Jonah Patel
Florida's constitution has been amended several times since its inception, with the current version being the sixth state constitution. The constitution is amended with a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, as well as through commission referrals from the Constitution Revision Commission and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. Both these commissions meet every 20 years in alternating decades, in years ending with the number 7. The Constitution Revision Commission, for example, first met in 1977 and its next meeting is scheduled for 2037.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often the Constitution Revision Commission meets | Every 20 years (in years ending in "7", where the preceding digit is odd) |
| First meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission | 1977 |
| Next scheduled meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission | 2037 |
| How often the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meets | Every 20 years (in years ending in "7", where the preceding digit is even) |
| First meeting of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission | 2007 |
| Next scheduled meeting of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission | 2027 |
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What You'll Learn
Florida's Constitution Revision Commission
The Florida Constitution is the state constitution of Florida and the current version is the sixth state constitution, which was ratified by voters in 1968. The Constitution Revision Commission first met in 1977 and has since met in 1998, with the next scheduled meeting in 2037. The Commission consists of 37 members: the Florida Attorney General, 15 members selected by the Governor of Florida (who also designates the chair), nine members selected by the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, nine members selected by the president of the Florida Senate, and three members selected by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
The Commission has played a significant role in shaping the Florida Constitution, which has been amended 146 times. One notable proposal by the Commission was the Right of Privacy, or Article I, Section 23, which states that "Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion." This section was proposed during the 1978 Constitutional Revision Commission but failed to pass at the time. It was later approved by voters in 1980 through a joint resolution of the legislature.
The Florida Constitution can be amended through various methods, including legislative proposals, citizen-initiated amendments, and convention-referred amendments. All constitutional amendments in Florida require voter approval, which ensures that the people of Florida have a direct say in shaping their state's constitution.
The Constitution Revision Commission is an important mechanism for Floridians to propose and consider amendments to their state constitution. By meeting every 20 years, the Commission provides a regular opportunity for the people of Florida to review and update their constitution to reflect their current values and priorities.
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Amendments to the Constitution
Florida has had six constitutions adopted in 1812, 1838, 1861, 1868, 1885, and 1968. The current constitution has been amended 146 times, with voters approving the two most recent amendments on November 5, 2024.
The Florida Constitution can be amended with a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, as well as through commission referrals from the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. All constitutional amendments in Florida require voter approval.
The Constitution Revision Commission and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meet every 20 years, in alternating decades, and in years ending in "7". The Constitution Revision Commission consists of 37 members, including the Florida Attorney General, 15 members selected by the Governor of Florida, nine members selected by the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, nine members selected by the president of the Florida Senate, and three members selected by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
Some notable amendments to the Florida Constitution include modifications to the amendment process itself, parental notification of a minor's intent to terminate a pregnancy, minimum wage increases, and limits on cruel and inhumane confinement of pigs during pregnancy.
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The Constitution's Declaration of Rights
Florida's Constitution is the state constitution of Florida. The current version, adopted in 1968, is the state's sixth constitution. The Florida Constitution can be amended with a legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred constitutional amendment, as well as through commission referrals from the Constitution Revision Commission and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. Both commissions meet every 20 years, in alternating decades, in years ending in "7".
The Constitutions Declaration of Rights contains a few rights not explicitly present in the U.S. Constitution, as well as some that have since been amended to track U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence. One of the rights that has received the most attention in recent years is the right to privacy, found in Article I, Section 23. This section states: "Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the person's private life except as otherwise provided herein. This section shall not be construed to limit the public's right of access to public records and meetings as provided by law." The right to privacy was approved by voters in 1980 and placed on the ballot by joint resolution of the legislature.
In 1989, the Supreme Court of Florida held that the Florida Constitution's right to privacy encompassed a woman's right to choose whether to continue her pregnancy to term (before viability), creating public controversy. The court unanimously held that the privacy amendment protects a woman's right to choose, although the court was divided on the narrow question of whether a minor needs parental consent before obtaining an abortion.
