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FLORIDA HISTORY
 1845 Florida became 27th State
 1861 Florida Seceded from Union - joined CSA
First Capitol Building In Tallahassee 1824
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1838 First Florida Constitution
1968 Current Constitution ratified
Defines:
Structure of government
Duties
Responsibilities
Powers
Basic laws of the state
Guarantees rights and freedoms
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POWERS
Legislature - Bicameral
Senate Four year terms (2)
House Two year terms (4)
Executive: Four Year Terms (2)
Governor
Attorney General
Chief Financial Officer
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
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FLORDA CABINET
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POWERS
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT
LT GOVERNOR CARLOS LOPEZ-CANTERA
ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI
CFO JEFF ATWATER
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE ADAM PUTNAM
JUDICIARY APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR
CHIEF JUSTICE JORGE LABARGA
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GOVERNOR RESPONSIBILITIES
• Chief executive of Florida, and serves as chairman
of the Florida cabinet.
• Has the power to execute Florida's laws and to call
out the state militia to preserve the public peace.
• Required to deliver an address to the Florida
Legislature, referred to as the "State of the State
Address," regarding the condition and operation of
the state government and to suggest new
legislation.
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ATTORNEY GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• Serves as the Chief Legal Officer
• Protects Florida consumers from various types of
fraud and enforces the state’s antitrust laws.
• Defends the state in civil litigation cases and
represents the people of Florida when criminals
appeal their convictions in state and federal courts.
• The Attorney General defends the constitutionality
of statutes duly enacted by the Legislature
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COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
AND CONSUMER SERVICES RESPONSIBILITIES
• Establishes rules for the state's animal,
aquaculture, forestry and produce industries.
• Regulates various consumer services, including
motor vehicle repair shops, charitable
organizations, dance studios, pawnshops,
telemarketers and several others.
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CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES
• Combination of the former offices of
• Comptroller
• Treasurer
• Insurance Commissioner and
• Fire Marshal.
• Oversees the state's finances, collecting revenue,
paying state bills, auditing state agencies
• Administrative oversight over the offices which
handle banking and insurance regulation.
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FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
(FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT) JUSTICE BARBARA J. PARIENTE,
CHIEF JUSTICE JORGE LABARGA, JUSTICE R. FRED LEWIS
(BACK ROW, FROM LEFT) JUSTICE RICKY POLSTON, JUSTICE PEGGY A. QUINCE,
JUSTICE CHARLES T. CANADY AND JUSTICE JAMES E.C. PERRY
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THE CONSTITUTION
CURRENT VERSION 1968
39,000 WORDS, 12 ARTICLES
1. Declaration of Rights Finance/Taxation
7. Finance /Taxation
2. General Provisions Government
8. Local
3. Legislature
9. Education
4. Executive Miscellaneous
10. Miscellaneous
5. Judiciary Amendments
11. Amendments
6. Suffrage and Elections
12. Schedule
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AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Five ways to amend
1.
Florida Legislature ~ Joint Resolution
2.
Citizen’s Initiative ~ Signed by 8% of eligible voters Approx. 700,000
3.
Constitutional Revision Commission - Every 20 years. Meeting this year, 2017
4.
Taxation and Budget Commission
5.
Constitutional Convention
Each Amendment must have 60% of votes cast to pass at next General Election
Amendments are changes to text of Constitution, not added at end like U.S. Constitution.
102 Amendments since 1968
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FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Session Starts First Tuesday in March (usually)
Officers elected every two years
(14 days after General Election)
Session not to exceed 60 days
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HOW NEW LAWS ARE CREATED
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PALM BEACH COUNTY LEGISLATORS
Senators
Joe Negron
Kevin Rader
Bobby Powell
Jeff Clemons
District 25
District 29
District 30
District 31
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PALM BEACH COUNTY LEGISLATORS
Representatives
Joseph Abruzzo
Mary Lynn Magar
Rick Roth
Matt Willhite
David Silvers
Al Jacquet
Bill Hager
Lori Berman
Emily Slosberg
District 81
District 82
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Legislative and policy-setting body
Must live in the District
Elected by voters in district – Staggered terms
Term Limit: 2 four year terms
Hal Valeche
Paulette Burdick, Mayor
Dave Kerner
Steven Abrams
Mary Lou Berger
Melissa McKinlay, Vice Mayor
Mack Bernard
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
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YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Back Row: Mack Bernard Steven Abrams
Front Row:
Melissa McKinlay
Hal Valeche
Paulette Burdick
Dave Kerner
Mary Lou Berger
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CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS
NON-PARTISAN
SUPERVISOR OF
ELECTIONS
SUSAN BUCHER
PROPERTY
APPRAISER
DOROTHY JACKS
SHERIFF
RICK BRADSHAW
AUGUST 2020
AUGUST 2020
AUGUST 2020
PARTISAN
CLERK AND
COMPTROLLER
SHARON BOCK
NOVEMBER 2020
PUBLIC DEFENDER
CARY HAUGHWOUT
NOVEMBER 2020
STATE ATTORNEY
DAVE ARONBERG
NOVEMBER 2020
TAX COLLECTOR
ANNE GANNON
NOVEMBER 2020
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PALM BEACH COUNTY CHARTER
Approved by Voters 1984
Establishes True Home Rule.
Creates local laws that are not in conflict with - or
prohibited by - state or federal law or constitution
Provides procedures to create new local laws or amend
local laws
Provides process to amend the charter itself
Provides process for voters to recall county
commissioners
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COMMISSION DUTIES AND POWERS
Provide law enforcement, fire rescue and disaster relief
Construct and maintain county buildings, road, bridges
Provide programs for housing, land conservation, etc.
Adopt and enforce building codes
Construct and repair cultural, recreational and library
programs
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YOUR ROLE
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