Charles Canady was born and raised in Lakeland, which is the largest city in his district. Charles Canady graduated from Lakeland High School in 1972. He went to receive a bachelor's degree from Haverford College and his law degree from Yale. After graduating from Yale in 1979, he became an attorney in Polk County; he worked there for 13 years before running for Congress. Rep. Canady married on Oct. 12, 1996.

Charles Canady held his 1st public office in the Florida House from 1984 to 1990, he was honored as the Most Effective First Term Legislator. In that time he worked to reduce the size of the government of Florida's citizens. Canady also worked to on Florida's laws on criminal justice, he served as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Criminal Justice from 1988 to 1989 and as a member of the Crime Prevention and Law Enforcement Study Commission from 1987 to 1988. He was also the Majority Whip from 1986 to 1988.

In 1989 Canady got smart and switched his political party from Democrat to Republican. In 1992 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He promised during his campaign in 1992 to serve no more than four consecutive terms in the House.

Charles Canady was first elected to represent the people of Florida's 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 3, 1992; this district includes most of Polk county, portions of Hillsborough, Highlands and Pasco counties.

One of Rep. Canady's greatest accomplishments is the lobbying disclosure reform. It is the first meaningful reform of the America s lobbying disclosure laws to pass the Congress in 40 years. Against much opposition Rep. Canady helped pass the Lobbying Disclosure Act through the House. This provides disclosure of lobbies and what legislation they are and government branches they re attempting to influence, and how much they are being compensated.

Rep. Canady currently serves on the House Agricultural Committee where he strongly supports Florida agriculture. Canady also serves on the House Judiciary Committee, where he has strengthened the criminal justice system. At the beginning of the 104th Congress, he was appointed Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Rep. Canady has also worked for federal a government policy of equal opportunity for all people. He introduced legislation to the Congress that would prohibit the government from granting race preferences in federal hiring, and scholarship funds. But instead calls for equal treatment for all Americans.

Rep. Canady has also played a role in drafting important provisions to strengthen the criminal justice system. One article of legislation proposed discourages court prison population caps that, and would help keep prisoners behind bars.

Charles Canady was the House sponsor of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. This bill would prohibit abortions in which a baby is partially delivered before being killed. More than 70% of the U.S. supports the ban and the House and Senate passed the legislation in Congress, but President Clinton vetoed the bill. The House overrode Clinton's veto, but the Senate did not get the 2/3 s majority needed to override the veto.

Rep. Canady has reintroduced the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in Congress where a solid veto-proof majority in the House passed it. The Senate passed a slightly different version of the bill. The bill was sent to President Clinton who vetoed it.

Rep. Canady has continued his efforts to secure the last few votes needed to override the veto in the Senate.