7. FLORIDA CONSTITUTIONAL MATERIALS
Most constitutional provisions begin with a section number and catchline followed by the text of the section.
Section 2. Basic rights.—All natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and property, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and to acquire, possess, and protect property. No person shall be deprived of any right because of race, religion, national origin, or physical disability.
7.1 In Text
Spell out the terms (such as article, section, etc.) but not the numbers. Do not italicize the words “Florida Constitution.”
► If the Governor dies, article IV, section 3, subsection (a) of the Florida Constitution provides
that the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor.
7.2 In Footnotes or Stand-Alone Citations
Use roman numerals for the article number and arabic numerals for the section number. In scholarly works, the phrase “Fla. Const.” should be in large and small capital letters and should be the first element in the citation.
Legal Documents:
► Art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const.
Scholarly Works:
► Fla. Const. art. V, § 3(b)(3).
7.3 Annotations
When citing an annotation to the Florida Constitution, use the following form, with a parenthetical indicating the subject of the annotation.
The basic form is:
► [Volume] Fla. Stat. Ann. [page] (year).
Legal Documents:
► 26A Fla. Stat. Ann. 702 (2010) (annot. to art. XII, § 10, Fla. Const.).
Scholarly Works:
► 26A Fla. Stat. Ann. 702 (2010) (annot. to Fla. Const. art. XII, § 10).
7.4 Legislatively Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Cite to a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution by citing to the legislative resolution number, page number where the proposed amendment may be found, and year. Indicate the section to be amended in a parenthetical.
Legal Documents:
► Fla. SJR 1266 (2017) at 1 (proposed art. VI, § 4, Fla. Const.).
Scholarly Works:
► Fla. SJR 1266 (2017) at 1 (proposed Fla. Const.art. VI, § 4).