Essay - US Constitution and Constitution of Florida the Structures of the...

US Constitution and ***** of Florida

The structures of the United States Constitution (USC) and ***** ***** State Constitution (FSC) are remarkably similar. Both are broken up into articles (seven in the former, twelve in ***** latter) and further subdivided into sections. The *****, however, includes twenty-seven amendments.

Much of the content of the USC amendments, particularly ***** first ten (which are known collectively as the "Bill of Rights") are incorporated into the first article ***** the *****. This article, summarized as a "Declaration of Rights" is clearly an attempt to learn from the omissions of ***** p*****t; even the order ***** ***** sections closely match the USC amendments.

The second ***** of the FSC, "General Provisions," covers issues such as boundaries, form of government, ***** basis ***** state ethical law, ***** declaring the official language. None of this material has a counterp*****rt in the USC.

The first three articles ***** the ***** ***** the third, fourth, and fifth of the FSC. They cover each ***** the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The ***** is very exhaustive on the topics of powers, duties, ***** purpose, but the USC only briefly addresses a handful ***** critical *****sues before mov*****g on to ***** next branch.

This reflects the fact that these documents fill different roles. ***** USC was, ***** and foremost, a statement to England, the world, and the newly-formed United *****s of America, that it had become a sovereign n*****ti*****. The particulars were inconseque*****al except inasmuch as ********** inspired confidence in the ability of the new government to act successfully.

The FSC, on the other hand, was written with the intent ***** ***** a lot of legal ground. It is a one-source document to define an entire governmental system. As a result, it ***** well over five times as long.

This differing role is also expressed in ***** subject areas covered ***** are not covered in the USC; election methods, taxation, *****d local government are all defined in the *****. The USC restricts itself to enumerat*****g powers of the ***** branches and of the state government versus ***** national