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Record Group Number: 000151
Series/Collection Number: .S 2016
Creator: Florida. Office of Secretary of State.  --Office of General Counsel.
Title, Dates: Administrative files, 1924-2003.
Amount: 1 cubic ft.
.5 cubic ft.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement: Roughly alphabetical by subject.
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:     The General Counsel's Office provides legal services for the Department of State, including drafting and reviewing contracts, leases, administrative orders, legal pleadings, rules and grant agreements; provides legal assistance and represents the department in litigation filed against the department and the Secretary of State; and drafts legislation and reviews proposed legislation and rule making. The general counsel also formulates and assists in formulating all major policies and procedures of agencies headed by the Governor and Cabinet.

    The Department of State mission is to serve and enhance Florida's communities by preserving and promoting Florida's rich historical and cultural heritage; by supporting local library systems; by ensuring fair and accurate elections; and by issuing corporate charters and recording financial information.  The Department of State vision is to create opportunities to participate in Florida's culture, history, information, business and elections where all Floridians have an appreciation of and are educated on the Department's mission through individual relationships and partnerships with Florida communities.

Summary:     This series consists of administrative correspondence and memoranda providing a broad overview of the responsibilities of the General Counsel's office and the Department of State.  Correspondence is between the General Counsel's Office and Florida constituents, consular agencies, governmental agencies, and divisions of the Department of State such as the Divisions of Corporations, Cultural Affairs, Elections, Historical Resources, International Affairs, Library and Information Services, and Licensing, and the Bureau of Administrative Code.

    A wide range of topics are discussed, among them interpretations of Florida Statutes; absentee voting; duties of the Secretary of State; requesting/delivering absentee ballots; voting systems and standards; appeals of automatic fines; address changes based on petition cards (residency status as it relates to elections); political advertising; public campaign financing; municipal and special elections; clarifications to resignation and rescinding letters of cabinet members and public officials; interpretation of resign-to-run legislation; requests for advisory/legal opinions; consular correspondence in reference to foreign nationals being arrested/detained/death records/police reports; legitimate use/reproduction of the Florida Seal; tracking of legislation of interest to or impacting the Department of State; and bid protests from prospective vendors.

    The series includes two compact disks comprised primarily of Microsoft Word documents, along with occasional saved Web pages and other files, of General Counsel Deborah Kearney and Assistant General Counsel Gerry York, ca. 1996-2003.  Of particular note on these two compact disks are documents relating to special issues handled by the General Counsel's Office, such as litigation relating to damage at the Mission San Luis historic site and the controversial Presidential Election of 2000, including correspondence to and from the Secretary of State, draft speeches or testimony given by the Secretary of State, lists of lawsuits, and tables listing and responses to public records requests. Also includes General Counsel records that deal with correspondence and memorandums from 1976-1989. Furthermore. there is a folder of Attoney General opinions with a wide range from 1924-1979 within Box 2.

Finding Aids: Folder listing available. 0
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Associated Materials:
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields: Florida. Dept. of State.
Florida. Dept. of State.  --Division of Historical Resources.
Florida. Dept. of State.  --Division of Licensing.
Florida. Division of Corporations.
Florida. Division of Cultural Affairs.
Florida. Division of Elections.
Florida. Division of Library and Information Services.
Florida. Office of Secretary of State.  --Office of General Counsel.
San Luis Mission (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Administrative code.
Attorneys general's opinions Florida
Campaign funds Florida.
Elections Florida
International relations.
Notaries Florida
Political campaigns.
Resignations.
Elections United States
Presidents Election 2000 United States
Electronic mail. aat
Judicial records. aat
Letters. aat
Florida Government
Florida Politics and government 1951-
Florida Officials and employees
Added Entries