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The Constitution of Florida declares that "All political power is inherent
in the people." With the passing of each election, those to be governed
choose those who will lead their government.
The Constitution also provides that the power to govern shall be among
three branches of government: the Legislative Branch, the Executive
Branch, and the Judicial Branch:
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The Legislature is composed of two chambers: a House of Representatives and a Senate. The House has 120 members and the Senate has 40.
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House Chamber
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Senate Chamber
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Each house shall biennially choose its officers including the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.
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Honorable
Larry
Cretul
Speaker of the Florida House
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Honorable
Jeff Atwater
President of the Senate
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The Legislature meets in regular session every year beginning on the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in March. Sessions last 60 calendar days. By
proclamation, Special Sessions may be called by the Governor or by the
leaders of both chambers acting jointly.
The committees of each house meet during the months preceding the
regular session on a schedule set by the presiding officers.
For a bill to become a law, it must be approved by both houses in
identical form.
At a state-wide general election the electors shall choose a governor and a lieutenant
governor and members of the cabinet each for a term of four years.
The Governor is the head of the executive branch of government. Along
with three elected Cabinet officers, he administers the executive
function of state government.
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Governor Charlie Crist
Florida's 44th Governor
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The Lieutenant Governor shall perform such duties pertaining to the
Office of the Governor as shall be assigned by the Governor.
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Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp
Florida's 17th Lt. Governor
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The following agencies are under the jurisdiction of the Governor:
State Board of Administration, Office of the Attorney
General, Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Department of
Children & Families, Department of Citrus, Department of Community
Affairs, Department of Corrections, Agency for Persons with
Disabilities, Department of Education, Department of Elder Affairs,
Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, Department of Health, Agency for Health Care Administration,
Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, Department of Juvenile
Justice, Department of Law Enforcement, Department of the Lottery,
Department of Management Services, Department of Military Affairs,
Florida Parole Commission, Office of Executive Clemency, Department of
Revenue, Department of State, Department of Transportation, Agency for
Workforce Innovation, and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
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Bill McCollum
Attorney General
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The Attorney General shall be the chief state legal officer. |
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Alex Sink
Chief Financial Officer
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The Chief Financial Officer shall serve as the chief
fiscal officer of the state, and shall settle and approve accounts
against the state, and shall keep all state funds and securities.
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Charles H. Bronson
Commissioner of Agriculture
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The Commissioner of Agriculture shall have supervision of matters pertaining to agriculture.
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The Constitution describes the Judicial Branch as "a supreme court,
district courts of appeal, circuit courts, and county courts." The
courts exercise their judicial power in trying persons who are
accused of a crime or making judgments when someone seeks to recover
damages for an injury caused by the wrongful act of another. The
court system oversees enforcement of judicial decisions rendered.
The highest court is the Supreme Court, based in Tallahassee. There
is a Chief Justice, selected by other members of the Supreme Court,
and six other justices. These justices are initially appointed by
the Governor from a list of qualified persons submitted by the
Judicial Nominating Commission.
For subsequent terms, they must stand for retention at general
elections. Each appellate district is represented by at least one
justice.
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Chief Justice Peggy A. Quince
Justice Barbara J. Pariente
Justice R. Fred Lewis
Justice Charles T. Canady
Justice Ricky Polston
Justice Jorge Labarga
Justice James E.C. Perry
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There have
been 80 Justices of the Florida Supreme Court. Eight Justices were
members of the legislative body of the Territory of Florida. Twenty
Justices were members of the State Legislature; four were members of the
Constitutional Convention in 1885; and three represented Florida in
Congress.
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