opinion

Our Constitution is being revised; here's why it matters | Guest column

Something big is happening in the Sunshine State, but it seems few Floridians know anything about it.

Florida’s governing document, the state Constitution, has been opened for review and possible changes. The review is being conducted by the Constitution Revision Commission, which convenes every 20 years to take a top-to-bottom look at the document that charts the direction of our state.

Overhauling our Constitution is serious business. This document is our government’s contract with the people of Florida. It outlines the very structure of state government, limiting the extent of the government’s powers and enshrining the rights we enjoy as citizens.

While laws can be changed every year by the Legislature, the Constitution is amended far less frequently. I like to think of laws found in Florida Statutes as being written in pencil, subject to legislative change every year, while amendments to the Constitution are done with a Sharpie.

Let's face it, not many people give serious thought to the Constitution, and even fewer are paying attention to the Constitution Revision Commission. But that 37-member panel has the authority to address everything that’s in the Constitution — property taxes and capital punishment, gun regulations and voting rights, open government and Florida’s definition of marriage.

However you may feel about these specific issues, don't you at least want to know what's being done with them?

MORE: Watch these proposals to change the state Constitution | Isadora Rangel

Here’s the most unusual thing about the commission: If its members ultimately approve a proposal, the question goes right onto the ballot — no review by the governor, the Legislature or the courts. If enough voters support it, it becomes a permanent part of our Constitution.

Since the Florida Constitution was overhauled in 1968, only eight ideas put forth by the revision commission have been added as amendments. Voters seriously evaluated what the commission proposed in 1978 and 1998, and it’s vital we do so again this year.

Here’s how you can get involved in this important process: The Florida Bar has created a comprehensive public education program about this commission called Protect Florida Democracy. At ProtectflDemocracy.org you can learn about the process and how to evaluate current proposals, including whether they truly belong in the state Constitution. You also should join in on the enlightening dialogue happening on Protect Florida Democracy's Facebook page, and view the 25 proposals that are still under consideration at Flcrc.gov.

Ultimately, of course, voting in November is the best way to ensure your voice is heard.

As you follow the commission, remember our republic was carefully built on a balance of power. That delicate balance was designed to make sure no one branch of government — not the executive, legislative or judicial — has too much power over the others. So now, any proposal that would disrupt that balance poses a potential threat to the heart of our democratic process, and Florida voters should ask some hard questions about any proposal that would do so.

It’s our Constitution that’s being reviewed. As citizens, it is critical that we keep informed about what changes are being proposed.

Cynthia L. Cox is a circuit judge in Florida's 19th Judicial Circuit, which serves citizens in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.