Florida State Seal

Florida Capitol buildings (Old Capitol in foreground). The Government of the State of Florida is established and operated according to the Florida Constitution. The State of Florida is a democratic constitutional republic. The Florida Constitution defines the basic structures and operation of the government, its duties, responsibilities, and powers, and establishes the basic law of the state and guarantees various rights and freedoms of the people. The State of Florida is a member of the United States of America, and is a U.S. state. The United States is a federation, and as such it retains exclusive authority over legal and law enforcement matters that lie within the states borders, except as limited by the Constitution of the United States. Power in Florida is divided among three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The state delegates non-exclusive power to local municipal and county governments. However, home-rule charters can be established which provide significant local autonomy over the structure and operation of those governments. The state capital of Florida is Tallahassee. In the downtown area of the city is located the Florida State Capitol building, which houses the executive and legislative offices as well as the state's legislative chambers.