The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
BILL: CS/SR 150
INTRODUCER: Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee and Senator Diaz
SUBJECT: Individual Liberty and Democracy
DATE: January 27, 2021 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Candelaria McVaney GO Fav/CS
2. JU
3. RC
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SR 150 denounces democratic socialism in favor of the true American values of individual
liberty and democracy.
Legislative resolutions have no force of law and are not subject to the approval or veto powers of
the Governor.
II. Present Situation:
A Senate Resolution
A Senate resolution is a one-house document pertaining to issues that are ceremonial in nature in
which the House of Representatives has no involvement.1 Florida Senate Rule 3.6 states that
resolutions are required to contain a proper tittle as required by Article III, Section 6 of the
Florida Constitution. Florida Senate Rule 4.14 states that a Senate resolution be read by tittle
only, two times on the same day before the question is put on adoption by voice vote.
1
The Florida Senate, Glossary, Bills: Resolution: Senate Resolution, available at
http://www.flsenate.gov/Reference/Glossary#B (last visited January 12, 2021).
BILL: CS/SR 150 Page 2
Democracy
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines democracy as a
representative government in which the government is elected by its citizens.2 Citizens vote for
their government officials, and in return, those officials represent the citizens’ ideas and concerns
in government. The United States Constitution establishes the United States as a democratic
republic by which the government’s powers are derived from the people in the form of an
election.3
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lists the United States as the highest valued growth
domestic product (GDP) in the world at over $21 trillion.4 The next closest country is the
People’s Republic of China with a GDP of over $16 trillion, followed by Japan which ranks third
with a GDP of over $5 trillion. The United States has held the number one position for highest
GDP in the world since the 1920’s.5 The United States is also ranked as the number one overall
economy in the world using the seven indicators provided by the IMF. These indicators are:
Real GDP growth;
Current GDP value;
GDP per capita;
Purchasing power parity;
GDP based on percentage of world population;
Population; and
Unemployment rate.6
Definitions of Democratic Socialism
While there are no official definitions of “democratic socialism,” there are socialist parties and
labor movements that have created several characterizations of the political model. As a result,
there are various definitions being used to describe democratic socialism, which all use different
terminology.
Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) define democratic socialism as a government that is run
economically and socially democratically in order to meet the public needs.7 The DSA states that
2
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Democracy in the United States, available at,
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/lesson-plans/Government_and_You_handouts.pdf, (last visited
January 13, 2021).
3
Id.
4
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlooks - GDP Current Prices, available at
https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDPD@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD (last visited January 13, 2021)
5
Id.
6
Id.
7
Democratic Socialists of America, What is Democratic Socialism, available at https://www.dsausa.org/about-us/what-is-
democratic-socialism/, (last visited January 14, 2021)
BILL: CS/SR 150 Page 3
democratic socialists do not want to create an all-powerful government but rather a government
that makes decisions based on whom are most affected.8
People’s Policy Project Organization
The People’s Policy Project, a self-described left-leaning, progressive organization, defines
democratic socialism as a system whose means of production are owned by society. This system
respects basic liberal rights and features democratic elections that are free and fair.9 Hence,
democratic socialism is a political economic form that combines liberal democracy with social
ownership of the means of production.
United Kingdom Labour Party
The United Kingdom’s Labour Party identifies its party ideology as democratic socialist. The
Labour Party defines democratic socialism as greater state intervention, strengthening workers’
rights, and creating social justice reform.10
Democratic Socialism: A Global Survey
Donald F. Busky, adjunct Professor of Political Science at Camden County College and author of
Democratic Socialism: A Global Survey, defines democratic socialism as the wing of the
socialist movement that combines a belief in a socially owned economy with that of political
democracy.11 According to Busky, democratic socialist ideals stem from revised Marxism,
adding elements of Marxism to democracy.12
Countries with Constitutional References to Democratic Socialism
Currently, there are no countries whose official political model is democratic socialism.
However, there are countries who reference the model in their respective constitutions and have
adopted certain aspects of it in their governing style. The following countries reference
democratic socialism in their constitutions:
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
The Republic of Sri Lanka’s Constitution preamble states:
“Representatives who were elected by an overwhelming majority, to constitute Sri
Lanka into a Democratic Socialist Republic whilst ratifying the immutable
republican principles of Representative Democracy and assuring to all peoples
Freedom, Equality, Justice, Fundamental Human Rights and the Independence of
the Judiciary as the intangible heritage that guarantees the dignity and well-being
of succeeding generations of the People of Sri Lanka and of all the people of the
8
Id.
