Crafting Constitutions in Florida, 1810–1968

Tracing over 200 years of constitutional tradition in Florida

Florida Book Awards, Silver Medal for Florida Nonfiction

As historical documents, constitutions represent a unique window into the economic, social, and political contexts of the people who debated, drafted, and ratified them. This comprehensive volume examines all constitutions drafted in Florida, from the territorial era to the most recent version from 1968.

In addition to the 6 constitutional revisions implemented by the state government, chapters in this book include discussions of the West Florida Republic Constitution of 1810 and the East Florida Patriot Constitution of 1812, both created before Florida became a state, as well as the constitutions of the Seminole and Miccosukee People. Contributors show what aspects of each constitution were borrowed from existing traditions and what parts were influenced by circumstances of the time. Florida has the twelfth most-revised constitution in the nation, offering a useful case study both in comparison to other states and in the flexibility of state constitutions compared to the US Constitution.

This volume presents a complete history of the drafting of constitutions and the creation of governments across people and movements in Florida. It provides background information for today’s debates about whether the 1968 constitution should be revised and what the next steps are for the state in this 200-year tradition.