Constitution, State The written instrument embodying the fundamental principles of the state which establishes power and duties of the government and guarantees certain rights to the people. This document outlines the basic framework of Florida's system of government which was revised in and subsequently amended.
Constitutional amendment A joint resolution that proposes an amendment to, or revision of, the State Constitution. After final passage and filing with the Secretary of State, a proposed constitutional amendment is presented to the voters at the next regular general election pursuant to section 5 of Article XI of the State Constitution. Convene To assemble the legislature or either house thereof. The annual session of the Florida Legislature begins, for a period not to exceed 60 days, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each odd-numbered year and on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in January of each even-numbered year.
Daily Order of Business The items of business and the order in which they are to be considered each day as set out in the rules of each house. Debate Discussion by legislators during a committee meeting or while a house is meeting supporting or opposing an issue. Delegation, Legislative A group of legislators who represent parts of the same county or geographical area. District The area from which a state senator, representative, or congressman is elected.
The boundaries of state legislative and congressional districts are drawn in the decennial process known as apportionment and redistricting. Effective date The date upon which an act becomes effective. If a date is not specified in the bill, an act takes effect 60 days after the final adjournment of the legislative session in which it was enacted. Enabling legislation A bill designed specifically to carry out an adopted constitutional amendment. Fiscal year The period used for budgeting and accounting.
In Florida state government, this is the period from July 1 of one calendar year to June 30 of the next calendar year. Florida Senate Handbook for Kids, The A student guide to the Florida Legislature that contains facts about the legislature and games and puzzles designed to help students learn.
Florida Statutes An edited compilation of general laws of the state. Gallery The seating area on the floor above the Senate or House chamber where the public may observe a house in session. Guide to Florida Government Compiled by the Clerk of the House, a list of agency, executive, legislative, judicial, and congressional offices and the reporters of the Capitol Press Corps. History note A note following each section of the Florida Statutes which contains citations to the section and chapter number of the creating act and each subsequent amendatory act as located in the Laws of Florida.
Consult the Laws of Florida to determine the effective date of a creating act or a particular amendment. House Generally, either body or chamber of the legislature. When capitalized, the term refers to the House of Representatives. Impeachment The process of considering removal of an officeholder for charges brought against the officeholder.
The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Cabinet, justices of the Supreme Court, and judges may be removed from office by impeachment.
The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach. It may do so by a two-thirds vote of the members voting. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required to convict. If convicted, the officer is removed from office. Initiative An amendment to the State Constitution proposed by a number of electors. An initiative is accomplished by filing with the Secretary of State a petition containing a copy of the amendment proposed which has been signed by a specified number of electors.
Instanter Latin for immediately. A motion to take up an issue immediately. Interim The period between the adjournment of a regular session sine die and the convening of the next regular session.
Introducer The legislator who files a bill for introduction or the committee that votes to file the bill for introduction. This term is often used interchangeably with sponsor. A co-introducer or co-sponsor is a legislator whose name is added to a bill in addition to the introducer. Introduction The reading of a bill including a committee substitute the first time in a house of the legislature. Publication of the title of the bill in the journal of a house constitutes its first reading in that house.
Each legislative house publishes a journal for each day of session. The Journal records only the formal action in the legislature and committees. Law An act becomes a law when the Governor either approves it or fails to sign or veto it within the period specified in the State Constitution. An act can also become a law when a subsequent legislature overrides a veto by the Governor. While the legislature is in session, the constitution allows a 7-day period following presentation of a bill to the Governor within which to sign or veto the bill.
Law Revision, Division of The unit of the Office of Legislative Services responsible for the codification, publication, and distribution of the Laws of Florida and the Florida Statutes , as well as other various research materials. Laws of Florida A verbatim publication of the general and special laws enacted by the Florida Legislature in a given year and published each year following the regular session of the legislature.
It presents the laws in the order in which they are numbered by the Secretary of State, as well as resolutions and memorials passed by the legislature. Each house is the sole judge of the qualifications and elections of its members and has the power to choose its own officers and establish its own rules of procedure.
Either house may initiate legislation on any subject. Senators serve 4-year, staggered terms and representatives serve 2-year terms. A legislator may not seek reelection "if, by the end of the current term of office, the person will have served. Lobbyist One who encourages, directly or indirectly, the passage, defeat, or modification of any legislation.
Majority Leader A legislator from the majority party designated by the presiding officer of each house to be the leader of the majority party members in that house. Majority party The political party having the most members in a house. Message Communication by one house to the other house concerning action taken on a bill.
Each bill, and any amendments to it, is transmitted from one house to the other accompanied by a document message that states the action taken on the bill. The term "messages" is also used to describe the unit of the office of the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House responsible for transmitting bills to the other house. Minority Leader The legislator elected by the minority party caucus in each house to be the leader of the minority party members in that house.
