Talk:Government of Florida

Why does this page exist?

Everything on this page could just be put in the "Law and Government" section of the main Florida article. No other states seem to have a separate article on their governments, and the government of FL is not radically different from the other states. So, I don't think this page is really necessary. --JW1805 04:11, 16 July 2005 (UTC)

This page should stay

This page will describe in great detail the aspects of the Florida Government, including subdivisions therein, in greater length and detail than it would be acceptable to place under the law and government subsection of the Florida page. Other states do have a government page, particularly the Government of Maryland. That page is being used as a model for this one. More information will be added to this page so it will become quite a bit more in depth than it is now.

User:Millueradfa

• OK, carry on. --JW1805 14:57, 19 July 2005 (UTC)

Federal language true

The language in this article which described the nature of the relationship between the state and federal governments is quite true. The state governments are indeed independant and soveriegn of the federal government and derive their power from the will of the people. The US is a federation of independant states that have agreed to establish a federal government to protect their common interests. The US constitution is an agreement between states to cede some of their power to the federal government. The US constitution reserves a finite set of powers for the use of the federal government and all other powers are reserved for the states and the people. Read it in the 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that this language is crucial to describing state government and its foundations. The state governments are operated indepedantly of the U.S. federal government. This is typical in a federalist type arrangement.

User:Millueradfa

• Well, I thought that the passage in question was sort of unnecessary, since it applies to all the states, and isn't specific to Florida. Maybe you could just put a link to U.S. state, which explains what a state is. --JW1805 14:56, 19 July 2005 (UTC)

Regarding Laws of US Congress

The U.S. Constitution defines the jurisdiction of the power of the state and federal government. The issue of the applicability of these laws may a complex issue, but I believe that the language that the jurisdiction of laws at the state level is limited by laws passed by the US congress is innacurate. The laws of the state and federal governments must fall within the authority granted by the federal constitution, the constitution is what defines which powers the state governments cede to the federal government, and which powers remain with the states, and which are shared. Amendment X of the US Constitution reads: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. " Federal law perhaps may overlay the state jurisdiction but laws passed by congress as far as I know cannot limit the legal and lawmaking authority of state government.

-- User:Millueradfa

Supreme executive power

Supreme executive power lies with the governor

I don't think this is correct. The Florida Cabinet has executive power independent of the governor.--JW1805 19:12, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

• Alright, perhaps this was a bit incorrect. There is wording which I read in Article VI, Section 1, subsection a, before I wrote that, that says, "The supreme executive power shall be vested in a governor". Yet what you have said sounds like it may be correct. We can leave it how it is currently, it is fine.

-- User:Millueradfa

It depends on how "supreme" is defined! The Constitution does say that, but the governor can, in fact, be outvoted by the other cabinet members for certain executive functions. So, the FL governor is not "supreme" in the sense that he can control all aspects of the administration. --JW1805 20:09, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

Native American governments

I question this entire section. I don't think State law or government has anything to do with Indian Reservations (which are governed by federal law). I'm not sure what bills are being referred to (please provide sources). I don't think a State can pass laws affecting the internal policy of an Indian reservation. --JW1805 19:58, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

• The state apparently has (or had) some kind of jurisdiction over the native american reservations. Read this, its interesting: [1] . Whether or not giving the reservations soveireignty from law enforcement of the state is a good idea I dont know, it may not be. I have included information about the native american tribes here as well since they do have some jurisdiction over areas of the state. I guess this is a question of what the scope of the article should be. I presumed it could describe the current state government of florida, but also other governments that have jurisdictions which are contained entirely within the states borders, including ones seperate of the state government, the native american governments, and past governments that once existed in the state. As well, I would also like to discuss some the general structure of local governments in the state,which are chartered by the state government.in a general manner, not describing every single city and county but the general structure of the overall local government in the state as it is created by the constitution and laws.

-- User:Millueradfa

I guess you're right. The article does say "Florida now has concurrent jurisdiction with federal authorities for crimes that occur on Indian land." I guess it is a complicated issue, I'm not sure how much detail you would want to put here about that. I do agree with putting the history of various governments of FL. --JW1805 20:29, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

merging Florida Department of Law Enforcement

I propose that the FDLE article be merged into the Executive Branch section, or wherever it would best fit. A new user created the FDLE article and basically copied/pasted in text from the FDLE website. It should be merged or rewritten in original prose. BaseballBaby 05:36, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

FDLE is one of several state agencies. They should all be separate entries or listed under a broader category like "Florida State Agencies" rather than incorporated into the Executive Branch.

Commissioner of Education

I came here looking for the Commissioner of Education. Didn't seem to find the commissioner. Evidently (I'm guessing) that s/he bosses the Florida Department of Education for which there appears to be no article. Student7 02:47, 29 March 2007 (UTC)

what does this sentence mean?

