Eleanor Finch
Florida's constitution has been amended 144 times since its ratification in 1968, with the most recent amendment occurring in 2020. There are multiple pathways to propose amendments, including joint resolution, the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), Citizens' Initiative, Constitutional Convention, and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. The CRC, established in 1968, is a crucial avenue for citizens to propose amendments, as it convenes every 20 years to receive public proposals and recommend changes to the state constitution. Proposed amendments require at least 60% voter approval to pass, and repealing an amendment requires a new ballot initiative with 60% voter support. Florida's constitution has a unique history, with six different constitutions in less than two centuries, and the state offers more avenues to amend its constitution compared to other states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ways to propose amendments | Legislative joint resolution, initiative petition, Constitution Revision Commission, Taxation and Budget Reform Commission |
| Minimum approval required | 60% of voters |
| Petition circulators requirements | Must take and pass an online training program before registering with the State |
| Petition sponsor requirements | Must pay the Supervisor of Elections before signed petitions can be verified |
| Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) | A 37-member commission that convenes every 20 years to propose changes to the Florida Constitution |
| CRC members appointed by | Governor (15 members), legislative leaders (18), and the Florida Supreme Court (3); the Attorney General also serves on the CRC |
| CRC proposal approval | Requires 60% approval from voters |
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What You'll Learn
Legislative joint resolution
The Florida Constitution can be amended through a legislative joint resolution, an initiative petition, or a proposal from the Constitution Revision Commission or the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. A legislative joint resolution is a resolution that proposes an amendment to, or revision of, the State Constitution. It is the only authorized method by which the legislature may propose amendments to the State Constitution.
A joint resolution must be passed by each house of the legislature with a three-fifths majority. If passed, the proposed amendment is then put to a statewide ballot for voter approval or rejection. This requires at least 60% approval from voters to pass.
The Florida Constitution, as revised in 1968, included certain revised articles proposed by three joint resolutions. These were adopted during a special session of June 24-July 3, 1968, and ratified by the electorate on November 5, 1968. The articles proposed in the House Joint Resolution 1-2X constituted the entire revised constitution, with the exception of Articles V, VI, and VIII.
The Senate Joint Resolution 4-2X proposed Article VI, relating to suffrage and elections, while the Senate Joint Resolution 5-2X proposed a new Article VIII, concerning local government. Article V, relating to the judiciary, was carried forward from the Constitution of 1885, as amended.
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Initiative petition
The Florida Constitution can be amended through a few different avenues, one of which is an initiative petition. This process starts with a registered political committee acting as the petition sponsor. The petition sponsor can only sponsor one initiative petition per election cycle. In addition to other requirements, a proposed initiative must be signed by a minimum number of registered Florida voters to be placed on the ballot. For the 2026 General Election ballot, for instance, an initiative petition must be signed by 880,062 voters.
To register as a petition circulator, an online application must be completed. Once registered, circulators can manage their own accounts and assign themselves the initiatives for which they plan to collect signatures. Information submitted to register as a petition circulator becomes a matter of public record. Starting July 1, 2025, petition circulators must take and pass an online training program before registering with the State.
The petition sponsor must pay the Supervisor of Elections in advance before signed petitions can be verified unless an Affidavit of Undue Burden has been filed with the county. Each Supervisor of Election must set and post the actual cost of signature verification in their respective county for petition forms received more than 60 days and less than 60 days before February 1 of an even-numbered year. A Supervisor may increase such costs, as necessary, annually on March 1. These costs include operating and personnel costs associated with comparing signatures, printing and all postage costs related to the verification notice, and transmitting petition forms to the division.
The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) is another important pathway for Floridians to amend their constitution. The CRC is a 37-member commission that convenes every 20 years and proposes changes to the Florida Constitution based on public input and issues that matter to Floridians. The CRC was established in 1968 to increase public participation in governance. Changes to the Florida Constitution that have arisen through the CRC process include the right to privacy, accessible polling places, safe and high-quality public schools, public campaign financing, and ethics reform.
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Constitution Revision Commission
The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) is a 37-member commission that examines the Florida Constitution and proposes changes for voter consideration. The CRC is convened once every 20 years, with its next meeting scheduled for 2037. The CRC was established in 1968 to increase public participation in governance and make it easier to modernise the Florida Constitution.
