Florida Government Structure
The government of the State of Florida operates under the Florida Constitution of 1968, the sixth constitution adopted since Florida achieved statehood in 1845. The 1968 Constitution replaced a much-amended 1885 document and established the modern framework of state governance, including a reorganized executive branch, a restructured judiciary, and provisions for local government home rule. The Constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption, reflecting the state's growth and evolving priorities, but its fundamental structure remains the governing framework for all state operations.
Like all U.S. states, Florida's government is organized into three co-equal branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. This separation of powers, modeled on the federal system, is intended to prevent the concentration of authority in any single branch and to provide checks and balances among the branches. Understanding this structure is essential for anyone conducting business in, relocating to, or seeking to engage with the government of the State of Florida.
The Executive Branch
The executive branch of Florida's government is headed by the Governor, who is elected to a four-year term and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. The Governor is the chief executive officer of the state, responsible for enforcing state laws, commanding the Florida National Guard, appointing judges and agency heads, and preparing the state budget for submission to the Legislature. The Governor also has the power to veto legislation, call special legislative sessions, and issue executive orders.
Florida's executive branch includes several independently elected officials who serve alongside the Governor as members of the Florida Cabinet. Under the current constitutional framework (as amended in 1998), the Cabinet consists of three members: the Attorney General, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. Each is elected statewide to four-year terms. The Governor and Cabinet sit collectively as decision-making bodies for several state functions, including the State Board of Administration (which oversees state investments and the Florida Retirement System), the Financial Services Commission, and the Board of Executive Clemency.
The Lieutenant Governor, who runs on a joint ticket with the Governor, serves as the second-highest executive official and assumes the governorship if the Governor is unable to serve. The Lieutenant Governor also serves as the head of the Department of State's international trade and protocol functions and chairs various task forces and commissions at the Governor's direction.
State Agencies and Departments
The executive branch encompasses numerous state agencies and departments responsible for administering specific areas of government. Major state agencies include:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — Licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals in Florida, including contractors, real estate professionals, cosmetologists, restaurants, and hotels. DBPR administers the Construction Industry Licensing Board, the Florida Real Estate Commission, and the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, among other regulatory bodies.
Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) — Administers workforce development programs through the CareerSource Florida network, manages the state's unemployment compensation system, and oversees economic development initiatives including enterprise zones and community development programs.
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) — The principal environmental regulatory agency in the state, responsible for protecting Florida's air, water, and land resources. DEP administers permitting programs for development activities affecting wetlands, coastal areas, and water resources, and manages the state park system.
Department of Transportation (FDOT) — Plans, builds, and maintains the state highway system, including the Florida Turnpike and other toll facilities. FDOT also oversees public transit, rail, aviation, and seaport programs.
Department of Health (DOH) — Operates county health departments in all 67 counties, administers public health programs, licenses healthcare practitioners, and regulates health facilities.
Department of Children and Families (DCF) — Administers programs related to child welfare, mental health, substance abuse, economic self-sufficiency (including food assistance and temporary cash assistance), and refugee services.
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) — Oversees agricultural inspections, consumer protection, pesticide regulation, fuel quality, concealed weapon permits, and the Florida Forest Service.
The Legislative Branch
The Florida Legislature is a bicameral body consisting of two chambers: the Florida Senate, with 40 members, and the Florida House of Representatives, with 120 members. Senators serve four-year terms, with half of the Senate seats up for election every two years. Representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats contested in each general election cycle. Both senators and representatives are subject to term limits imposed by a 1992 constitutional amendment, which restricts service to eight consecutive years in each chamber.
The Legislature meets annually in regular session, beginning on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March and lasting up to 60 consecutive days. The Governor may also convene special sessions to address specific matters, and the Legislature itself may call special sessions through a joint proclamation by the presiding officers. During regular session, the Legislature considers the state budget (the General Appropriations Act), enacts and amends statutes, and proposes constitutional amendments for placement on the ballot.
The presiding officer of the Senate is the President of the Senate, elected by the members of the Senate. The presiding officer of the House is the Speaker of the House, elected by the members of the House. These officers wield significant power over committee assignments, the flow of legislation, and the legislative calendar. The committee system is the primary mechanism through which legislation is considered, with bills typically assigned to multiple committees for review before reaching the full chamber for a vote.
The Florida Statutes, compiled and published by the Legislature, contain the codified laws of the state. The statutes are organized into 48 titles covering all areas of state law, from criminal law and civil procedure to environmental regulation, business organization, and local government. The statutes are publicly accessible through the Florida Legislature's website and are updated following each legislative session.
The Judicial Branch
Florida's judicial system is a unified court system consisting of the Florida Supreme Court, five District Courts of Appeal, twenty circuit courts, and county courts in each of the 67 counties. The Florida Supreme Court, located in Tallahassee, is the court of last resort and consists of seven justices appointed by the Governor from a list of nominees provided by the Judicial Nominating Commission. Justices serve six-year terms and face merit retention elections (in which voters decide whether to retain the justice, without an opposing candidate) at the end of each term.