Minority party The political party that has fewer than a majority of members in a house. Motion A formal request made by a legislator on the floor or in a committee meeting to take some procedural action. The rules of each house determine the importance of a motion, whether it may be debated, and the vote required for adoption of the motion.
OLS Office of Legislative Services Joint Rules of the Florida Legislature provide for an Office of Legislative Services to provide legislative support services that are determined by the President and the Speaker to be necessary and that can be effectively provided jointly to both houses and other units of the legislature.
One-subject rule The constitutional requirement, imposed by section 6 of Article III of the State Constitution , that every law shall embrace but one subject and matter properly connected therewith. Open meetings Section 4 e of Article III of the State Constitution provides that specified legislative meetings shall be open and noticed to the public.
All legislative sessions are open to the public except executive sessions of the Senate. Oversight Analysis of how the agencies of the executive branch go about the performance of their duties is an important responsibility of committees. Pamphlet law Prior to the compilation of the volume of newly enacted laws, the printed copies of the individual laws are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format for viewing or printing from the Department of State's website in pamphlet or "slip" form.
This term is used interchangeably with "session law" or "chapter law. Popular name Name by which some legislative acts come to be known.
It may include the name of a person Mrs. President of the Senate The presiding officer of the Senate, having been designated by the majority party in caucus and then elected by the full membership of the Senate for a term of two years at the organization session.
President Pro Tempore of the Senate A senator who is chosen by the President and elected by the full membership of the Senate for a term of two years at the organization session. Proclamation The formal, written announcement issued by the Governor, or the Senate President and House Speaker jointly, to call the Florida Legislature into a special session. It states the reason for the session, the issues to be addressed during the session, and the length of the session. Also referred to as "the Call.
Proof of Publication Verified newspaper notice of intent to seek enactment of specific legislation. This notice is attached to the filed claim or local bill and remains a part of the permanent file. Proviso In a general appropriations bill, language used to qualify or restrict a specific appropriation.
Public records law A law providing that public records that are not exempt from public disclosure may be inspected at reasonable times, under reasonable conditions, and under the supervision of the person who has custody of the records.
Public Review Period, Constitutional hour rule A hour public-review period required by section 19 d of Article III of the State Constitution before final passage of general appropriations bills.
Section 1 e of Article VII requires a hour period after third reading before the final passage of a bill increasing state revenues. Quorum A majority. The State Constitution requires a majority of the members elected to a house to be present for the transacting of legislative business.
Quorum call A call made by the presiding officer to establish the presence of a majority for the lawful transacting of business. Ratification The act approving an amendment to the United States Constitution. Reading Each bill or proposed constitutional amendment must receive three readings on three separate days in each legislative house before it can be passed unless waived by a two-thirds vote of the members for readings on the same day.
These readings are:. If your question is not answered here, please feel free to contact me. View the Constitution. What does a member of Congress do? Members of Congress represent the people of their district in the United States Congress by holding hearings, as well as developing and voting on legislation.
All bills must pass Congress before they can go to the President to be signed into law. In addition, I am also available to help you if you are experiencing difficulties dealing with a federal agency. To see how I can help you, click here. What are the qualifications to run for office in the House of Representatives and Senate? The required qualifications are found in Article 1 of the Constitution:. House of Representatives. How many members of Congress are there? There are a total of Members of Congress.
Senate and serve in the U. Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are considered for reelection every even year. How many members of Congress come from each state?
Jump to main content. Jump to navigation. Learn more about the powers of the Legislative Branch of the federal government of the United States. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers. The House of Representatives is made up of elected members, divided among the 50 states in proportion to their total population.
In addition, there are 6 non-voting members, representing the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and four other territories of the United States. The presiding officer of the chamber is the Speaker of the House, elected by the Representatives. He or she is third in the line of succession to the Presidency.
Members of the House are elected every two years and must be 25 years of age, a U. The House has several powers assigned exclusively to it, including the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an electoral college tie.
The Senate is composed of Senators, 2 for each state. Until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in , Senators were chosen by state legislatures, not by popular vote. Since then, they have been elected to six-year terms by the people of each state. Senator's terms are staggered so that about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection every two years. Senators must be 30 years of age, U. The Vice President of the United States serves as President of the Senate and may cast the decisive vote in the event of a tie in the Senate.
The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent, and to ratify treaties. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade. The Senate also tries impeachment cases for federal officials referred to it by the House.
In order to pass legislation and send it to the President for his signature, both the House and the Senate must pass the same bill by majority vote. If the President vetoes a bill, they may override his veto by passing the bill again in each chamber with at least two-thirds of each body voting in favor. The first step in the legislative process is the introduction of a bill to Congress.
Anyone can write it, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Some important bills are traditionally introduced at the request of the President, such as the annual federal budget. During the legislative process, however, the initial bill can undergo drastic changes.
After being introduced, a bill is referred to the appropriate committee for review. There are 17 Senate committees, with 70 subcommittees, and 23 House committees, with subcommittees.
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