二 Constitution vs. Constitution
How many Constitutions does
the United States have?
The United States has one.
Every state has one. Wiki
Some non-states have one.
Every Constitution is different (with a few things in common).
U.S. Constitution
Florida Constitution
Box the parts that are the same in both documents.
We the People of the United
States, in Order to form a
more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure
domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common
defense, promote the
general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United
States of America.
We, the people of the State of
Florida, being grateful to
Almighty God for our
constitutional liberty,
in order to secure its
benefits, perfect our
government, insure
domestic tranquility,
maintain public order, and
guarantee equal civil and
political rights to all, do
ordain and establish this
constitution.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The executive Power
shall be vested in a
President of the
United States of
America.
The supreme
executive power
shall be vested in a
governor.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The executive Power
shall be vested in a
President of the
United States of
America.
The supreme
executive power
shall be vested in a
governor.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The executive Power
shall be vested in a
President of the
United States of
America.
The supreme
executive power
shall be vested in a
governor.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The judicial Power of
the United States
shall be vested in
one Supreme Court,
and in such inferior
Courts as the
Congress may from
time to time ordain
and establish.
The judicial power
shall be vested in a
supreme court,
district courts of
appeal, circuit courts
and county courts.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The judicial Power of
the United States
shall be vested in
one Supreme Court,
and in such inferior
Courts as the
Congress may from
time
The judicial power
shall be vested in a
supreme court,
district courts of
appeal, circuit courts
and county courts.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The judicial Power of
the United States
shall be vested in
one Supreme Court,
and in such inferior
Courts as the
Congress may from
time
The judicial power
shall be vested in a
supreme court,
district courts of
appeal, circuit courts
and county courts.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
All legislative Powers
herein granted shall
be vested in a
Congress of the
United States, which
shall consist of a
Senate and House of
Representatives.
The legislative power
of the state shall be
vested in a
legislature of the
State of Florida,
consisting of a
senate … and a
house of
representatives...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
All legislative Powers
herein granted shall
be vested in a
Congress of the
United States, which
shall consist of a
Senate and House of
Representatives.
The legislative power
of the state shall be
vested in a
legislature of the
State of Florida,
consisting of a
senate … and a
house of
representatives...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
All legislative Powers
herein granted shall
be vested in a
Congress of the
United States, which
shall consist of a
Senate and House of
Representatives.
The legislative power
of the state shall be
vested in a
legislature of the
State of Florida,
consisting of a
senate … and a
house of
representatives...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The Senate of the
United States shall
be composed of two
senators from each
State, chosen for six
Years…
Senators shall be
elected for terms of
four years...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The Senate of the
United States shall
be composed of two
senators from each
State, chosen for six
Years…
Senators shall be
elected for terms of
four years...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The Senate of the
United States shall
be composed of two
senators from each
State, chosen for six
Years…
Senators shall be
elected for terms of
four years...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The House of
Representatives
shall be composed
of Members chosen
every second year...
Members of the
house of
representatives shall
be elected for terms
of two years...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The House of
Representatives
shall be composed
of Members chosen
every second year...
The words are a little
different, but…
Members of the
house of
representatives shall
be elected for terms
of two years...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
The House of
Representatives
shall be composed
of Members chosen
every second year...
Members of the
house of
representatives shall
be elected for terms
of two years...
The words are a little
different, but…
the meanings are the
same!
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
All Bills for raising
Revenue shall
originate in the
House of
Representatives…
Any bill may
originate in either
house ...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
All Bills for raising
Revenue shall
originate in the
House of
Representatives…
Any bill may
originate in either
house ...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
All Bills for raising
Revenue shall
originate in the
House of
Representatives…
Any bill may
originate in either
house ...
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
Every bill which shall have
passed the House of
Representatives and the
Senate, shall, before it
become a Law, be
presented to the President
of the United States; If he
approve he shall sign it,
but if not he shall return it
… If any Bill shall not be
returned … within ten Days
… the Same shall be a
Law...
Every bill passed by the
legislature shall be
presented to the governor
for approval and shall
become a law if the
governor approves and
signs it, or fails to veto it
within seven consecutive
days after presentation.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
Every bill which shall have
passed the House of
Representatives and the
Senate, shall, before it
become a Law, be
presented to the President
of the United States; If he
approve he shall sign it,
but if not he shall return it
… If any Bill shall not be
returned … within ten Days
… the Same shall be a
Law...