The Declaration of Rights also includes sections on political power, basic rights, religious freedom, freedom of speech and press, the right to assemble, the right to work, military power, the right to bear arms, due process, prohibited laws, imprisonment for debt, searches and seizures, habeas corpus, pretrial release and detention, prosecution for crime and offenses committed by children, rights of the accused and of victims, excessive punishments, and administrative penalties.
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Constitutional convention
Florida's Constitution has been amended several times since the state's induction in 1845. The state has had six constitutions adopted in 1812, 1838, 1861, 1868, 1885, and 1968. The current version, adopted in 1968, has been amended 146 times.
The Florida Constitution can be amended through legislative proposals, citizen initiatives, convention-referred constitutional amendments, and commission referrals from the Constitution Revision Commission and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. The Constitution Revision Commission and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meet every 20 years, in alternating decades, in years ending in "7". For example, the Constitution Revision Commission met in 1977 and 1997 and will next meet in 2037, while the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission met in 2007 and will next meet in 2027.
The Constitution Revision Commission consists of 37 members: the Florida Attorney General, 15 members selected by the Governor of Florida (who also designates the chair), nine members selected by the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, nine members selected by the president of the Florida Senate, and three members selected by the chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court. The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission is similar but consists of only 9 members.
The constitutional convention of 1838 was convened to establish Florida as a state. The convention of 1868 was held after Florida became subject to the military authority of the federal government in 1867, and it resulted in a new constitution that conformed with the Federal Constitution, including the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. This convention included 46 elected delegates, 18 of whom were black and at least 15 were former slaves. The 1885 convention, dominated by white segregationists, repudiated the 1868 constitution and instituted racist policies such as forbidding desegregated schooling and marriages between Black and white people.
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The Constitution's right to privacy
The Florida Constitution is the state constitution of Florida, and it has had six constitutions adopted since 1812. The current constitution, adopted in 1968, has been amended 146 times. Every 20 years, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meet to propose amendments to the constitution. The last time these commissions met was in 2007, and the next scheduled meeting is in 2027.
The Florida Constitution contains a right to privacy, found in Article I, Section 23. This section provides that "every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the person's private life except as otherwise provided herein". The right to privacy was approved by voters in 1980 and has been the subject of several court cases since then.
The right to privacy in the Florida Constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court of Florida to encompass a woman's right to choose whether to continue her pregnancy. In the 1989 case of In re T.W., the court held that the privacy amendment protected a woman's right to choose whether to terminate her pregnancy before the fetus was viable. This decision created public controversy, and the court's interpretation of the privacy amendment has been a subject of ongoing debate.
The right to privacy in the Florida Constitution also extends to other areas of life. For example, it has been interpreted to protect individuals from government intrusion in their personal and familial affairs, including decisions relating to marriage, procreation, childrearing, and education. The right to privacy has also been invoked in cases involving government surveillance, data collection, and the protection of personal information.
While the right to privacy in the Florida Constitution provides strong protections for individuals, it is not absolute. The section itself includes exceptions for certain areas of law enforcement, national security, and public health and safety. Additionally, the right to privacy must be balanced against other rights and interests, such as the rights of other individuals, public order, and the general welfare of the community.
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Frequently asked questions
Every 20 years, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meet to discuss amendments to the constitution. The next scheduled meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission is in 2037, and the next scheduled meeting of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission is in 2027.
The purpose of these meetings is to propose and discuss amendments to the Florida Constitution. Amendments can be proposed by constitutional convention, the legislature, citizens' initiatives, or by the commissions themselves. All amendments require voter approval.
Many diverse and controversial amendments have been proposed and approved over the years. Some examples include modifications to the amendment process, parental notification of a minor's intent to terminate a pregnancy, minimum wage increases, and limits on cruel and inhumane confinement of pigs during pregnancy.