"Florida was added to the (United States) between 1763 and 1784, later returning to nowhere. "

Huh?--Filll 21:01, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Structure of executive

An editor has improved this to a list instead of a blank outline. I suggest that these departments be placed under cabinet officers as appropriate. Also, the repetitive "Florida Department of" may not be that useful. Maybe prefix the list somehow? Student7 (talk) 12:20, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

Weak on local government

This is a bit weak (vague) on local government. I would like to see county government sketched out so that it can be referred to by county articles - when elections occur, number of commissioners, type of charter, when they take office. bonding, relationship to local (municipal) government, etc. I assume because there are more foms of municipal government, that this would be a lot harder. Only differences with other state's municipalities need be given - perhaps there is a general article(s) someplace for them. Student7 (talk) 14:06, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

• An article on municipal governments in Florida already exists. Since this article is mainly about the state govt., the local part should just be brief, like it is. Niteshift36 (talk) 14:52, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

Thank you. You don't have a link (pointer) to that article, do you? The link I am seeing in this article is merely a list of governments, okay as far as it goes but not really an in-depth article(s).Student7 (talk) 23:00, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

• It's not a single article. The topic is addressed in each city or county article. Niteshift36 (talk) 23:05, 19 November 2008 (UTC)

That is the problem. Each of the 67 (or whatever) counties has to first describe each constitutional job (state constitution BTW) such as sheriff, clerk of the court, and treasurer, before talking about it. Unfortunately the need for a Florida wide description has gone wanting despite these jobs being described in the Florida Constitution, then pretending here that they aren't. These jobs are not county jobs! Student7 (talk) 17:19, 10 May 2009 (UTC)

• They are Contitutional offices. They are elected, not hired, and have their own budgetary authorities. The office holders salaries are determined by the state, based on the population of their county. The Constitution and state statute mandate certain duties to be performed by each of those office holders. And additional duties are agreed on by the individual counties and subject to state approval if the office holder objects to them. None of these are county JOBS, the are Constitution offices, elected on the county level. Niteshift36 (talk) 04:08, 11 May 2009 (UTC)

Exactly. That is why there should be a single article describing all of them, with a pointer from here and a link from 67 county articles. Individual differences, if any, can be described in the local articles. Student7 (talk) 23:12, 24 October 2010 (UTC)

Special Districts

I believe a section is needed on Special Districts (Water Management Districts, Hospital Taxing Districts, etc.). I found this section on the Colorado page that could be helpful. Gamweb (talk) 02:06, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

Good idea. As a "quick and dirty" might a "List of Water Management Districts in Florida" (etc.) do for starters if they don't exist?

Also need something comprehensive on the really large Florida aquifers if one doesn't exist. These are geology/geography at best, and definitely not Government, but relate to water districts very closely!

I tried to tag Port Canaveral with a "Florida Commissions" category, a lot simpler than what you are proposing and ran into all sorts of flak over it! The category remains undefined! So I wish you luck in fighting city hall over what should be the obvious answer to your good suggestion. Student7 (talk) 20:17, 9 December 2008 (UTC)

Need Politics of Florida article

This is a well-written, measured article. We really need a "companion" article "Politics of Florida" that would more properly link to (or maybe include) the "Political party strength in Florida" article. Student7 (talk) 15:47, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

Need more than one article

Came across a minor factoid: Less than 9% of Florida dentists are significant Medicaid providers. They limit the people they see under the program. Pays $15 for basic exam. Anyway, no place to put it. I'm working on a tiny state up north. We are (somewhat) better covered than florida. Florida has several of very high level articles, lots of place articles, and not much in between. I don't even know where this would go. Budget of Florida? Department of Health? Medicaid in Florida with higher level article being Department of Health? I have no idea. We do have a suggested structure in the article. A place to start I suppose. Student7 (talk) 00:35, 7 December 2009 (UTC)

Politics of Florida (revisited)

We need to move the day-to-day working of government to a "Politics of florida" article. The government, as construed by the constitution, stays here. The problem with the new article is everyone thinks that campaigning and elections are "politics." They aren't, but it'll be the very devil keeping that junk out of there. Student7 (talk) 13:03, 21 May 2011 (UTC)

Yes yes. Until the Politics of Florida article can be brought into line, we should merge its duplicate material into this article (and others). Int21h (talk) 06:09, 9 December 2013 (UTC)

I have merged it. Time to start from scratch. :/ Int21h (talk) 06:25, 9 December 2013 (UTC)

To me, the e-verify, is pure politics of florida, not really "how the government works" or is supposed to work. Probably income tax and sales tax, as well. These are usually hot spots for politics. Constitutional issues are not prominent there. I think we need to stay away from politics in this article.

I agree with your moving constitutional amendments here. That does seem to make more sense. Student7 (talk) 22:19, 12 December 2013 (UTC)

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