1. State and US Constitution

2. Article IV (4) of the Constitution It says what state powers are All states must have representatives and be a republic with elected officials (a state can’t be a dictatorship) 49 states, including Florida have a bicameral legislature (two houses that make laws) just like Congress

3. Florida Constitution Outlines the power of the state judicial, the state executive (governor) and state legislative branches “We the people”- the state derives its power from the people

4. Florida Legislature The Legislative Branch makes laws to help and protect the people There is a Florida Senate and a Florida House of Representatives just like there’s a US Senate and a US House of Reps In Florida both houses have a limit of 8 years Representatives may serve 8 years in both houses for a total of 16 years maximum service in the legislature House: 120 districts and each representative serves 2 year terms Senate: 40 districts and each senator serves 4 year terms Districts are redrawn after census (the population count after 10 years)

5. Florida Legislature Same as congress Committees do the work House has 10 committees Senate has 6 committees They have 2/3 veto power like the Congress They meet for 60 days in March

6. Governor Holds the supreme executive power Serves (2) 4-year terms Has a Lieutenant Governor that acts like a vice president

7. State Courts State Supreme Court is the highest court. It is made of 7 justices The Supreme Court is in charge of all Florida Courts After the Supreme Court is the District Court of Appeals. The appellate court handle most cases that are appealed. They are made of a panel of three judges After the District Court there are Circuit Courts, who handle most trial cases In the bottom are County Courts, nicknamed “People’s Court” which deals with civil cases less than $15000, or misdemeanors and traffic violations

8. State Courts County and city court judges= elected in an election State court judges=nominated by a Commission and approved by the governor After every 7 years, judges evaluated by election

9. Differences and Similarities between the State and US Constitutions Remember federalism means that the national and state governments work together to govern Federalism splits responsibility into three parts 1.Reserved powers- powers reserved for states like marriage laws and driver’s license 2.Delegated powers- powers for the federal government like declaring war 3.Concurrent powers- powers both federal and state share like courts and collecting money

10. Differences and Similarities between the State and US Constitutions All things in the US Constitutions like the Bill of Rights have to be followed in the Florida Constitution The Florida Constitution can add more rights but cannot take away rights that are in the US Constitution Both Constitutions have a process for proposing and ratifying the amendments US Constitution doesn’t mention a minimum wage but the Florida Constitution does