Isabella Carter
Alabama has had seven constitutions, with the current one being adopted in 2022. The Alabama Constitution has been amended hundreds of times, with the 1901 version being amended 977 times. The amendment process is somewhat complex, requiring the proposed amendment to be read on three separate days in the legislative house proposing it, followed by approval from three-fifths of that house, and finally, a public election. The current constitution has been amended 12 times, with the most recent amendment being approved on November 5, 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times the Alabama Constitution has been amended | 977 times (as of the 1901 Constitution) |
| Number of state constitutions | 7 |
| Date of the current constitution | November 28, 2022 |
| Number of articles in the current constitution | 18 |
| Number of local provisions in the 2022 constitution | 134 |
| Length of the constitution | 369,380 words |
| Number of votes required in the Alabama House of Representatives | 63 |
| Number of votes required in the Alabama State Senate | 21 |
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What You'll Learn
The Alabama Constitution has been amended 977 times since 1901
Alabama has had seven state constitutions, with the current one being adopted in 2022. The Alabama Constitution of 1901, which remained in effect longer than its five predecessors combined, has been described as "specifically designed to maintain the antebellum system of white supremacy". Despite numerous amendments and revisions, the 1901 Constitution, which was in effect until 2022, has been criticised for retaining discriminatory foundations and language that disenfranchises Black voters.
The 1901 Alabama Constitution has been amended 977 times, with the most recent amendment being approved by voters on November 5, 2024. The amendment process can be cumbersome, requiring the proposed amendment to be read on three days in the legislative house proposing it, followed by approval from three-fifths of that house, and finally a simple majority in a public election.
The Alabama Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority vote (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments. A 60% vote is needed from both chambers of the Alabama State Legislature during a legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The Alabama Constitution of 2022 is the longest active written constitution in the world, with 369,380 words. It includes 18 articles and 134 local provisions. The new constitution incorporates the state religious freedom amendment into the Declaration of Rights, guaranteeing religious freedom and allowing the display of the Ten Commandments on state property and in public schools.
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The 2022 constitution is Alabama's seventh
Alabama's constitution has been amended numerous times, addressing issues such as economic development, tax policies, and the division of power. The current Alabama Constitution of 2022 is the state's seventh constitution, proclaimed by Governor Kay Ivey on November 28, 2022, and it is a recompilation of the lengthy and controversial 1901 Constitution.
The 1901 Constitution, Alabama's sixth, was in effect longer than all its previous constitutions combined. It was designed to maintain white supremacy and included racist language and provisions that perpetuated discrimination. Despite a century of updates, Alabama's 2022 constitution still bears traces of this discriminatory past. The 2022 constitution is a revised version of the 1901 document, and efforts have been made to remove overtly racist provisions and language disenfranchising Black and poor white voters.
The 2022 Alabama Constitution is the world's longest active written constitution, with 369,380 words. It is more than two and a half times the length of the second-longest, which is the English-language version of the Constitution of India. Alabama's constitution is also about four times as long as Texas's, the next longest state constitution. The length and complexity of Alabama's constitution have been attributed to the extensive amendments and the inclusion of local government rules.
The amendment process for the Alabama Constitution is outlined in Article XVIII, which consists of seven sections. Amendments can be made through a legislative process or a state constitutional convention. A simple majority vote (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments. The Alabama Constitution of 2022 has been amended at least 12 times, with the most recent amendment approved by voters on November 5, 2024.
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Amendments require voter approval
Alabama's current constitution, which was adopted in 2022, has been amended 12 times. The Alabama Constitution can be amended with a legislative or convention-referred constitutional amendment, but all amendments require voter approval.
The Alabama Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority vote (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments. A 60% vote is required from both chambers of the Alabama State Legislature during one legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
A simple majority in each chamber during one legislative session is required to send a constitutional convention question to voters. A simple majority vote by the electorate is then required to call the convention. Any proposed amendments approved by the convention require a simple majority vote of the electorate to be ratified.
The amendment process is somewhat cumbersome and includes requirements that the proposed amendment be read on three days in the legislative house proposing it, then approved by three-fifths of that house, and then put to a public election on a specified day.