Every bill passed by the
legislature shall be
presented to the governor
for approval and shall
become a law if the
governor approves and
signs it, or fails to veto it
within seven consecutive
days after presentation.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
Every bill which shall have
passed the House of
Representatives and the
Senate, shall, before it
become a Law, be
presented to the President
of the United States; If he
approve he shall sign it,
but if not he shall return it
… If any Bill shall not be
returned … within ten Days
… the Same shall be a
Law...
Every bill passed by the
legislature shall be
presented to the governor
for approval and shall
become a law if the
governor approves and
signs it, or fails to veto it
within seven consecutive
days after presentation.
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
[S]uch District (not
exceeding ten Miles
square) as may, by
Cession of particular
States . . ., become
the Seat of
Government of the
United States…
[Now the District of
Columbia]
The seat of
government shall be
the City of
Tallahassee, in Leon
County…
• U.S. Constitution
• Florida Constitution
Underline the parts that are different in both documents.
[S]uch District (not
exceeding ten Miles
square) as may, by
Cession of particular
States . . ., become
the Seat of
Government of the
United States…
[Now the District of
Columbia]
The seat of
government shall be
the City of
Tallahassee, in Leon
County…
The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land and
cannot be violated.
This means that the rights given in the U.S. Constitution
cannot be taken away by a state constitution.
State constitutions can guarantee MORE rights or offer
greater protection of national rights.
Next, we will compare rights of the U.S. and Florida
Constitutions.
WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR SEATS,
COMPLETE PAGE 3 AND 4 AS A CLASS.
Amending the Constitutions
• I will need seven reading volunteers.
• If you are not a volunteer, please follow along on
Reading & Comparison Activity p.5.
There is one major way that ratifying Virginia’s
Constitution is different from ratifying the U.S.
Constitution.
What is that major difference?
Why do you think we don’t do that for ratifying
the U.S. Constitution?
(write your answers on the bottom of your paper)
Using the first page of your packet, you will copy Florida’s
Preamble onto the Comparison Worksheet p.1.
Then, answer the questions that follow on Comparison
Worksheet p.1, p.2, p.3, and p.4.
Please focus on having short answers. If you just copy
Florida’s Constitution, you will get the right answer, but you
will have a hard time studying it.
You are welcome to work in groups on this. Groups that are
not working may be split up.
GO! MOVE THE DESKS!
How to Amend Florida’s Constitution
Please copy this flowchart and save room
at the bottom so you can fit all the
information.
How to Amend Florida’s Constitution
Ballot
Initiative
Process
Taxation and
Constitutional
Budget
Convention
Reform
Commission
Constitutional
Revision
Commission
Legislative
Joint
Resolution
A registered committee collects about 680,000 signatures with certain
percentages coming from each congressional district.
How to Amend Florida’s Constitution
Ballot
Initiative
Process
Taxation and
Constitutional
Budget
Convention
Reform
Commission
Constitutional
Revision
Commission
Legislative
Joint
Resolution
Florida voters may call a constitutional convention by collecting 1.3 million
signatures and then gaining a majority of the vote to the question "Shall a
constitutional convention be held?"
How to Amend Florida’s Constitution
Ballot
Initiative
Process
Taxation and
Constitutional
Budget
Convention
Reform
Commission
Constitutional
Revision
Commission
Legislative
Joint
Resolution
37 member commission meets every 20 years to examine the constitution
of the state and propose the amendments deemed necessary. Next
meeting is in 2017.
How to Amend Florida’s Constitution
Ballot
Initiative
Process
Taxation and
Constitutional
Budget
Convention
Reform
Commission
Constitutional
Revision
Commission
Legislative
Joint
Resolution
22 member commission that meets every 20 years (started in 2007). Next
one is in 2027.
How to Amend Florida’s Constitution
Ballot
Initiative
Process
Taxation and
Constitutional
Budget
Convention
Reform
Commission
Constitutional
Revision
Commission
Legislative
Joint
Resolution
The Florida Legislature can pass a joint resolution supported by three-fifths
of the membership of each house of the legislature.
blah
blah
blah
blah
any proposed constitutional
amendment must be approved
by 60% of voters on the next
Election Day.
(amendments that raise taxes or
fees must get 2/3 of all voters to
approve it)
blah