
Florida's first constitution was drafted in 1838, but the state's current constitution was approved in 1968. The 1861 Constitution was the first to contain a clause prohibiting individuals from holding two offices simultaneously. Florida's constitutional convention met in January 1868, and the voters ratified the final document on May 4, 1868.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Florida's first constitution | 1838 |
| Year of Florida's second constitution | 1861 |
| Year of Florida's third constitution | 1868 |
| Year of Florida's current constitution | 1968 |
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What You'll Learn

Florida's original state constitution was drafted in 1838-1839
Florida's original state constitution was drafted in late 1838 and early 1839 by a convention of 56 prominent Floridians in the coastal town of St. Joseph. The delegates drew inspiration from the constitutions of neighbouring states, particularly Alabama. The constitution was approved by the people of Florida, but only just, and it was not admitted by Congress as the territory of a new state until 1845.
Florida's 1838 constitution was profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time. The United States military reoccupied the former Confederate states and caused all eligible men over 21, regardless of race, to be registered to vote. Each state's newly enfranchised electorate then selected delegates to frame a new state constitution and submit it to Congress for approval.
Florida's constitutional convention met in January 1868, and the voters ratified the final document on May 4, 1868. Congress officially declared Florida back in the Union later that year on July 25. The 1868 constitution remained the basic governing document of the state through the Civil War.
The current constitution was framed by a constitutional revision commission and approved in 1968, but many of its provisions date back to the 19th century.
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The constitution was inspired by Alabama
Florida's first constitution was drafted in the coastal town of St. Joseph in late 1838 and early 1839. The document was inspired by the constitutions of neighbouring states, especially Alabama. The 56 prominent Floridians who drafted the constitution drew on the constitutions of several other southern states as models. The constitution was approved by Congress in 1845, and it remained the basic governing document of the state through the Civil War.
Florida's 1868 constitution was profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time. The 1861 Constitution was the first Florida constitution. The current constitution was framed by a constitutional revision commission and approved in 1968, but many of its provisions date back to the 19th century.
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The territory was admitted as a new state in 1845
Florida's first constitution was drafted in 1838, but it was not until 1845 that the territory was admitted as a new state. The 1838 constitution was written in preparation for statehood, but it was not until 1868 that Florida's constitution was ratified by voters. The 1868 constitution was profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time.
The 1838 constitution was drafted by delegates from across the Territory of Florida who gathered in the town of Saint Joseph. Although Saint Joseph was to disappear from the map within a decade, after suffering a devastating hurricane and repeated outbreaks of yellow fever, the work of the constitutional convention survived.
The 1861 Constitution was the first Florida Constitution to contain a clause prohibiting individuals from holding two offices simultaneously with limited exceptions. The current constitution was framed by a constitutional revision commission and approved in 1968, but many of its provisions date back to the 19th century.
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The 1868 constitution was shaped by the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans
Florida's first constitution was drafted in the coastal town of St. Joseph in late 1838 and early 1839. The document was inspired by the constitutions of neighbouring states, especially Alabama. The people of Florida ratified the new constitution, but only just, and Congress did not admit the territory as a new state until 1845.
The 1868 constitution was profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time. Under the Reconstruction Acts, Congress assumed control over the readmission of the former Confederate states to the Union. The United States military reoccupied those states and caused all eligible men over 21, regardless of race, to be registered to vote. Each state's newly enfranchised electorate then selected delegates to frame a new state constitution and submit it to Congress for approval. Florida's constitutional convention met in January 1868, and the voters ratified the final document on May 4, 1868. Congress officially declared Florida back in the Union later that year on July 25.
The 1868 constitution was not the first to be drafted in Florida. The state also had a constitution in 1861, and there is also a reference to the constitution of the short-lived Republic of East Florida in 1812.
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The current constitution was approved in 1968
Florida's original state constitution was drafted in the coastal town of St. Joseph in late 1838 and early 1839. The current constitution was approved in 1968, but many of its provisions date back to the 19th century. The 1868 constitution was profoundly shaped by the dominance of the Republican Party and the enfranchisement of African Americans for the first time.
The 1868 constitution was drafted by a constitutional convention that met in January 1868. The voters ratified the final document on May 4, 1868, and Congress officially declared Florida back in the Union on July 25, 1868.
Florida's constitution outlines its form of government, including the powers and responsibilities of state and county officials. The 1868 constitution was the result of the Reconstruction Acts, which gave Congress control over the readmission of the former Confederate states to the Union. The United States military reoccupied those states and caused all eligible men over 21, regardless of race, to be registered to vote. Each state's newly enfranchised electorate then selected delegates to frame a new state constitution and submit it to Congress for approval.
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Frequently asked questions
Florida's first constitution was drafted in 1838 and 1839.
Florida's first constitution was ratified in 1845.
Florida's first constitution was written in 1838 and 1839.

























