Style Mr. Governor Formation 1845 | Inaugural holder William Dunn Moseley | |
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Residence Florida Governor's Mansion Term length Four years, renewable once Deputy Carlos López-Cantera, Lieutenant Governor | ||
The Governor of Florida is the head of the executive branch of Florida's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Florida Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.
Contents
- Federal Military Commissioner
- Governors of the Territory of Florida
- Governors of the State of Florida
- Other high offices held
- Living former US governors of Florida
- Line of Succession
- References
When Florida was first acquired by the United States, future president Andrew Jackson served as its military governor. Florida Territory was established in 1822, and five people served as governor over six distinct terms. The first territorial governor, William Pope Duval, served 12 years, the longest of any governor to date.
Since statehood in 1845 there have been 43 people who have served as governor, one of whom served two distinct terms. Three state governors have served two full four-year terms: William D. Bloxham, in two stints; and Reubin Askew and Jeb Bush, who each served their terms consecutively. Bob Graham almost served two terms, as he resigned with only three days left. The shortest term in office belongs to Wayne Mixson, who served three days following the resignation of his predecessor, Bob Graham.
The current governor is Rick Scott, who took office on January 4, 2011, following the 2010 election. He was re-elected in 2014, and his second term began on January 6, 2015.
Federal Military Commissioner
For a list of governors of Florida before it became a United States territory, see the list of colonial governors of Florida.Spanish Florida was acquired from Spain in the Adams–Onís Treaty, which took effect July 10, 1821. Parts of West Florida had already been assigned to Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi; the remainder and East Florida were governed by a military commissioner with the powers of governor until the territory was organized and incorporated.
Governors of the Territory of Florida
Florida Territory was organized on March 30, 1822, combining East and West Florida.
Governors of the State of Florida
The State of Florida was admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845. It seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861, as a founding member; there was no Union government in exile, so there was a single line of governors. Following the end of the American Civil War, it was part of the Third Military District. Florida was readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868.
The Florida Constitution of 1838 provided that a governor be elected every four years, who was not allowed to serve consecutive terms. The secessionist constitution of 1861 would have reduced this to two years and removed the term limit, but the state fell to the Union before the first election under that constitution. The rejected constitution of 1865 and the ratified constitution of 1868 maintained the four-year term, though without the earlier term limit, which was reintroduced in the 1885 constitution. The current constitution of 1968 states that should the governor serve, or would have served had he not resigned, more than six years in two consecutive terms, he cannot be elected to the succeeding term. The start of a term was set in 1885 at the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the January following the election, where it has remained.
Originally, the president of the state senate acted as governor should that office be vacant. The 1865 and 1868 constitutions created the office of lieutenant governor, who would similarly act as governor. This office was abolished in 1885, with the president of the senate again taking on that duty. The 1968 constitution recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who now becomes governor in the absence of the governor. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket.
Florida was a strongly Democratic state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic and Whig parties. It elected three Republican governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 90 years passed before voters chose another Republican.
Other high offices held
Fifteen of Florida's governors have served in federal offices, including one President of the United States, two Cabinet secretaries, and one ambassador. One served as Governor of North Carolina, and all fifteen were elected to the U.S. Congress, though only ten represented Florida, and only eight actually took their seats. One died before taking office, and the other was refused his seat by the U.S. Senate shortly after the American Civil War, because Florida had not yet been reconstructed. One governor (marked with *) resigned to take his seat in the Senate.
Living former U.S. governors of Florida
As of January 2017, there are six former governors who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of Florida being Wayne Mixson (served 1987, born 1922). The most recent death of a former U.S. governor of Florida was that of Reubin Askew (served 1971–1979, born 1928), on March 13, 2014. The most recently serving U.S. governor of Florida to die was Lawton Chiles, who served from January 8, 1991 until he died in office on December 12, 1998.
Line of Succession
Since 2003, the line of succession to the office of Governor has been as follows:
- Lieutenant Governor, currently Carlos López-Cantera
- Attorney General, currently Pam Bondi
- Chief Financial Officer, currently Jeff Atwater
- Commissioner of Agriculture, currently Adam Putnam
Whenever the Governor is unable or unwilling to discharge the office, either temporarily or permanently, the Lieutenant Governor takes over all the duties of the governorship either until the Governor is able to resume the office or until the next election. At any time that the Governor is on trial for impeachment, the Lieutenant Governor becomes the Acting Governor. Additionally, at any time that three members of the cabinet and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court agree on the Governor's mental or physical unfitness for office, they may suspend and reinstate the Governor, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution.
If a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor and a successor within the above-stated line of succession can not fill the vacancy, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and the President of the Senate must convene the Legislature by joint proclamation within 15 days for the purpose of choosing a person to serve as Governor for the remainder of the term. A successor can only be chosen by a majority vote in a joint session of both houses.
If, after the appointment of a Lieutenant Governor, a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor with more than 28 months remaining in the term and the appointed Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor, voters must choose a governor and lieutenant governor to serve out the remainder of the terms at the next general election.