How many Constitutions does the United States have?

二 Constitution vs. Constitution How many Constitutions does the United States have? The United States has one. Every state has one. Wiki Some non-states have one. Every Constitution is different (with a few things in common).

Box the parts that are the same in both documents. U.S. Constitution Florida Constitution We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its benefits, perfect our government, insure domestic tranquility, maintain public order, and guarantee equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this constitution. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. The supreme executive power shall be vested in a governor.

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time The judicial power shall be vested in a supreme court, district courts of appeal, circuit courts and county courts.

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida, consisting of a senate … and a house of representatives...

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each State, chosen for six Years… Senators shall be elected for terms of four years...

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second year... Members of the house of representatives shall be elected for terms of two years...

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second year... The words are a little different, but… Members of the house of representatives shall be elected for terms of two years...

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second year... The words are a little different, but… Members of the house of representatives shall be elected for terms of two years... the meanings are the same!

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives… Any bill may originate in either house ...

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it … If any Bill shall not be returned … within ten Days … the Same shall be a Law... Every bill passed by the legislature shall be presented to the governor for approval and shall become a law if the governor approves and signs it, or fails to veto it within seven consecutive days after presentation.

U.S. Constitution • Florida Constitution Underline the parts that are different in both documents. [S]uch District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States . . ., become the Seat of Government of the United States… [Now the District of Columbia] The seat of government shall be the City of Tallahassee, in Leon County…

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land and cannot be violated. This means that the rights given in the U.S. Constitution cannot be taken away by a state constitution. State constitutions can guarantee MORE rights or offer greater protection of national rights. Next, we will compare rights of the U.S. and Florida Constitutions. Please form groups and complete page 3 and 4.

Please return the desks to where they belong. Group work is done.

Amending the Constitutions • I will need seven reading volunteers. • If you are not a volunteer, please follow along on Reading & Comparison Activity p.5. There is one major way that ratifying Virginia’s Constitution is different from ratifying the U.S. Constitution. What is that major difference? Why do you think we don’t do that for ratifying the U.S. Constitution? (write your answers on the bottom of your paper)

Using the first page of your packet, you will copy Florida’s Preamble onto the Comparison Worksheet p.1. Then, answer the questions that follow on Comparison Worksheet p.1, p.2, p.3, and p.4. Please focus on having short answers. If you just copy Florida’s Constitution, you will get the right answer, but you will have a hard time studying it. You are welcome to work in groups on this. Groups that are not working may be split up. Go! Move the desks!

How to Amend Florida’s ConstitutionPlease copy this flowchart and save room at the bottom so you can fit all the information.

How to Amend Florida’s Constitution Ballot Initiative Process Legislative Joint Resolution Constitutional Convention Taxation and Budget Reform Commission Constitutional Revision Commission A registered committee collects about 680,000 signatures with certain percentages coming from each congressional district.

How to Amend Florida’s Constitution Ballot Initiative Process Legislative Joint Resolution Constitutional Convention Taxation and Budget Reform Commission Constitutional Revision Commission Florida voters may call a constitutional convention by collecting 1.3 million signatures and then gaining a majority of the vote to the question "Shall a constitutional convention be held?"

How to Amend Florida’s Constitution Ballot Initiative Process Legislative Joint Resolution Constitutional Convention Taxation and Budget Reform Commission Constitutional Revision Commission 37 member commission meets every 20 years to examine the constitution of the state and propose the amendments deemed necessary. Next meeting is in 2017.

How to Amend Florida’s Constitution Ballot Initiative Process Legislative Joint Resolution Constitutional Convention Taxation and Budget Reform Commission Constitutional Revision Commission 22 member commission that meets every 20 years (started in 2007). Next one is in 2027.

How to Amend Florida’s Constitution Ballot Initiative Process Legislative Joint Resolution Constitutional Convention Taxation and Budget Reform Commission Constitutional Revision Commission The Florida Legislature can pass a joint resolution supported by three-fifths of the membership of each house of the legislature.

blah blah blah blah blah any proposed constitutional amendment must be approved by 60% of voters on the next Election Day. Exception! (amendments that raise taxes or fees must get 2/3 of all voters to approve it)

How many Constitutions does the United States have?