Omar Bennett
The Constitution of Alabama is the longest in the US, with 369,380 words. It is more than three times the length of the Constitution of Texas, the second-longest in the US. Alabama's constitution has had several amendments, with 12 added as recently as 2014. The US Constitution, on the other hand, is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It has 27 amendments and was first ratified in 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State with the longest constitution in the US | Alabama |
| Number of words | 369,380 |
| Number of amendments | 12 |
| Number of local laws | 36,000 |
| Number of constitutions to date | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
Alabama's constitution is the longest in the US
The Alabama Constitution was adopted on November 28, 2022, and is a recodification of the state's 1901 Constitution, which had been in effect since November 28, 1901. The 2022 version is Alabama's seventh constitution and was proclaimed by Governor Kay Ivey shortly after the state's election results were certified. The new constitution is a recompilation of the 1901 document, with the objectives of arranging it into proper articles, parts, and sections, and removing all racist language.
The length of Alabama's constitution can be attributed to its accumulation of amendments, which are due to the exceptions to general statewide principles and special cases made for specific localities. The framers of the 1901 Constitution intended to set limits on government, particularly local governments, resulting in a system where many local decisions require approval from the state government. This dynamic has led to confusion and a blurring of accountability lines when issues arise.
In 2014, Alabama added 12 more amendments to its constitution, further increasing its length. While Alabama's constitution is the longest in the US, the US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force worldwide. The US Constitution, with its 27 amendments, serves as a model for other nations and underscores the country's commitment to the rule of law.
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The Alabama Constitution of 1901 had over 388,000 words
The Alabama Constitution of 1901 holds the distinction of being one of the longest and most detailed constitutions not just in the United States, but in the world. With an astonishing word count of over 388,000 words, it far surpasses the length of an average constitution. To put this into perspective, the United States Constitution, one of the most influential and oft-cited governing documents in history, contains a mere 4,543 words. This means that the Alabama Constitution is approximately 85 times longer than the document that serves as the supreme law of the land for the entire nation.
The length of the Alabama Constitution is a result of its highly specific and intricate nature. Rather than providing a broad framework of governmental structure and powers, as many constitutions do, the Alabama Constitution delves into minute details of governance. It is a document that reads more like a set of statutes or laws, with an extensive table of contents spanning numerous pages. The constitution covers a vast array of topics, from the organization and powers of state and local governments to the specifics of taxation, education, and even the management of certain industries.
One of the key factors contributing to its length is the inclusion of local amendments. Over time, various counties and municipalities have added their own amendments to the constitution, tailoring it to their specific needs and interests. As a result, the document has become a patchwork of provisions that apply to specific localities, further adding to its already substantial word count. This highly localized nature of the Alabama Constitution sets it apart from those of other states, which typically strive for a more uniform set of laws and regulations.
The extensive length of the Alabama Constitution has not been without its criticisms and challenges. Some argue that such a lengthy and detailed document undermines the very purpose of a constitution, which is meant to provide a stable and enduring framework for governance. The complexity of the Alabama Constitution makes it difficult for the average citizen to understand and engage with, potentially hindering their ability to participate fully in the democratic process. Additionally, the level of detail in the document limits the flexibility of the government to adapt to changing circumstances.
Despite these criticisms, the Alabama Constitution of 1901 remains the governing document of the state. While efforts have been made to rewrite or significantly revise it, none have gained sufficient traction. The constitution continues to shape the state's legal and political landscape, serving as a testament to the unique path Alabama has taken in its governance and the enduring impact of its constitutional choices.
The Alabama Constitution of 1901, with its extraordinary length and detail, stands as a unique and intriguing example of constitutional governance in the United States. Its existence raises important questions about the role and nature of constitutions and continues to spark discussions and debates among scholars, legal experts, and engaged citizens.
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The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing
The US Constitution is not the oldest constitution in the world, however. The Constitution of San Marino dates back to 1600 and is still in continuous use, making it the oldest constitution in the world. However, it is uncodified, meaning not all of its elements are law. The US Constitution is, therefore, often cited as the oldest as it is the oldest codified constitution.
The US Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Article IV, Article V, and Article VI embody concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the states in relation to the federal government, and the shared process of constitutional amendment.
The US Constitution also has an entrenched clause that prohibits abolishing equal suffrage of the States within the Senate without their consent. This is a provision that makes certain amendments more difficult or impossible to pass.
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The US Constitution has 27 amendments
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It originally included seven articles, delineating the framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times since its inception. The first ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments introduced several fundamental rights, including the right to free speech, the right to keep and bear arms, and the protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
The Reconstruction Amendments (the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments) addressed issues related to slavery and equal protection under the law. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, specifically granted all citizens the right to vote regardless of race and granted the right to vote to former slaves.
Other notable amendments include the 16th Amendment (1913), which allowed Congress to collect income tax, and the 18th Amendment (1919), which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, leading to the Prohibition Era.
The process of amending the Constitution is detailed in Article Five. Amendments must be proposed and ratified before becoming operative. They can be proposed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress or by a national convention requested by two-thirds of the state legislatures. Once proposed, Congress decides on the method of ratification, which can be through state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. To date, 33 amendments have been proposed, with 27 successfully ratified and becoming part of the Constitution.
While the US Constitution has a significant number of amendments, it is not the longest in terms of word count. That distinction belongs to the State of Alabama's constitution, which has more than 369,000 words and numerous amendments.
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The Alabama Constitution is more than four times the length of Texas's
The Alabama Constitution is currently the longest active written constitution in the world at 369,380 words, not including the 12 new amendments added in 2014, which bring the total word count to over 376,000. This makes it more than four times the length of the Texas Constitution, which is the second-longest state constitution at just under 87,000 words.
Alabama has had seven constitutions to date, all but the current one established via state conventions. The first was in 1819, which converted the Alabama Territory into a state, and the most recent was adopted in 2022. The current Alabama Constitution is a recompilation of the Alabama Constitution of 1901, which remained in effect for over a century until it was replaced in 2022. The 1901 constitution was described as "specifically designed to maintain the antebellum system of white supremacy" and, despite decades of critical scholarship and calls for improvement, Alabama's new constitution still largely derives from this document.
The Alabama Constitution's extreme length is due to the nearly 1,000 amendments that have been added since 1901. Unlike other state constitutions, Alabama's constitution goes into tedious detail, including local government rules and special cases for specific localities, rather than serving as a "basic template and statement of principles". For example, the 2022 constitution includes local provisions such as a measure authorising Shelby County to regulate litter and trash, and a special tax in Chambers County for library purposes.
The framers of the Alabama Constitution of 1901 wanted to set limits on government, particularly local governments. As a result, many local decisions have to flow through state government for approval, creating confusion about responsibility and accountability and interfering with the development of a culture of statewide planning and policymaking. The heavy involvement of state legislators in local affairs also blurs the lines of accountability when things go wrong.
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Frequently asked questions
Alabama has the longest constitution in the US, with more than 376,000 words.
In 2014, Alabama added 12 more amendments to its constitution, bringing the total word count to 388,882.
The Alabama constitution is 51 times longer than the US Constitution and 12 times longer than the average US state constitution.
