1. State and Local Government

2. Florida Government

3. The Legislative Branch:
The Florida State Legislature
Bicameral
Florida House of Representatives
120 members (one from each representative district)
Known as State Representatives
Two-year term
The Florida Senate
40 members (on from each senatorial district)
Known as State Senators
Four year term

4. The Florida State Legislature
Requirements for office of the Florida Legislature
Be at least 21 years old
Be a resident of Florida for at least two years
Be a resident of the district he or she will represent

5. The Florida Legislature
Has the power to make laws
Laws made by Congress are known as Acts
Laws made by the state legislature are known as Statutes
Similarities to Congress
Investigative powers
Override a veto by 2/3 majority vote
Impeach officials

6. The Executive Branch: The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Cabinet
Head of Executive Branch is the Governor
President is head of executive branch at the federal level.
Instead of a Vice President, Florida has a Lieutenant Governor (appointed)
Requirements
Be at least 30 years old
Have lived in FL for the
past 7 years before the
election.

7. The Executive Branch: The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Cabinet
Similarities to the powers of the President of the U.S.
Chief executive of the state government
Veto proposed legislation
Commands the state militia
Pardon those convicted of state crimes
Oversees departments and administrative agencies

8. The Executive Branch: The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Cabinet
Florida Cabinet Members
Attorney General
Chief Financial Officer
Commissioner of Agriculture
Unlike the federal government, these cabinet members are elected officials
The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Cabinet members are all elected to a 4-year term.

9. The Judicial Branch U.S. Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeals
Federal Courts
Florida State Courts
U.S. Supreme Court
Circuit Courts of Appeals
District Court
Florida Supreme Court
District Court of Appeals
Circuit Court
County Court

10. Two Thirds of Both Houses…Three fourths of all states!
The Amendment Process
Florida
United States
Proposal
5 methods for proposal
Adoption
60% of voters must approve in a referendum, held in the next general election or 66.7% of voters if it concerns taxes
Proposal
2/3 of each house of Congress or by a national convention of 2/3 of the state legislatures
Ratification
¾ of the state legislatures of by special conventions in ¾ of the states
Two Thirds of Both Houses…Three fourths of all states!

11. The Lawmaking Process at the State Level
Very similar to the process at the federal level in Congress
Once the bill has been passed in both the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives, it is submitted to the Governor for approval.
The governor must sign or veto the bill within 7 days if the legislature is in session or 15 days if the legislature has adjourned.
There is no pocket veto
A new law becomes effective on the 60th day after the adjournment of the legislature, unless specified.

12. The Lawmaking Process at the Local Level

13. Local Government

14. Local Governments Three kinds of local governments:
Counties, municipalities, and special districts
The laws they make must not conflict with the laws made by the Florida Legislature

15. County Governments Florida is divided into 67 counties
Citizens in each county elect a sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, and other officials.
Board of Commissioners: Made up of 5-7 elected commissioners
Laws they pass are called ordinances
Each county also forms its own school district
School board members and Superintendent of Schools

16. Municipal Governments
Formed for cities and towns; formed within the areas of counties, but they are independent and at the same level of government

17. Municipal Governments
Chief Executive of a city or town is often known as the Mayor
Mayor is elected by all voters of the city or town
The Mayor is usually assisted by a City Council or City Commission, whose members are also elected
The city council or commission passes local laws known as municipal ordinances, which take priority over county ordinances within the municipality

18. Special Districts Similar to counties and municipalities
They are established to meet some special purpose
Can help finance projects, provide services for growth, or meet citizens’ demands
May be organized for fire prevention, flood control, or water rationing. (For example, Florida is divided into five water management districts)
Operated by district governing boards
Independent = Elected governing board
Dependent = Same as commissioners of the county or municipality

19. Putting it All Together: Complete the Chart Below in your notes
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Local
City Council
County Courts
State
Federal
President