TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — In historic special session, the Florida Legislature pushed GOP-drafted legislation delivering the state's decisive 25 presidential electors to George W. Bush. His campaign acknowledged Friday it provided legal advice to GOP lawmakers.

"Much of the world is watching and history is watching as well," Florida House Speaker Tom Feeney, the most forceful advocate for the gathering, said in opening remarks.

Resolutions in the House and Senate named the electors that were certified following GOP Secretary of State Katherine Harris' certification of Bush's victory by 537 votes last month.

Al Gore has challenged Harris' certification in court.

Despite the unprecedented nature of the session, the first by the Legislature to choose presidential electors since 1868, the Senate gallery was almost deserted.

The House gallery was about three-quarters full, although many of the seats were occupied by schoolchildren and reporters. There was little of the usual chatter of lobbyists in the Rotunda between the two chambers, located in a modern-style office building.

Democrats immediately objected to the Legislature's intervention in the presidential dispute, although they're strongly outnumbered in both houses and powerless to stop the Republicans.

"I believe this is illegal, unconstitutional and plain wrong," said Senate Democratic Leader Tom Rossin. "Senators, no matter how bad you want the governor of Texas to be president, we cannot substitute our will for the will of the people. Our constituents sent us here to represent them, not to vote for them."

Both houses adjourned within an hour, reserving Monday for hearings on the resolutions. The 160 lawmakers are expected to wrap up their work next week.

Democrats in both chambers objected to using a resolution to name electors — an alternative to a bill that would need the signature of the GOP candidate's brother, Gov. Jeb Bush.

Feeney said a resolution was chosen because choosing presidential electors is a legislative responsibility while a law would involve the two other branches of government: the executive, through the governor's signature, and the courts, if the legislative action is challenged.

House Democratic leader Lois Frankel suggested that the Legislature's slate could wind up in a court fight regardless of what procedure is used.

"Usually when the Legislature does something unlawful it is challenged in court," she said.

Feeney said the lawmakers must act because there has been no "timely and universally accepted outcome" to the election.

To the 63 freshmen House members suddenly thrown into a debate being watched by the nation, Feeney noted that their first vote would be difficult.

"It's a little tougher vote than my first vote on a citrus canker claims bill," he said.

So far the Republican caucus has held together, with even members whose constituents voted for Gore saying they will follow the party line.

But Democrats lost their first defector. Freshman state Rep. Will Kendrick, from tiny Carabelle in Florida's Panhandle, said his district, although 74 percent Democratic, voted for Bush.

"I would have to support that slate of electors," he said. "I'm a representative of the people."

Bush's campaign, meanwhile, acknowledged that his lawyers "provided legal interpretations when asked by legislators, and no one could be surprised by that," spokesman Tucker Eskew said. "Nor would anyone be surprised if such contacts occurred between Democratic legislators and Gore lawyers."

Eskew said that among those providing legal interpretations to lawmakers was George Terwilliger, a Washington lawyer on Bush's team.

"These are constitutional and legal issues so legislators are going to talk to lawyers," Eskew said. "We are all Republicans and certainly Mr. Terwilliger is an example of someone who responded to inquiries and we are encouraging the Democrats to quantify their contact with legislators and with any Florida courts."

Eskew's comments follow an acknowledgment Thursday from Feeney that he's been receiving advice — but not orders — from intermediaries for the Texas governor.

Gore's lawyers are prepared to challenge the Legislature's slate of electors if necessary, arguing they can't try to control the outcome of the Nov. 7 election with a special session afterward.

But with the state presidential election still unsettled in the courts a month after voters cast ballots, GOP lawmakers said the session was the only way to ensure that Florida's 25 electoral votes would be included in the Dec. 18 meeting of the Electoral College.

Democrats suggested Bush's team had orchestrated the event to guard against losses in the courts.

"I think finality is what the American people are yearning for," Rep. Johnnie Byrd, a Republican, said Thursday.

On the eve of the special session, Feeney acknowledged he has been speaking with Bush's brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, state Republican Chairman Al Cardenas and former state GOP executive director Randy Enwright.

Cardenas and Enwright are in touch with the Bush campaign, but Feeney said he hasn't talked to any top official of the campaign in Austin, Texas. Feeney added any suggestion the Bush campaign is giving orders to the Legislature is "out of touch" with reality.

"These guys are seventh or eighth down the line," he said. "They're doing nothing but suggesting 'Have you considered this or that?' Nobody said 'We want you to change your message or you should wait' to call a special session," Feeney said in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press.

"I really get a kick out of folks saying this is being orchestrated out of Austin," he said.

The state Supreme Court and its seven Democratic-selected justices are weighing Gore's request to overturn that victory. Democrats also have several other legal actions pending.