Governing Florida by Teachers' Curriculum Institute (TCI)

Lesson 12

Governing Florida How does Florida’s government work?

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1. Leadership and Public Service The United States has a democratic form of government. The word democracy means “rule by the people.” In our country and in our states, the people rule. They have the power. The government serves the people. Even though the people rule, we still need leaders. A good leader is often a public servant. A public servant is someone who helps other people. He or she may be appointed or elected to a public office. A public servant may work to solve problems at the local, state, or national level. Good leaders inspire people. They help people put aside differences to solve problems together. They are willing to take risks and think creatively to find solutions. Good leaders take responsibility for their actions. Leaders help turn plans into action. They help identify problems that need solving. They seek advice from knowledgeable people. They help find money if it is needed to solve a problem. Good leaders bring out the best in people. Leaders inspire others to help solve problems.

These volunteers are helping a man learn how to use a computer.

Leaders work at all levels of our community. The president of the United States is the leader of our country. The governor of Florida is the leader of our state. You may have a mayor who is the leader of your city. Which of these leadership qualities do you have? All of us have the potential to be good leaders. Are there things you think you would be good at? If you became a leader, what would you like to do? 268

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There are leaders even closer to where we live. Your principal is the leader of your school. Your teacher is the leader of your classroom. Who else is a leader in your school or community?

Citizens can help their community by volunteering to read to children.

People can become leaders in many ways. One important way is to get involved in your community. What problems need to be solved? How can you help find solutions? In what ways can you make your voice heard? One way that citizens can become leaders is by volunteering. Citizens can take part in food drives to help those in need. Some citizens volunteer in schools or nursing homes. Some may organize a recycling campaign. Others volunteer to keep parks clean. Some people help plant community gardens. Citizens can do many things to help others. What can you do to help your community? © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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2. How We Choose Our Leaders In the United States, people choose leaders to act for them. Usually, citizens do not vote on laws. They do not directly decide what the government will do. Instead, they choose leaders to represent them. These people do the day-today work of government. We use elections to choose many of our leaders. In an election, citizens choose by voting. Voting is both a right and a responsibility of citizenship. In Florida elections, voters choose candidates based on many factors. Voters want someone whose views they agree with. They want a fair and honest leader. They often vote for candidates who they believe have shown wisdom or courage. To learn about candidates, people can listen to what the candidates say—in person, on the radio, or on television. People can also read about candidates’ views in newspapers and on the internet. They can listen to what others say about candidates, too. What would you look for in a leader? Voters in Florida elect your governor. They also elect your representatives to the U.S. Congress and the Florida Legislature. Florida citizens vote for some judges. They also vote for local leaders such as mayors. When is Florida’s next election?

Daniella Levine Cava was elected MiamiDade County’s first-ever female mayor in November 2020. 270

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Who can vote in Florida? First, voters must be citizens of the United States. Voters must be at least 18 years old. They must live in Florida. Adults who want to vote must first register to vote. When someone registers to vote, he or she will find out where their polling place is. A polling place is where citizens go to cast their votes.

Citizens go to their polling places to cast votes in an election.

On election day, voters go to their polling places. Before they can vote, they must show identification. Election workers will give each voter a ballot. The ballot is where the voter marks his or her choices for leaders. Voters mark their choices on their ballots. Then they return the ballots to the election workers. At the end of election day, all the votes are counted. Then the names of the winning candidates are announced. Some voters prefer to vote by mail instead. A ballot is picked up or delivered without having to vote at the polls on Election Day. Whether in person or by mail, voting is a key part of being a citizen. Elections let the people have their say. They allow us to choose leaders to solve problems and make decisions. Are people happy with their leaders? Do they want new ones? On or soon after election day, we find out. © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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3. Three Levels of Government The United States has a federal system of government. In a federal system, the power of government is shared. The federal government holds some powers. The states hold the rest. The federal system is intended to protect our rights. It is supposed to stop a single government from being too powerful. All of the work of government is paid for by taxes. The federal government has many powers that benefit state and local governments. It has power over national affairs. It has the power to coin money. It works to ensure national security. It supervises military forces. It negotiates with other countries. The federal government regulates immigration. The second level of government is state government. Florida’s state government has power over affairs that affect all of Florida. It establishes local goverments and conducts elections. It oversees the public school system. It issues licenses. It also sets the speed limit on Florida’s highways. The state capital of Florida is Tallahassee. The third level of government is local government. Your city, town, or county government is your local government. State governments create local governments to meet local needs. Local governments organize police and fire departments. They plan and pay for most roads. They are responsible for housing and emergency medical services. These sheriffs work in county government. They are patrolling the Florida Everglades on an airboat.

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One kind of local government in Florida is county government. Florida has 67 counties. Voters elect officials called county commissioners to make laws for their county. County governments provide many important services to Florida residents. They maintain county roads. They make sure residents have a good water supply. County police provide law enforcement. County governments supply help during disasters, such as hurricanes. Another kind of local government is municipal government. A municipal government is a city government. Florida has hundreds of cities. The highest leader in most Florida cities is the mayor or the city manager. The mayor or city manager works with the city council. They work together to pass laws for the cities. Some Florida cities are governed by a commission. A commission is a group of leaders who pass laws and manage budgets. In a commission, there is no mayor or city manager.

State and local governments run schools in Florida.

Municipal governments provide many important services to citizens. They provide police and fire protection. They maintain city roads. They maintain parks and libraries. Sometimes they provide electricity to homes and businesses. There are other forms of local government. Your school district is one example. Each of Florida’s counties has a single school district. The highest leader of the school district is the superintendent. The superintendent works with members of the school board to operate the school district. Who is your school superintendent? © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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