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The constitution is the longest in the US
Alabama's constitution has been amended several times, with the current version being the state's seventh constitution. The 1901 constitution, which was in effect until 2022, was amended 977 times. The current Alabama Constitution, which was adopted in 2022, is the longest active written constitution in the US, with 369,380 words. It is more than two and a half times the length of the second-longest, the English-language version of the Indian Constitution.
The Alabama Constitution outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. The state has had seven constitutions, with the current one being the only one not established via a state convention. The previous constitutions were established in 1819, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1875, and 1901. The 1901 constitution, which remained in effect for over a century, was specifically designed to maintain white supremacy and included overtly racist provisions. Despite a century of updates, the current constitution still contains traces of its racist past.
The extensive amendments to the Alabama Constitution and the inclusion of local government rules have contributed to its length, making it the longest in the US. The amendment process in Alabama can be cumbersome, requiring the proposed amendment to be read on three days in the legislative house and then approved by three-fifths of that house before being put to a public election. A simple majority is required for the amendment to pass. The constitution can be amended through a legislative process or a state constitutional convention, both of which require voter approval.
The Alabama Constitution provides for a tripartite government with executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The executive power is vested in the Governor of Alabama, while the legislative power resides in the bicameral Alabama State Legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The judicial power is vested in the Judiciary of Alabama. The constitution also includes provisions related to religious freedom, guaranteeing that religious freedom is not burdened by state or local law and allowing for the display of the Ten Commandments on state property and in public schools.
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The 1901 constitution was designed to maintain white supremacy
Alabama has had seven constitutions, with the current one being adopted in 2022. The 1901 constitution, which was Alabama's sixth, was designed to maintain white supremacy and was in effect for over a century.
The 1901 constitution was adopted on September 3, 1901, and it made racial segregation mandatory in the state. It prohibited interracial marriage and mandated separate schools for Black and white children. The primary purpose of the state constitutional convention was to legally disenfranchise Black voters and suppress Black political power. This was achieved through various means, including voter registration rules that required voters to be able to read and write and meet other requirements that even many white men could not. The constitution also gave wide discretion to county registrars when accepting registration applications, and these registrars were chosen and trained to minimize registration by African Americans.
The 1901 constitution was explicitly designed to maintain white supremacy and disenfranchise Black voters. John B. Knox, the president of the constitutional convention, stated that the "negro was the prominent factor" and that the goal was to "establish white supremacy in this State." The constitution concentrated power in the state legislature, decreased opportunities for home rule, and established voter requirements that reduced the political influence of poor whites and Blacks in the state.
The 1901 constitution also had a negative impact on education in Alabama. While the convention allocated more state funds for education, it rejected a provision allowing citizens to approve special district taxes, depriving schools of a significant source of revenue. The constitution's focus on maintaining white supremacy and disenfranchising Blacks led to it being the longest-lasting constitution in Alabama's history, with its discriminatory provisions remaining in place until the adoption of a new constitution in 2022.
In conclusion, the 1901 Alabama constitution was designed to maintain white supremacy and disenfranchise Black voters. It achieved this through various means, including voter requirements, discretionary county registrars, and the mandating of segregated schools. The negative impact of this constitution lasted for over a century, and despite the adoption of a new constitution in 2022, the vestiges of Alabama's discriminatory foundations remain.
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Frequently asked questions
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 was amended 977 times. The current constitution, which was adopted in 2022, has been amended 12 times.
The Alabama Constitution is the longest active written constitution in the world at 369,380 words.
The amendment process is cumbersome and requires the proposed amendment to be read on three days in the legislative house proposing it. After that, it needs approval from three-fifths of that house, followed by a public election. A simple majority is required for the amendment to pass.
Some examples of amendments include Amendment 715, which pertains to the organization and promotion of the sheep and goat industry, and Amendment 40, which deals with the amendment of Section 74.
The Alabama Constitution requires the state government to be divided into three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also includes provisions related to religious freedom, such as the right to display the Ten Commandments on state property and in public schools.
