UNIT 4 OVERVIEW

Welcome to Unit 4 of Florida; history, people and politics. This unit focuses primarily on the political institution within the State of Florida. Florida's legislature, comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate, writes the majority of the laws under which the citizens of Florida live. Those laws are interpreted by the judicial branch and enforced by the executive branch.

Florida has law enforcement officials at all levels of local and state government to contend with those who do not abide by the law. This unit will devote attention to some of those levels and how they work together.

Unit 4 will focus on political parties and interest groups, as they play a significant role in Florida's political institutions. Also included is an analysis of the city and county governments in the state. No level of government has a greater chance of affecting day-to-day lives than the one down the street from each Florida constituent.

Finally, Unit 4 will review an issue which recently brought city, county, state, and even the federal government together in Florida for one issue: the razor-close 2000 Presidential election. We will see how the political institutions in Florida worked together, and at times against each other, to seek a resolution to this controversy.