the florida constitution -...
TRANSCRIPT
The Florida ConstitutionWhat’s in it?
While exploring the PowerPoint complete
the focused notes activity!
• _____ identify the purposes of a
constitution (provides a framework
for government, limits government
authority, protects the rights of the
people).
• _____ recognize the basic outline of
the U.S. and Florida constitutions
(both have articles, amendments,
and preambles).
• _____ compare the amendment
process of the U.S. and Florida
constitutions.
• _____recognize the U.S.
Constitution as the supreme law of
the land.
****At the end of this lesson, I will be able to do the following:
Before we start…
amendment
article
constitution
Florida Declaration of
Rights
preamble
suffrage
Define these terms….
Purpose…….What is the purpose of the
Florida Constitution?
• Provides a framework of
government
• Limits government authority
(cannot become too powerful)
• Protects the rights of the people
Introduction of the Florida Constitution
Preamble:We, the people of the State of
Florida, being grateful to
Almighty God for our
constitutional liberty, in
order to secure its benefits,
perfect our government,
insure domestic tranquility,
maintain public order, and
guarantee equal civil and
political rights to all, do
ordain and establish this
constitution.
Does the US Constitution
have a preamble?
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=mKPmobWNJaU
Refresher…….
Popular sovereignty is the principle that the
authority of the
government is created
and sustained by the
consent of its people,
through their elected
representatives, who are
the source of all political
power.
“We the people”
Both get power from the
people!
Sections of the Florida State Constitution
ARTICLES
• Twelve Articles
• Individual sections
that deal with
different subjects
• Together they
outline the state
government and
citizens' rights
Articles in Florida
Constitution …
There are 12
articles in
the Florida
Constitution
The United States
Constitution
has only 7 articles!
Article I – Declaration of RightsSome of Florida's Bill
of Rights
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of the press
• Equal protection of the laws
• Right of a jury trial
• Right to bear arms
• Freedom of worship
• Other traditional American liberties.
The Declaration of Rights is the
part of the Florida Constitution
that lists the basic rights
guaranteed to all citizens who
live in the state
Article II — General Provisions
• Creates the state's boundaries
• Describes three branches of government
• Authorizes a state seal and flag
• Makes Tallahassee the state capital
• Includes code of ethics
• Makes English the official language in Florida
• Protects and conserves Florida's natural resources and beauty.
Article III — Legislative
• Establishes a House
and a Senate
• Requires that states
budget and plan how
to spend their money
• Requires a budget
stabilization or
"rainy day" fund for
emergencies
Article IV — Executive• Governor and Lieutenant
Governor
• Creates Florida's Elected Cabinet…Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture
• Authorizes up to 25 executive departments
• Requires the establishment of:– the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
– Department of Veteran Affairs
– Department of Elderly Affairs
Article V — Judiciary
• Establishes four levels of state courts
• Tells how judges will be chosen
• Provides for election of clerks of Circuit Courts, state attorneys, and public defenders
• This Article is where the state courts derive (get) their power from.
Article VI — Suffrage and Election
• Specifies dates of general elections and qualifications to vote
• Disqualifies convicted felons and the mentally incompetent from voting
• Provides the form of an oath administered to persons registering to vote
• Limits certain state officials terms
Article VII — Finance and Taxation
• All taxes and appropriations to be provided by the Legislature
• Taxing authority and exemptions
• Restricts annual increases in state revenues
• Prohibits state personal income tax and limits inheritance taxes
Article VIII — Local Government
• Creates state authority to establish, abolish or change counties and municipalities
• Specifies their powers and requires that county officials include:– County commissioners
and a separately elected clerk, sheriff
– Tax appraiser
– Tax collector
– Supervisor of elections
Article IX — Education
• Establishes a system of public schools, institutions of higher learning and other public education programs
• The Board of Education, appointed by the governor, supervises this system
• Specifies one school district per county and district leadership.
Article X — Miscellaneous
Carries 27 sections including:
• Authority to have a state militia
• Protection from court seizure of one's home
• State lottery
• Public ownership of lands under navigable waters
• Workplaces without tobacco smoke
• Prohibition of medical licenses after repeated medical malpractice
Article XI — Amendments• Creates five ways to
amend Florida's
Constitution
• Establishes a Tax
and Budget Reform
Commission
• Reviews the state's
tax and budget laws
• How does this differ
from how we amend
the US Constitution?
FIVE Ways to Amend the Florida Constitution….
Can you remember the US Constitution Amendment
process?
IMPORTANT: “We the People” do not directly vote on new
amendments, and the President does not vote on or veto any
amendment.
Article XII - Schedule
This article explains
the complex process
for moving from the
1885 Florida
Constitution to the
1968 (the latest)
Florida
Constitution.
Remember… Supremacy Clause
United States Constitution: Article VI: “This Constitution, and the laws of the United
States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall
be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the
land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution
or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.”
Federal
Law is
supreme
over
state law!
Compare the Florida and US Constitution…United States Constitution Florida Constitution
Drafted in 1787
Begins with “We the People”….
Shows that the federal government
gets its power from the citizens.
Shorter than the Florida
Constitution
Seven articles
1 (large) page
Contains a Bill of Rights
27 Amendments
Written as a “living document” to be
interpreted over time
Contains the Supremacy Clause
which says that the Constitution is
the highest law of the land.
Originally written in 1838
Starts with “We, the people of the
State of Florida”
Current constitution ratified in
1968 (must be reviewed every 20
years)
Longer than the US Constitution
12 articles
80 pages
Contains the Florida Declaration of
Rights
Written as a “living document” to be
interpreted and changed
LOTS of Amendments
Addressed public education, motor
vehicles and elections
Deals with day to day issues that
impact state residents
How are the Florida
Constitution and the
United States
Constitution alike?
How are they
different?
Compare and
Contrast
Practice Question #1
Which part of the Florida Constitution
protects individual rights?
A. Declaration of Rights
B. Bill of Rights
C. Amendments
D. Preamble
Practice Question #2The Venn diagram below compares some features of the U.S.
and Florida Constitutions?
A. created property taxes
B. established a zoning board
C. required a balanced budget
D. guaranteed individual freedoms
Which feature
completes the
Venn diagram?
Practice Question 3The headline below describes an action by citizens.
What conclusion
can be drawn
from the
headline?
A. Citizens can be involved in policy making through their
representatives.
B. Citizens can be directly involved in policy making.
C. Only elected officials may change constitutions.
D. Only elected officials make policy.