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Taylor took notes during his civics class comparing the U.S. Constitution with the state of Florida’s Constitution. However, he forgot to write down which set of features applied to which constitution. How can he tell the difference between them?

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1 point
He remembers that the Florida Constitution does not have a bill of rights, but the U.S. Constitution does
He remembers that the Florida Constitution does not allow for the executive branch to establish a cabinet, but the U.S. Constitution does.
He remembers that the Florida Constitution has five methods to propose an amendment, but the U.S. Constitution only has two.
. He remembers that the Florida Constitution gives the executive branch power over military forces, while the U.S. Constitution does not.

1 answer

To determine which features apply to which constitution, Taylor can use the following characteristics:

  • Bill of Rights: The U.S. Constitution has a Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments), while the Florida Constitution also has a Declaration of Rights. Both constitutions have provisions to protect individual rights.

  • Executive Branch and Cabinet: The U.S. Constitution does allow the President to establish a cabinet (an advisory group of heads of executive departments), while the Florida Constitution also has a cabinet that consists of the chief financial officer, the attorney general, and the commissioner of agriculture.

  • Amendment Proposals: The Florida Constitution indeed has multiple methods for proposing amendments (including legislative proposals, voter initiatives, and constitutional conventions), whereas the U.S. Constitution has a more limited approach (mainly through congressional proposal or national convention).

  • Military Authority: The U.S. Constitution has specific provisions that outline the powers of the military, including the President as the Commander-in-Chief, while the Florida Constitution does not provide the executive branch with similar explicit military powers.

Given these points, the distinguishing feature that Taylor remembers is correct: the Florida Constitution has five methods to propose an amendment, while the U.S. Constitution only has two. This is a significant difference that can help him identify the respective constitutions.