speaker's influence on school legislation and finance in the Florida Legislature

This dissertation was designed to determine the source and legacy of power which makes the speaker of the House of Representatives a very powerful figure in the Florida Legislatures, as well as determine whether a significant relationship exists between the speaker's power and the amount of educational benefits and school funding received by his constituency. The Florida speaker possesses more power and influence over school legislation and finance than any other member of the House. His/her priorities have a significant effect on whether the school districts, community colleges, and state universities, receive adequate funding for quality education. The power of the Florida speaker comes from long historical development in England and America via the House rules and precedents established by previous speakers. Although limited by tradition to one term, the Florida speaker ranks among the most powerful speakers in the nation. This study concludes that the speaker of the Florida House has sufficient power to lead his party/faction in the House, guide the flow of legislation, and significantly influence funding for his home district.