The CRC is composed of 37 Commissioners, 36 of whom are appointed, and one—the Attorney General of Florida—who automatically serves on the CRC. The remaining Commissioners are appointed as follows: 15 by the Governor of Florida, nine by the President of the Florida Senate, nine by the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and three by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. The Governor also designates the Chair of the CRC.
The CRC typically meets for approximately one year, travelling across the State of Florida, identifying issues, performing research, and recommending changes to the Florida Constitution. As part of this process, the CRC holds two sets of public hearings. The first set of hearings is to gather ideas from the public, and the second set is to gain feedback on the proposals. After the CRC approves the proposals, they are placed directly on the ballot for the next General Election.
The CRC has been criticised for engaging in "bundling", or combining unrelated issues into a single ballot measure, which can confuse voters and force them to vote yes or no on multiple issues bundled together. The 2017-18 CRC was also criticised for being overly partisan due to the appointment of partisan members and registered lobbyists. Despite these criticisms, the CRC remains an important pathway for the people of Florida to amend their constitution, and attempts to abolish the CRC through Amendment 2 in 2022 were defeated, failing to reach the required 60% approval threshold.
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Taxation and Budget Reform Commission
The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission (TBRC) is a state commission established in Section 6, Article XI of the Florida Constitution. The commission is tasked with reviewing and proposing changes to the state's taxation and budgetary policies and laws. It is composed of 25 members, including 11 members selected by the governor, seven members each selected by the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate, and four non-voting ex officio members who are current members of the state legislature.
The TBRC is responsible for examining the state budgetary process, revenue needs, expenditure processes, tax structure, and governmental productivity and efficiency. It also reviews policies related to the government's ability to tax and fund operations over a 20-year period, determining methods for raising revenue for the state. The commission holds public hearings, issues reports on its findings, and proposes statutory changes to the state legislature.
The TBRC operates on a 20-year schedule, with meetings held in 2007, 2027, 2047, and so on. The commission's proposals for statutory changes require a majority vote (13 out of 25 members), while constitutional amendments need a supermajority of two-thirds (27 out of 25 members). The TBRC's work has led to revisions in the Florida Constitution, such as Revision No. 2 in 1992, which addressed claimants' rights to fair compensation in medical liability claims.
The TBRC plays a crucial role in shaping Florida's fiscal policies and ensuring the government's ability to meet its financial obligations. By involving members from different branches of the government, the commission incorporates diverse perspectives in its decision-making process. The TBRC's recommendations are subject to legislative approval and contribute to the state's long-term financial planning and management.
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60% voter approval
Florida has had six different constitutions in less than two centuries. The current constitution, ratified in 1968, has been amended 144 times, most recently in 2020. Florida also has the greatest number of ways to amend its constitution of any other state.
There are five ways to propose amendments to the Florida Constitution:
- Joint resolution by the Florida Legislature: A joint resolution agreed to by three-fifths of the members of each house of the legislature.
- Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC): A 37-member commission that convenes every 20 years, receiving proposals from the public and hearing about issues that matter to Floridians across the state. The CRC was established in 1968 to increase public participation in governance. Members are appointed by the governor (15 members), legislative leaders (18), and the Florida Supreme Court (3). The attorney general also serves on the CRC. CRC proposals are put directly on the ballot for a public vote and require 60% voter approval to pass.
- Citizens' Initiative: Starting from July 1, 2025, petition circulators must take and pass an online training program before registering with the State. Once registered, they can circulate petitions for more than one petition sponsor. The initiative petition process starts with a registered political committee acting as the petition sponsor, who can only sponsor one initiative petition per election cycle. For placement on the 2026 General Election ballot, an initiative petition must be signed by 880,062 voters.
- Constitutional Convention
- Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission: The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission can also propose amendments to the Florida Constitution.
Proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution must be clear and straightforward and can only concern a single subject. To pass, they require at least 60% voter approval. If an amendment passes, repealing it would require a new ballot initiative garnering 60% of the vote in a subsequent election.
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