As an Anti-Federalist, he believed that a strong national government without a bill of rights would undermine individual freedom. Mason also significantly contributed to other documents that advanced the development of the First Amendment.

George Mason’s ideas helped to shape the Founding documents of the United States, but few Americans remember him today. The words he used when writing the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution of 1776 inspired the nation’s Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights was strongly influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason. Federalists argued that the Constitution did not need a bill of rights, because the people and the states kept any powers not given to the federal government.

Contribution: Although he was one of only three delegates not to sign the Constitution, George Mason had a very unique role in its creation. He came to the convention deeply concerned with the amount of power being given to the federal government, and the convention’s unwillingness to end the slave trade.

As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Mason refused to sign the Constitution and lobbied against its ratification in his home state, believing the document as drafted gave too much power to a central government and was incomplete absent a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty.

The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The point of the event was decide how America was going to be governed. Although the Convention had been officially called to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, many delegates had much bigger plans.

There has never been a Constitutional Convention called by the states. However, many states have made efforts to call a convention. Estimates show state legislatures have passed hundreds of resolutions calling for an Article V Constitutional Convention in the last 200 years.

Article V says that “on the Application of two thirds of the Legislatures of the several States, [Congress] shall call a Convention for proposing amendments.” The convention can propose amendments, whether Congress approves of them or not. Those proposed amendments would then be sent to the states for ratification.

A convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution, also called an Article V Convention or amendatory convention, called for by two-thirds (currently 34) of the state legislatures, is one of two processes authorized by Article Five of the United States Constitution whereby the United States …

Article V of the Constitution provides two ways to propose amendments to the document. Amendments may be proposed either by the Congress, through a joint resolution passed by a two-thirds vote, or by a convention called by Congress in response to applications from two-thirds of the state legislatures.

Article V of the U.S. Constitution gives states the power to call a Convention of States to propose amendments. To call the convention, the support of 34 states are needed, and 38 states are required to ratify any proposed amendments. “A constitutional convention should not be entered into lightly,” Singer noted.

February 10, 2016 — The Florida Legislature has passed legislation making it the first in the nation to call for an Article V amendment convention exclusive to the subject of putting term limits on Congress. The memorial, HM 417, passed the State House and State Senate by a unanimous voice vote.

On November 3, 1992, almost 77 percent of Florida voters backed Amendment 9, the Florida Term Limits Amendment, which amended the State Constitution, to enact eight-year term limits on federal and state officials. Under the amendment, former members can be elected again after a two-year break.

Twenty-three States have also enacted term limits on their Federal congressional delegations. Of these 23 States, 21 passed term limits by ballot initiatives, with average support exceeding 64 percent. The remaining States, Utah and New Hampshire, passed term limits laws through their State legislatures.

Senators serve 4-year, staggered terms and representatives serve 2-year terms. A legislator may not seek reelection “if, by the end of the current term of office, the person will have served . . . in that office for eight consecutive years.” See section 4 of Article VI of the State Constitution.

Rick Scott (Republican Party)

The Florida Legislature meets in session every year for sixty consecutive days. A regular session of the legislature shall convene on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each odd-numbered year, and on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in January of each even-numbered year.

In 2020, the Florida State Legislature was scheduled to convene on January 14 and adjourn on March 13…

List of members / delegates

Florida is divided into 27 congressional districts, each represented by a member of the United States House of Representatives. After the 2010 Census, the number of Florida’s seats was increased from 25 to 27 due to the state’s increase in population, and subsequent reapportionment in 2012.

A legislator sponsors a bill, which is referred to one or more committees related to the bill’s subject. The committee studies the bill and decides if it should be amended, pass, or fail. If passed, the bill moves to other committees of reference or to the full house. The full house then votes on the bill.

Most bills require a majority vote (it must pass by 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the Assembly), while urgency measures and appropriation bills require a two-thirds vote (27 in the Senate, 54 in the Assembly).

The constitution establishes the powers and duties of The Florida Senate. The Legislative Branch, as defined in the Constitution, has exclusive lawmaking power. In a simplified version, legislators propose bills which, if passed favorably by both houses and approved by the Governor, become law.

First, a representative sponsors a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated or amended. If the bill passes by simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate.

Steps

• Step 1: The bill is drafted.
• Step 2: The bill is introduced.
• Step 3: The bill goes to committee.
• Step 4: Subcommittee review of the bill.
• Step 5: Committee mark up of the bill.
• Step 6: Voting by the full chamber on the bill.
• Step 7: Referral of the bill to the other chamber.
• Step 8: The bill goes to the president.

After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the president. If the president approves of the legislation, he signs it and it becomes law. Or, if the president takes no action for ten days, while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law.