APPROVED:

 

ms. In, .
(J
ssArrosTIoggsNT /

I am dedicated to the preposition that reapportionment of
the Legislature of Florida is a constitutional necessity. The Consti-
tution provides that the Legislature shall reapportion itself every
ten years and that if it fails to do so the governor shall call it into
extraordinary session and hold igghere until it shall have performed
its duty. This constitutional provision is as such W
the governorgas is the requirement on the Legislature that it re-
apportion. It is not provided that the governor shall call them into
session and hold them there if he thinks it politically expedient, nor
if he thinks it wise, but that he shall in all events do so.

I anticipate that the Legislature will reapportion itself
in the 1961 regular session, but if it fails to do so, I shall comply
with the constitutional mandate to call it into session and to hold
it there until the job has been done.

The achievement of reapportionment under the present con-
stitutional formula is not, however, a complete answer to the problem.
The formula needs to be improved. I shall provide the leadership for
submitting to the Legislature a constitutional amendment of such
terminology as will grant to the growing areas of tlorida a larger
and more equitable share in the control of their state government.

In the 1955 session of the Legislature I lead to passage

a reapportionment proposal in the House of Representatives which was

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characterized by the governor and by the press generally as being
fair apportionment. As governor I shall provide that some leader-

ship for both branches of the Legislature.