Florida’s Constitution: 1812 – Present
A constitution is the foundation of our laws. A singular, written document which outlines the roles and responsibilities within government. It also outlines protections and duties for the people. A study of the laws of the state must find its origins in the forming document. To understand Florida’s Constitution is to understand the legal structure of the state. The assumption may be to leap to the current constitution, but that is only part of the journey. To truly understand the current language of Florida’s laws, we must understand the lineage and development of the constitution. What language was added and amended, and when can provide much needed context and allow us to understand its significance.
Florida’s Constitution: 1812 – Present is a curated collection of all of Florida’s constitutions and subsequent amendments and revisions. The collection starts with the Patriot Constitution of East Florida, which was adopted during a failed attempt by the United States in 1812 to overthrow Spanish control of Florida. It then moves to the 1838 constitution adopted for Florida’s statehood in 1845. The subsequent four revisions, leading to the current constitution adopted in 1968, trace how the state evolved from a small territory to the third largest state in the United States. As the state grew and our country changed, the constitution evolved to the document it is today. The role of the Governor, the makeup of the courts, the power of municipalities, and the rights of individuals were modified with each revision.
This curated collection presents the first six constitutions in their original format, with the full text of over 170 amendments included in the notes. The 1968 constitution, the one currently in use, is presented as amended by the voters in November 2022.
Significant thought was given to the formatting of this book to provide ease of use. Articles begin on a new page. When possible, sections are limited to one page, to avoid the need to flip between pages in referencing the material. Indentations were added to the current constitution to allow the reader to clearly distinguish subsections. Page headings allow the reader to quickly find their needed constitution, article, and section. Notes are titled and dated. This book is edited and formatted with the researcher in mind.