| BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
WHAT IS A "HOME-RULE CHARTER"
History
of Florida Counties and the Rise of Home Rule
The 1968 Florida Constitution permitted counties by a majority of voters
to adopt a "home-rule charter." A home-rule charter is a local
constitution and can modify the structure of county government and can
also deal with specific issues. The county charter prevails in the event
of a conflict between a county and a municipal ordinance. In noncharter
counties, a municipality may void a county ordinance within its boundaries
simply by passing its own ordinance that conflicts with the county
ordinance. As of 1997, sixteen of Florida's 67 counties had adopted home
rule charters.
A charter is like a "mini-constitution" for a county. The Charter spells
out the powers, duties and structures of County government. Counties in
Florida traditionally were viewed as arms of State government. They
performed a limited number of government functions, and largely were
controlled by the State Legislature. Over the decades, Florida has changed
dramatically. More than one-half of Florida residents now live outside
cities. County governments now provide many municipal-type services in
addition to performing traditional responsibilities. The Florida
Constitution was amended in 1968 to extend full powers of home rule to
Florida counties whose voters choose to adopt charters. Nineteen of
Florida's 67 counties now have a charter. Brevard County adopted its
chapter on November 9, 1994.
Charter Review Commission Brevard County
Home Rule The following is one of the Florida Association of Counties's
1998-1999 Guiding Principles: HOME RULE County officials are dedicated to
the preservation of democratic principles, specifically the notion that
the government closest to the people is the appropriate authority to serve
the needs and requirements of the community. Home rule is the right of the
people to determine and implement a public purpose at the grassroots
level. Home rule powers conferred to Florida counties by Article VIII,
Section 1(f), of the Florida Constitution (1968), and by Section 125.01,
Florida Statutes. The preservation of this democratic concept is essential
to the operation of county governments in Florida. Accordingly, the
Florida Association of Counties is dedicated to maintaining the integrity
of county home rule power, both administrative and fiscal, which allows
counties to develop and implement coummunity-based solutions to local
problems.
Charter Counties along with their charter dates:
Alachua - 1987
Brevard - 1994
Broward - 1975
Charlotte - 1986
Clay -
1991
Columbia - 2002
Duval - 1967
Hillsborough - 1983
Lee -
1996
Leon - 2002
Miami-Dade - 1957
Orange - 1987
Osceola -
1992
Palm Beach - 1985
Pinellas - 1980
Polk - 1998
Sarasota -
1971
Seminole - 1989
Volusia - 1971
Some Florida Home Rule Charters
Brevard County
Home Rule Charter
Charlotte County Home
Rule Charter
Hillsborough
County Home Rule Charter
Leon County Home Rule
Charter
Pinellas County Home Rule
Charter
Volusia County's Home
Rule Charter
|
Mashpee Charter - Cape Cod painting by Cybrary Man
Home rule powers conferred to Florida counties by Article VIII, Section
1(f), of the Florida Constitution (1968),
and by Section 125.01,
Florida Statutes.
Title
XII
CHAPTER
166
Title
XII Chapter 166 - 166.031 Charter amendments
The 2004 Florida Statutes
Title XII
MUNICIPALITIES Chapter 166
Municipal Home Rule Powers
Act
 Mashpee, Massachusetts
Cover
Page: Mashpee Home Rule Charter
A Charter for
Mashpee
Other Charter Information Links
Florida
Statutes for County Charters
Florida Statues
Florida Counties |
