A non-charter county is a government of limited granted powers. It has only “such powers of self-government as is provided by general law or special law.”
Article VIII, § 1(f). The difference between county governments having only granted powers (non-charter counties) and county governments having all powers not inconsistent with general law (charter counties) is an advised one. Subsection (f) embodies new provisions enacted upon amendment of the state constitution in 1968. Commentary to
§ 1(f) at 270. The legislature created a Constitutional Revision Commission to conduct research, hold hearings and present a proposed constitution to the legislature. 1965 Laws of Florida Ch. 65–561. The draft was presented to the legislature. It contained a proposal for
Article VIII, § 1(f) that “counties shall have the power of self-government except as otherwise provided by general or special law.” Commentary to
§ 1(f) at 270. After a parliamentary battle the House amended
§ 1(f) to its present form. See Journal of the House of Representatives, June 27, 1968. The Senate retained the Revision Commission's recommendation. A conference committee submitted a proposed constitution containing
§ 1(f) as adopted by the House, and it was adopted by the legislature. See Journal of the House of Representatives, July 2, 1968. Summarizing, the Constitutional Revision Commission recommended general powers for non-charter counties, but the Florida legislature rejected the proposal and instead chose limited powers. This is summarized in the Commentary to
§ 1(f) at 270: