The Florida State Constitution

This work is a continuation of the Greenwood Press series of Reference Guides to the State Constitutions of the United States. The book provides a concise analysis of Florida's constitution and a detailed overview of the provisions and court decisions that concern the document. Written in a style inspired by Edward S. Corwin's The Constitution and What It Means Today, this is the first available single-volume work on the Florida constitution and is intended for use by students, lawyers, scholars, and citizens who seek a context for further research and an understanding of the basic powers of the state government and the rights of the people.



Talbot D'Alemberte begins his work with an introduction that traces the long constitutional history of Florida, from its beginnings as a territory through the revision of the constitution of 1968 and subsequent amendments. Each of the constitution's twelve articles is then closely examined, with every subordinate section coming under specific discussion. The general article topics cover declaration of rights, general provisions, legislature, executive branch, judiciary, suffrage and elections, finance and taxation, local government, education, miscellaneous provisions, amendments, and schedule. The work concludes with a selected bibliography to help guide readers to more extensive treatments of special subjects, as well as a table of cases. This resource guide will be a useful tool for courses in constitutional law, state government, and the Florida bar exam, and a valuable addition to public, academic, and law libraries.