Government of Florida facts for kids
|
|
| Polity type | Sub-national administrative division (federated state) |
|---|---|
| Part of | United States of America |
| Constitution | Constitution of Florida |
| Legislative branch | |
| Name | Legislature |
| Type | Bicameral |
| Meeting place | Florida Capitol |
| Upper house | |
| Name | Senate |
| Presiding officer | Ben Albritton, President |
| Lower house | |
| Name | House of Representatives |
| Presiding officer | Daniel Perez, Speaker |
| Executive branch | |
| Head of State and Government | |
| Title | Governor |
| Currently | Ron DeSantis |
| Appointer | Election |
| Cabinet | |
| Name | Cabinet |
| Leader | Governor |
| Deputy leader | Lieutenant Governor |
| Headquarters | State Capitol |
| Judicial branch | |
| Name | Judiciary of Florida |
| Chief Justice | Carlos G. Muñiz |
| Courts | Courts of Florida |
| Supreme Court of Florida | |
| Chief judge | Carlos G. Muñiz |
| Seat | Tallahassee |
The government of Florida works based on the Constitution of Florida. It has three main parts, called branches, which share power. These branches are the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch.
The executive branch includes the Governor and other elected officials. The legislative branch, called the Florida Legislature, is made up of the Senate and the House. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court of Florida and other courts. Florida also lets its citizens vote directly on some laws through special processes.
Contents
Executive Branch: Leading Florida's Government
The executive branch of Florida's government includes the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Florida Cabinet. The Cabinet includes the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Chief Financial Officer. Each of these officials can serve for two four-year terms.
- Elected executive officials in Florida
-
Ron DeSantis (R)
Governor -
James Uthmeier (R)
Attorney General -
Wilton Simpson (R)
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services
.jpg)
The Governor: Florida's Chief Executive
The Governor of Florida is the main leader of the state government. They are in charge of planning and budgeting for Florida. The Governor also leads the Florida Cabinet when they make important decisions.
The Governor has the power to carry out Florida's laws. They can also call on the state's military forces to keep the peace. At least once a year, the Governor gives a "State of the State Address." In this speech, they tell the Florida Legislature how the state government is doing and suggest new laws.
The Florida Cabinet: Sharing Power
Florida is special because it has a strong cabinet-style government. The members of the Florida Cabinet are elected by the people. They have equal power with the Governor on issues the Cabinet handles. The Cabinet includes the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Chief Financial Officer.
Each member of the Cabinet, along with the Governor, gets one vote when making decisions. If there's a tie, the Governor's side wins. Cabinet elections happen every four years.
Attorney General: Florida's Top Lawyer
The Attorney General is Florida's chief legal officer. This person appoints a statewide prosecutor who handles criminal law cases that affect more than one area. The Attorney General is also in charge of the Florida Department of Legal Affairs.
Chief Financial Officer: Managing State Money
The Chief Financial Officer watches over Florida's money. Their job is to make sure state programs spend money correctly. They also oversee how the state collects and spends its revenue. This officer leads the Florida Department of Financial Services (FDFS).
Commissioner of Agriculture: Protecting Food and Consumers
The Commissioner of Agriculture leads the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). This department helps farmers and protects consumers.
State Agencies and Departments
State agencies create rules to help carry out laws. For example, the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Health have many rules. These rules are published in the Florida Administrative Register and collected in the Florida Administrative Code. In 2010, Florida had about 122,000 state employees.
Legislative Branch: Making Florida's Laws
The Florida Constitution says that the state legislature must have two parts. These are the Florida Senate with 40 members and the Florida House of Representatives with 120 members. Both groups meet at the Florida State Capitol.
Members of the Florida House serve for two years. Florida Senate members serve for four years, with half of the senators elected every two years. Members of both houses can serve a maximum of eight years. The legislature also has state auditors and a commission that regulates utilities.
Legislative Sessions
The legislature meets for regular sessions that last 60 days each year. These sessions start in March with the Governor's speech and end in late April or early May. The Florida Legislature often holds special sessions for specific reasons, like reducing the budget. These special sessions can be called by the Governor or by a vote of the members.
When the legislature is not in session, members still work. They attend meetings in their local areas and committee meetings to prepare for the next session. The laws passed by the legislature are collected in the Laws of Florida. The Florida Statutes are the official collection of all state laws.
Judicial Branch: Interpreting Florida's Laws
The Florida State Courts System is the court system for the state. It includes:
- The Florida Supreme Court, which is the highest court.
- Five District Courts of Appeal, which review decisions from lower courts.
- Two types of trial courts: 20 circuit courts and 67 county courts (one for each county).
Florida's Courts
The Supreme Court of Florida is the highest court in the state. It has seven judges: a chief justice and six other justices. This Court makes the final decisions on Florida law, and its rulings must be followed by all other state courts. The five Florida District Courts of Appeal are the next level of courts that hear appeals.
The 20 Florida circuit courts are where most legal cases start. They handle civil cases involving more than $15,000 and serious criminal cases called felonies. They also hear appeals from county courts. Circuit courts also deal with family matters, cases involving young people, and wills.
The 67 Florida county courts handle less serious criminal cases, like violations of local laws. They also handle civil cases where the amount of money involved is $15,000 or less.
Capital City: Tallahassee
Tallahassee was chosen as Florida's capital city in 1823. It was picked because it was located between Florida's two largest cities at the time, Pensacola and Saint Augustine.
Over the years, there were many ideas to move the state capital. This was because Tallahassee was far from many other towns as Florida grew. In the late 1960s, some people wanted to move the capital to Orlando, which is more in the center of the state. However, these ideas stopped after the new Florida Capitol building opened in Tallahassee in 1977.
Local Government: Closer to Home
Florida has four types of local governments: counties, municipalities (like cities and towns), school districts, and special districts.
Counties
Florida has 67 counties. Each county has officials like the sheriff, tax collector, and judges. These officials are elected by local voters.
School Districts
There is one school district for each county. Voters can choose if the superintendent, who leads the school district, is elected or appointed.
Municipalities (Cities and Towns)
Municipalities in Florida can be called towns, cities, or villages. They all have the same legal powers. Municipalities often have their own police and fire departments. They also provide important services like water and trash collection.
Both counties and cities can pass their own laws, collect taxes, and provide public services. All parts of Florida are in a county, but not all areas are part of a municipality. If a county law and a city law conflict, the city law usually wins within the city's borders.
In some cases, county and city governments have joined together. For example, in Jacksonville, the city government handles many duties that a county government would normally do.
Special Districts
Special districts are created for specific purposes. For example, "community development districts" can have many of the same powers as a city or county, except for police power. The Reedy Creek Improvement District (where Walt Disney World is located) is an example of a special district.
Many counties also have "Soil and Water Conservation Districts." These districts work to protect natural resources. Their officials are not paid.
See also
In Spanish: Gobierno de Florida para niños
