Florida Legislature

Florida Legislature
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Representatives
Leadership
President of the Senate	Jeff Atwater, Republican Party since March 4, 2008
Speaker of the House	Larry Cretul, Republican Party since March 3, 2009
Structure
Members	160
Political groups	Democratic Party Republican Party
Election
Last election	November 4, 2008
Meeting place
Florida Capitol, Tallahassee
Website
www.leg.state.fl.us/

The Florida Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution mandates a bicameral state legislature with an upper house Florida Senate of 40 members and a lower Florida House of Representatives of 120 members. Due to term limits, House members may be elected for up to four terms (eight years), while State Senators can be elected for up to two terms (eight years). Former members can be elected again after a two year break. Both chambers have been in Republican hands since 1994.

The two houses convene within the Florida State Capitol complex in Tallahassee.

Contents 1 Operations 2 Constitutions 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Operations

The Florida Legislature operates on a regular legislative session starting on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days. Special sessions are called as needed.

In 2009, legislators filed 2,138 bills for consideration. On average, the legislature has passed about 300 bills into law annually.^[1]

Earmarks that have not gone through the normal legislative process, are known coloquially as "turkeys." In 2010, a watchdog organizations counted 41 "turkeys" totaling $61 million.^[2]

[edit] Constitutions

Florida has had a total of six different state constitutions, coming in 1838, 1861 (secession), 1865, 1868, 1885, and 1968.

[edit] See also

• Florida State Capitol
• Florida House of Representatives
• Florida Senate
• The Florida Channel
• Government of Florida
• Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

[edit] References

1. ^ Flemming, Paul (March 8, 2009). Capital Ideas: Lawmakers face 2,138 proposals. Florida Today. 
2. ^ Schweers, Jeff (27 May 2010). "Supporters object after group calls parkway project a 'turkey'". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1B. http://m.floridatoday.com/news.jsp?key=328585&rc=ne. 

[edit] External links

• Florida Legislature

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