• Many pre historic hunter gatherers lived in this state as long as 12,000 years ago

• European Explorers also came through Florida like Ponce de Leon and Hernando De Soto

• Florida was colonized by the Spanish until 1763, then the British took hold of the state

• Spain then won Florida back as part of the peace settlement from the American Revolution

• 1821- Andrew Jackson established a territorial government in Florida

• Tallahassee became the capital in 1824• The early economy was based on agriculture• Native American tribes in the Florida territory

included the Seminoles and the Miccosukee• Florida became the 27th state on March 3,

1845

• Law enforcing and law administering branch of the government

• Governor is the leader; lieutenant governor is the elected running mate– Serves 4 year term– May be elected for 2 consecutive terms

• Cabinet members are independently elected and include a Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General, and Commissioner of Agriculture

Charlie Crist, Governor; Alex Sink, CFO; Bill McCollum, Attorney General

• The law making branch composed of two houses: The Senate and the House of Representatives

• Senate has 40 members– Each elected to a 4 year term– Half are elected every two years providing

staggered terms– They represent a district which is based on

population– Every 10 years, the districts are redrawn based on

the census numbers

The Florida Senate meeting room.

• The House of Representatives consists of 120 members– All are elected every two years in even numbered

years– State representatives represent a Congressional

District, like the senate, that is reapportioned every 10 years

State House of Representative districts

• Interprets the laws through courts established by state constitution

• Consists of the– Supreme Court– District Court of Appeals– Circuit Court– County Court