Florida Legislative Government Fiscal Policy US GOV voting

1. Highlights: The Legislative Branch
SS.7.C.3.8/SS.7.3.9
The Structure, Functions, and Processes of the Legislative,
Executive, and Judicial Branches of Government
Terri Susan Fine, Ph.D.
Content Specialist, Florida Joint Center for Citizenship

2. Benchmarks
SS.7.C.3.8 (Also assesses SS.7.3.9)
Analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches.
SS.7.3.9
Illustrate the lawmaking processes at the local, state, and federal
levels

3. The Federal Capitol Building
House of
Representatives Senate

4. The Structure of the Legislative Branch
Level of
Government
Legislative
Titles
Chamber
Titles
Institution
Title
Members
National Representative
Senator
U.S. House of
Representatives
U.S. Senate
U.S.
Congress
435 U.S.
Representatives
100 U.S.
Senators
State Representative
Senator
Florida House of
Representatives
Florida Senate
Florida
Legislature
120
Representatives
40 Senators
Local City/County
Commissioner
N/A City
Council
County
Commission
Determined by
city and county
charters

5. The Florida State Capitol Building

6. The Legislative Process at the
National and State Levels of Government
Power Explanation of Power Possible Outcome
Introduce
Legislation
Ask the legislative chamber to
consider a proposed law (bill)
Bill is forwarded to committee
Forward Bill
to
Committee
Ask a committee to consider the bill Bill is forwarded to legislative
chamber
Vote on Bill A majority of members of each
chamber (50%+1) must approve of
the bill before it is forwarded to the
chief executive
Bill is forwarded to the chief
executive
Chief
Executive
acts on Bill
Chief Executive may sign the bill
into law or veto the bill.
National law
State statute

7. How A Bill Becomes A Law

8. The Appointment Process
Power Level of Government Explanation of Power
Nomination by
Chief Executive
(U.S. president or
Florida governor)
National
State
The Chief Executive nominates
persons to hold specific public offices.
Appointment by
Senate
National
State
The U.S. Senate must approve, by
majority vote, of persons named by
the president to hold specific offices
(nominees).
The Florida Senate must approve, by
majority vote, of persons named by
the governor to hold specific offices
(nominees).

9. The Impeachment Process
Power Level of
Government
Explanation of Power Possible Outcome
Impeach National
State
The power to bring charges of
official wrongdoing against a
person holding public office
Impeachment requires a majority
vote in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
Impeachment requires a majority
vote in the Florida House of
Representatives
Convict National
State
Conviction leads to the removal
of executive and judicial branch
officials and a criminal record
Conviction requires a 2/3 vote in the
U.S. Senate.
Conviction requires a 2/3 vote in the
Florida Senate.

10. Party Leadership Congress
and the Florida Legislature
Majority leader: The leader chosen by the party with the most seats in his or her
house of Congress; this person represents the majority party in policy debates.
Minority leader: The leader chosen by the party with the least seats in his or her
house of Congress; this person represents the minority party in policy debates.
President pro tempore of the Senate: The second highest ranking member of the U.S.
Senate (The U.S. Constitution provides that the vice-president is the president of the
Senate). The person who presides over the Florida Senate when the Senate president is
not present.
Speaker of the House: The person who presides over the U.S. House of
Representatives/the person who presides over the Florida House of Representatives.
The majority party selects the Speaker of the House in the United States and in Florida.