7. FLORIDA CONSTITUTIONAL MATERIALS
Most constitutional provisions begin with a section number and catchline followed by the text of the section.
Section 23. Right of Privacy. — Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the person’s private life except as otherwise provided herein.
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 Cites
The citation form for constitutions is different for scholarly works and legal documents. Use roman numerals for the article number and arabic numerals for the section number (regardless of the form used by the original source). However, 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:
► 26AFla. Stat. Ann.702 (2010) (annot. to Fla. Const.art. XII, § 10).
7.4 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).