Local Government and Government Essay

Total Length: 849 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 4

Page 1 of 3

Florida state government is divided up into branches that each hold a precise and specific mandate. As with the federal government, Florida's state government consists of three branches -- the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. Each branch has its own special duties and responsibilities. Moreover, the state also has local government agencies that serve both general and special purposes (American Government, n.d.). This paper will discuss each of these elements of the Florida state government.

Basic Structure

The basic structure of the Florida state government can be summarized by explaining the responsibilities of the Florida Governor and Cabinet, the Florida Legislature and the Florida Judicial branches of government (State and Local Governemnt, n.d.).

The Governor is the chief executive of the state government -- just like the President is the chief executive of the nation. In Florida, the Governor is responsible for overseeing the state budget plan as well as the state militia, and acts as chair when serving in conjunction with the Cabinet to fulfill the executive branch's Constitutional mandate (The Florida Constitution, n.d.). The Governor must prepare an annual State of the State Address and present it to the legislative branch of the state government. Florida's Cabinet consists of elected members who are equal in authority to the Governor in matters that fall within the Cabinet's oversight.
The members of the Cabinet include the Attorney General (AG), the Agriculture Commissioner, and the CFO. All Cabinet members (including the Governor) have one vote, but the Governor always serves as tie-breaker in the event of a stalemate. The AG serves as Florida's highest legal officer and is responsible for appointing a state prosecutor and for overseeing Legal Affairs. The CFO is responsible for overseeing the state's fiscal policy and sits at the head of Financial Services (The Florida Constitution, n.d.).

The Florida Legislature is bicameral with a Senate (40 members) and House (120 members) -- both of which convene to discuss and codify laws pertaining to the general public, the budget, property, taxes, and more. They convene both in regularly scheduled meetings and in special sessions throughout the year.

The Judicial branches of Florida consists of the state Supreme Court, the District Courts of Appeal and trial courts (circuit courts and county courts). The state's Supreme Court is the top court and has seven judges; its rulings are deemed final in the state (and can only….....

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"Local Government And Government", 08 September 2016, Accessed.6 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/local-government-government-2162321