The Supreme Court has mandatory jurisdiction over cases involving the death penalty, bond validations, and constitutional questions certified by federal courts. It also has discretionary jurisdiction to review decisions of the District Courts of Appeal on questions of great public importance and to resolve conflicts between district court decisions.
The five District Courts of Appeal serve as the intermediate appellate courts. Most appeals from circuit courts are heard by the district courts, which operate in panels of three judges. The districts are geographically organized, with courts located in Tallahassee (First District), Lakeland (Second District), Miami (Third District), West Palm Beach (Fourth District), and Daytona Beach (Fifth District), with additional satellite courthouses in various locations.
The twenty circuit courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction, handling felony criminal cases, civil disputes exceeding $50,000, family law matters, probate, and juvenile cases. Circuit court judges are elected to six-year terms in nonpartisan elections. County courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes of $50,000 or less, traffic infractions, and small claims matters. County court judges serve four-year terms.
County Government
Florida's 67 counties serve as the primary units of local government, providing services including law enforcement (through county sheriffs), property assessment and tax collection, elections administration, courts administration, road maintenance, parks and recreation, emergency management, and various social services. County government in Florida operates under one of two frameworks, a distinction that significantly affects the scope of local authority.
Charter Counties
Charter counties are those that have adopted a home rule charter under Article VIII, Section 1 of the Florida Constitution. A home rule charter is essentially a local constitution that defines the structure, powers, and procedures of county government. Charter counties have broad authority to enact ordinances and exercise governmental power on any matter not inconsistent with state law or the state constitution. As of the most recent count, 20 of Florida's 67 counties have adopted home rule charters, including most of the state's most populous counties: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Orange, Duval, Pinellas, Volusia, Seminole, Sarasota, Osceola, Lee, Leon, Alachua, Clay, Columbia, Polk, Brevard, Charlotte, and Wakulla.
Charter counties may adopt varied forms of government. Some operate under a commission-administrator system (in which an elected commission sets policy and a professional administrator manages day-to-day operations), while others use a commission-mayor or strong-mayor form. Miami-Dade County, for example, operates under a mayor-commission form with a separately elected executive mayor, while Hillsborough County uses a county administrator appointed by the Board of County Commissioners.
Non-Charter Counties
The remaining 47 counties operate as non-charter (or "general law") counties, deriving their powers exclusively from the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes. Non-charter counties are governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners elected to four-year staggered terms. Their authority is limited to those powers expressly granted or necessarily implied by state law. Non-charter counties also have five independently elected constitutional officers: the Sheriff, the Property Appraiser, the Tax Collector, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the Supervisor of Elections.
Municipalities
Florida has more than 400 incorporated municipalities, ranging from the City of Jacksonville (with a consolidated population of approximately 950,000) to small towns with populations under 100. Municipalities in Florida are governed by city charters and exercise home rule powers within their corporate limits. Municipal government structures vary widely, with some cities using a council-manager form (in which an elected city council appoints a professional city manager to oversee daily operations) and others using a mayor-council form with varying degrees of executive authority vested in the mayor.
The relationship between county and municipal government in Florida is defined by the principle that municipalities and counties may exercise concurrent jurisdiction, with state law generally prevailing in cases of conflict. Unincorporated areas of a county are served directly by county government for most local services, while incorporated areas receive services from both the municipality and the county, with the division of responsibility varying by service type and local agreement.
Special Districts
Florida has more than 1,800 special districts -- independent governmental entities created to provide specific services within defined geographic boundaries. Special districts may be created by the Legislature (independent special districts) or by county or municipal governments (dependent special districts). Common types include water management districts, community development districts (CDDs), fire control districts, hospital districts, port authorities, and improvement districts. The five regional Water Management Districts (South Florida, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, Suwannee River, and Northwest Florida) are among the most significant, responsible for managing water supply, flood control, and environmental protection across their jurisdictions.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District, which historically governed the area encompassing Walt Disney World, was one of the most well-known special districts in the state. In 2023, the Legislature reconstituted it as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, modifying its governance structure while maintaining its service provision functions.
Constitutional Revision
Florida's Constitution provides multiple mechanisms for amendment and revision. Constitutional amendments may be proposed by the Legislature (requiring a three-fifths vote of each chamber), by citizen initiative (requiring petition signatures equal to eight percent of the votes cast in the most recent presidential election, gathered from at least half of the state's congressional districts), by the Constitution Revision Commission (which convenes every twenty years, with the most recent meeting in 2017-18), or by the Tax and Budget Reform Commission (which convenes every twenty years to review state tax and budgetary provisions). All proposed amendments must be approved by at least 60 percent of voters in a statewide election.
For detailed information on Florida's legal framework, see Florida Legal Authority and Florida Legal Services Authority.