of employees, by and through a labor organization to bargain collectively shall NOT be denied or abridged. Public employees shall have NO right to strike.
Due Process
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, or be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense, or be compelled in any criminal matter to be a witness against oneself. Procedural due process in FL extends to actions by private organizations exercising a quasi-public function.
Procedural Due Process
= Fair Trial
Notice & a hearing
Right to appeal
Jury trial - can’t be taken away by legislature
Substantive Due Process
= Fundamental Rights
Rights to possess property, privacy, and jury trial
Prohibited Laws
No bill of attainder, ex opst facto law or law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be passed. But note that although virtually no degree of impairment of contract is permitted, where the state is not a party to the contract, the courts have balanced the degree to which a party’s contract rights are statutorily impaired against the evil the state is attempting to remedy through the statute.
Bill of attainder
One person
Ex Post Facto Law
Retroactive application
Impairment of Contract
Blank
Search and Seizures
This right shall be construed in conformity with the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution, as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court.
Excessive Punishments
The FL Constitution prohibits:
(i) Excessive fines
(ii) Cruel or unusual punishment
(iii) Forfeiture of estates
(iv) Indefinite imprisonment; and
(v) Unreasonable detention of witnesses
Article I
Declaration of Rights
Administrative Penalties
No administrative agency shall impose a sentence of imprisonment, nor shall it impose any other penalty except as provided by law. An administrative agency cannot award non-quantifiable common law damages (e.g., emotional distress) but may award quantifiable damages (e.g., back pay, attorney’s fees).
The courts shall be open to every person for redress of any injury and justice shall be administered without ________, ________, or __________.
Sale; denial; delay
If the legislature abolishes a cause of action, a reasonable alternative must be provided unless:
(1) The legislature can demonstrate ________________ and
(2) No alternative _____________
A compelling public necessity; ???
Trial by Jury
The right of trial by jury shall be secure to all and remain inviolate.
If you had right to jury in 1845, you have right to jury now. (Can waive right)
Right to Privacy
Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the person’s private life except as otherwise provided herein. This section shall not be construed to limit the public’s right of access to public records and meetings as provided by law.
More protection in FL Constitution.
Standard: Government interference with the right of privacy is permitted ONLY if there is a compelling state interest and the least intrusive means are used to protect that interest.
Access to public records and meetings
Sunshine Act
All meetings open to public, must be duly noticed, can get the documents produced;
And all records can be open to public (most personnel records are available)
Exemptions: Must state reason & be broader than necessary
The powers of the state government shall be divided into ________, __________ ,and __________ branches. NO persons belonging to one branch shall exercise any powers appertaining to either of the other branches unless expressly provided in the constitution.
Legislative; executive; judicial
The concept of separation of powers as a check on overall governmental power is a tradition in the American system of government. Each branch of government has its duties. The legislative branch ______________, the executive branch ______________, and the judicial branch __________________________.
Makes laws; enforces law; interprets the laws and actions of the executive branch
When one branch of the government usurps the function of another branch, it is said to ________. When one branch of government delegates its responsibilities to another branch of government, it is said to violate the ________________.
Encroach; non-delegation doctrine
___________ prescribes duties and rights under our government and the legislature is responsible for enacting such policies; creates, defines, and regulates rights.
Substantive law
____________ concerns the means and methods to apply and enforce those duties and rights and the Supreme Court determines this type of law through the promulgation of rules;.
Procedural law
The legislature ______ delegate the power to make law or fundamental policy decisions.
Cannot
The executive agencies may make rules; however, the statute must provide __________________ so that the agencies are merely implementing policy determined by the legislature.
Sufficient guidelines and standards
The legislature may not delegate to any agency:
(1) The right to define the elements of a crime;
(2) Create criminal penalties; or
(3) Fashion equitable remedies
The legislature is bicameral and consists of a senate and a house of representatives. The ___ senators are elected for terms of 4 years and the ___ house members are elected for terms of 2 years.
40; 120
This is convened 14 days after each general election.
Organization Session
This is convened in the first week in March. Laws on any subject may be enacted in this session by a majority vote.
Regular Session
May be called by the Governor. Limited to 20 days, unless extended by a vote of 3/5, and no new business may be acted upon without the consent of 2/3 of the membership. May also be convened by legislators.
Special Sessions
Each house determines its own rules of procedure and may punish a member for contempt or disorderly conduct by majority vote of the membership. By a _____ vote of the membership the house may expel a member.
2/3
Requirements for a Law
(1) Cannot be vague
(2) Cannot be overbroad
(3) Must be reasonably related to public welfare
(4) Constitutional requirement
Constitutional Requirement for Law
(1) Must be limited to single subject
(2) Must have an adequate title
(3) Text must be set out
(4) Must have an enacting clause
Vote required for: Each house for passage of bills (including joint resolutions and reapportionment).
Majority Vote
Vote required for: Senate to convict a suspended state, county or municipal officer.
Majority Vote
Vote required for: Each house to extend a regular session.
3/5 Vote
Vote required for: Each house to convene a special session.
3/5 Vote
Vote required for: Each house to amend or revise the constitution.
3/5 Vote
Vote required for: Each house to add prohibited subjects for special laws and general laws of local application.
3/5 Vote
Vote required for: Each house to raise the tax rate on corporate income.
3/5 Vote