Topic 3: US v Florida Constitution

Which statement describes a similarity between the Florida Constitution and the U.S. Constitution?

• neither protects individual rights

• both include an amendment process

• neither provides for a chief executive

• both include a nine member Supreme Court

Which title completes this table?

• Florida and County Government

• Florida and U.S. Government

• City and County Government

• City and U.S. Government

Which statement identifies a basic similarity between the U.S. and Florida Constitutions?

• Both have a preamble, articles and amendments.

• Both prohibit the collection of personal income taxes

• Both provide details on the qualifications for voting in elections

• Both have detailed provisions on public education and local government

What conclusion can you make based on the graphic?

• the Florida Constitution is much older than the U.S.

• the Florida Constitution is much longer than the U.S.

• There have been few disputes with the U.S. Constitution

• Florida became a state in 1968

Which answer below is a true statement about a difference between the two Constitutions?

• The FL Constitution only contains 4,400 words where the US Constitution has over 10,000 words.

• The US Constitution is very specific with detailed explanations.

• The U.S. Constitution has been amended more than 100 times, where the FL Constitution has only been amended 27 times.

• FL is on it's 6th Constitution where the US is only on it's 2nd.

Why are both Constitutions considered "living documents"?

• Because they really take on a life of their own!

• So they can change as times and needs change and evolve

• That is what the founders called the first Constitution and it just stuck.

Both the U.S. Constitution and the Florida Constitution give a framework for a ___________.

• Pure Democracy

• Representative Democracy or Republic

• Police State

• Parliamentary Democracy

Begins with "We the People"

• US Constitution

• Florida Constitution

• BOTH

How does the process for amending the Constitution of Florida compare to that of amending the U.S. Constitution?

• Amending the FL Constitution is much more difficult to amend then the US Constitution
• Amending the US Constitution is much more difficult to amend then the FL Constitution
• The Florida Constitution and the U.S. Constitution follow the same procedures for amendment
• The U.S. Constitution requires two steps for amendment, while the Florida Constitution is amended in a single step

Which is true of the FL and US Constitutions? They both...

• Involve citizens in the amendment process
• Have a bicameral Legislature
• Enforce adoption laws
• Regulate trade