9
People’s Policy Project, Musings on the Meaning of Democratic Socialism, available at,
https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2018/06/30/musings-on-the-meaning-of-democratic-socialism, (last visited January 14,
2021)
10
New World Encyclopedia, Labour Party (UK), available at,
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Labour_Party_(UK) (last visited January 14, 2021)
11
Donald F. Busky, Democratic Socialism: A Global Survey, Chapter One, Page 7. (Jan. 2000)
12
Id.
BILL: CS/SR 150 Page 4
World, who come to share with those generations the effort of working for the
creation and preservation of a Just and Free Society.”13
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka is currently valued at a gross
domestic product (GDP) of $86 billion, with a population of over 22 million people. 14
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Section 1, Article 4 of the Nepal Constitution states that: “Nepal is an independent, indivisible,
sovereign, secular, inclusive democratic socialism-oriented federal republican state.”15
According to the IMF, Nepal is currently valued at a GDP of over $34 billion, with a population
totaling over 29 million people.16
Portuguese Republic
Portugal’s Constitution preamble states:
“The Constituent Assembly affirms the Portuguese people's decision to defend
national independence, guarantee citizens' fundamental rights, establish the basic
principles of democracy, ensure the primacy of a democratic state based on the
rule of law and open up a path towards a democratic socialist society, with respect
for the will of the Portuguese people and with a view to the construction of a
country that is freer, more just and more fraternal.”17
According to the IMF, Portugal is valued at a GDP of over $257 billion, with a total population
of over 10 million people.18
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s preamble states:
“Pledging that the high ideals of nationalism, socialism, democracy and
secularism, which inspired our heroic people to dedicate themselves to, and our
brave martyrs to sacrifice their lives in, the national liberation struggle, shall be
the fundamental principles of the Constitution.
13
Constitute Project, Sri Lanka Constitution, available at
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Sri_Lanka_2010?lang=en, (last visited January 13, 2021)
14
World Bank, Population Total – Sri Lanka, available at
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=LK, (last visited January 13, 2021).
15
Constitute Project, Nepal’s Constitution, available at https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Nepal_2015.pdf (last
visited January 13, 2021)
16
World Bank, Population Total – Nepal, available at https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=NP ,
(last visited January 13, 2021).
17
Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, Preamble, available at https://dre.pt/constitution-of-the-portuguese-republic, (last
visited January 13, 2021).
18
World Bank, Population Total – Portugal, available at https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=PT ,
(last visited January 13, 2021).
BILL: CS/SR 150 Page 5
Further pledging that it shall be a fundamental aim of the State to realize through
the democratic process a socialist society, free from exploitation a society in
which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and
justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizen”19
According to the IMF, Bangladesh is currently valued at a GDP of over $338 billion, with a total
population of over 164 million people.20
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
CS/SR 150 provides clauses relating to democratic socialism and American values, signifying
that:
Since its inception, the United States has adhered to the rule of law, embracing constitutional
democracy and individual liberty;
The rule of law ensures that citizens can participate in regulation through the election of their
representatives, thereby protecting their real and personal property against unreasonable
taxation;
Individual liberty includes the freedom of a citizen to engage in, and benefit from, the labor
of his or her hands;
In the words of statesman, lawyer, diplomat, philosopher, and Founding Father James
Madison, who served as our nation’s fourth president, “As a man is said to have a right to his
property, he may be equally said to have a property in his rights”;
All of the citizens of this great nation benefit from limiting the imposition of regulation on
industry and supporting capitalism as a means of increasing the strength of our economy;
In 2020, the International Monetary Fund reported that the economy of the United States
remains the largest in the world at $20.49 trillion, surpassing such competitors as China at
$13.4 trillion, Japan at $4.97 trillion, and Germany at $4 trillion;
In contrast to the true American values of individual liberty and democracy, democratic
socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates the
ownership or regulation of production, distribution, and exchange by the community as a
whole; and
In many nations that have relied upon democratic socialism to improve the lives of their
citizens, the result has been economic and social chaos, an extraordinarily low standard of
living for the vast majority, and the lack of individual freedoms for all.
CS/SR 150 denounces democratic socialism in favor of the true American values of individual
liberty and democracy.
Legislative resolutions have no force of law and are not subject to the veto power of the
Governor.
19
The Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Preamble, available at http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-
367.html (last visited January 14, 2021)
20
World Bank, Population Total – Bangladesh, available at
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BD , (last visited January 13, 2021).
BILL: CS/SR 150 Page 6
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
The mandate restrictions do not apply because the bill does not require counties and
municipalities to spend funds, reduce counties’ or municipalities’ ability to raise revenue,
or reduce the percentage of state tax shared with counties and municipalities.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
None.
BILL: CS/SR 150 Page 7
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability on January 27, 2021:
The CS changes all versions of the word “renounce” to “denounce” to clarify the
intention of the bill.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.