Omar Bennett
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 was amended 977 times. Amendment 97, which allowed for Special Elections to Fill Vacancies in Either House of the Legislature, was part of the original 1901 Alabama Constitution. The Alabama Constitution is the longest active written constitution in the world at 369,380 words. It was amended and adopted on November 28, 2022, as a recodification of the Alabama Constitution of 1901.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Amendment 97 | 2004 |
| Purpose | To allow the display of the Ten Commandments on state property |
| Sponsor | Senator Gerald Allen |
| Bill Number | SB 471 |
| Passed in Legislature | April 1, 2004 |
| Approved by Voters | November 2, 2004 |
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What You'll Learn
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 was amended 977 times
The large number of amendments also stemmed from the ease of amending the constitution. Any amendment must be submitted for a statewide vote if it is not unanimously approved by the legislature, leading to amendments relating to local counties and municipalities being approved in affected areas but rejected statewide.
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 was the state's sixth constitution and was written primarily to codify white supremacy by disenfranchising Black Americans. It also disenfranchised thousands of poor White Americans, who were excluded from voting until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The constitution also gave the Alabama Legislature the power to administer most counties directly, further entrenching disenfranchisement by limiting local autonomy.
In addition to issues of taxation and disenfranchisement, the Alabama Constitution of 1901 addressed other issues such as public education funding and fire protection services. The constitution made it difficult for residents of most counties to solve their own problems, as they had to ask the state legislature to make amendments or pass special legislation to carry out desired activities.
Over time, many of the constitution's most blatant voting and racist provisions were amended to comply with federal law and civil rights acts. However, the inherent problems regarding home rule, public education funding, and tax policies have led to a growing constitutional reform movement in recent years.
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The current Alabama Constitution is a recompilation of the 1901 version
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 was the sixth constitution of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was in effect from November 28, 1901, until November 28, 2022, when the current version was adopted. The 1901 Constitution was amended 977 times, with Amendment 97, for example, concerning special elections to fill vacancies in either house of the legislature.
The current Alabama Constitution is the state's seventh constitution. It was adopted in 2022 as a recompilation of the 1901 version. The 2022 version removed racist and unconstitutional provisions that were relics of the White Supremacist 1901 Constitution. For instance, provisions that mandated segregated schools and allowed for involuntary servitude for those convicted of crimes were deleted. The new Constitution also recognizes that females have a right to vote.
The 2022 Constitution reorganized the document, moving relevant statewide amendments into the main body of the Constitution and removing duplicative and repealed provisions. Local constitutional amendments were organized by county and moved to the end of the document. Despite these changes, the 2022 Constitution is essentially a recodification of the 1901 Constitution, and many of the issues that plagued the 1901 Constitution remain. For example, power remains highly centralized at the state level, and a large part of the tax code is still written into the Constitution.
The Alabama Constitution, like other state constitutions, defines a tripartite government organized under a presidential system. Executive power is vested in the Governor of Alabama, legislative power in the Alabama State Legislature (composed of the Alabama House of Representatives and Alabama Senate), and judicial power in the Judiciary of Alabama.
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The 1901 Constitution was adopted on November 28, 1901
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 was adopted on November 28, 1901, and remained in effect until November 28, 2022, when it was replaced by a new constitution. This date marked the start of Alabama's seventh constitution, which is currently the longest active written constitution worldwide.
The 1901 Constitution was Alabama's sixth, and it was established via a State Convention. The document was amended 977 times, including Amendment 97, which introduced special elections to fill vacancies in either house of the legislature.
The 1901 Constitution was compiled with five objectives in mind:
- Arranging it in proper articles, parts, and sections
- Removing all racist language
- Defining a tripartite government organised under a presidential system
- Vesting executive power in the Governor of Alabama
- Vesting legislative power in the Alabama State Legislature and judicial power in the Judiciary of Alabama
The Alabama Constitution, like all other state constitutions, defines a tripartite government organised under a presidential system. The 1901 Constitution was significant in Alabama's history and played a crucial role in shaping the state's governance and legal framework.
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![Constitution, State of Alabama: As Adopted by the Constitutional Convention, September 3rd, 1901 ... 1901 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61vI5PkK8ZL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The current Alabama Constitution was adopted on November 28, 2022
The 1901 Constitution was amended numerous times, with Amendment 97, for example, addressing special elections to fill vacancies in either house of the legislature. Other amendments included changes to property taxes, school districts, and economic development initiatives. The amendments were often approved by voters in specific counties or through statewide ballot initiatives.
The current Alabama Constitution is a recompilation of the 1901 version, with several objectives in mind. These included arranging the document into proper articles, parts, and sections, and removing all racist language, such as the prohibition of interracial marriage in Section 102 of Article IV. The constitution defines Alabama's tripartite government, with executive power vested in the Governor, legislative power in the Alabama State Legislature, and judicial power in the Judiciary.
Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed the new constitution to be in effect on November 28, 2022, shortly after the state's election results were confirmed. This marked a significant update to Alabama's governing document, replacing the version that had been in place for over a century.
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The current Alabama Constitution is the state's seventh
The current Alabama Constitution, which was ratified by voters in 2022, is the state's seventh constitution. It is a recompilation of the Alabama Constitution of 1901, which was amended 977 times. The current constitution has been amended 12 times and has 18 articles.
The Alabama Constitution can be amended through a legislative process or 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 one legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 63 votes in the Alabama House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Alabama State Senate.
The Alabama Constitution of 2022 was approved on November 8, 2022, and Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed it to be in effect on November 28, 2022. The constitution is the longest active written constitution in the world, with 369,380 words.
Amendment 97 of the 1901 Alabama Constitution pertains to Special Elections to Fill Vacancies in Either House of the Legislature.
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Frequently asked questions
Amendment 97 was added to the Alabama Constitution of 1901. The current Alabama Constitution is a recompilation of the 1901 Constitution, which was amended 977 times. The current version came into effect on November 28, 2022.
Amendment 97 was about Special Elections to Fill Vacancies in Either House of Legislature.
Some of the other Amendments around the same time as Amendment 97 include Amendment 98, which was about the Levy and Collection of Additional Property Taxes in Talladega County, and Amendment 100, which was about the Extension of Debt Limit of Mobile County.
![The law for the government of the Massachusetts Militia; being chapter 367 of the acts of 1893, with amendments and additions thereto, made during the years 1893-97, inclusive; also, c [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61IX47b4r9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
