The Alabama state constitution

292 Pages·2011·1.12 MB·English

by  Patterson

■ The Alabama State Constitution
Th e Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States
G. Alan Tarr, Series Editor
Professor G. Alan Tarr, Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers
University, serves as General Editor for this important new series which in its entirety will cover
each of the 50 states. Each volume of Th e Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of
the United States contains a historical overview of the state’s constitutional development, plus a
section-by-section analysis of the state’s current constitution. Other features included in the
volumes are the text of the state’s constitution, a bibliographic essay, table of cases, and index.
Th is series provides essential reference tools for those investigating state constitutional
development and constitutional law.
The Alabama
State Constitution

William H. Stewart
Foreword by Donald Patterson
the oxford commentaries on the state
constitutions of the united states
G. Alan Tarr, Series Editor
1
1
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Copyright © 2011 by William H. Stewart
Previously published in 1994 by Greenwood Press
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______________________________________________
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stewart, William Histaspas, 1939-
The Alabama State Constitution / William H. Stewart ; foreword by Donald Patterson.
p. cm. — (The Oxford commentaries on the state constitutions of the United States)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-977917-8 ((hardback) : alk. paper)
1 . Constitutions—Alabama. 2. Constitutional law—Alabama.
3. Constitutional history—Alabama. I. Alabama. Constitution (1901) II. Title.
KFA4011901.A6 S738 2011
342.76102—dc22 2011002390
______________________________________________
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
Note to Readers
Th is publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject
matt er covered. It is based upon sources believed to be accurate and reliable and is intended to be current
as of the time it was writt en. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal,
accounting, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a
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American Bar Association and a Committ ee of Publishers and Associations.)
You may order this or any other Oxford University Press publication by
visiting the Oxford University Press website at www.oup.com
Th is book is dedicated to all citizens of Hartselle,
Alabama—past, present, and future
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■ C O N T E N T S
Series Foreword by G. Alan Tarr xvii
Foreword by Donald H. Patt erson xix
Acknowledgments xxi
Introduction 1
PART ONE ■ The History of the Alabama Constitution
Constitutional Change in a Traditional Culture 5
Constitutional Continuity 7
Black-White Relations 9
Th e Alabama and U.S. Constitutions 14
Debt and Taxes 16
Religion and the Constitution 18
Interest Groups 20
Extra-Constitutional Change 20
Future Constitutional Change 21
A Final Word about Constitutional Length 21
PART TWO ■ The Alabama Constitution and Commentary
Preamble 25
Article I. Declaration of Rights 27
Section 1. Human Equality and Rights 27
Section 2. Popular Sovereignty 28
Section 3. Freedom of Religion 28
Section 4. Freedom of Speech and Press 29
Section 5. Searches and Seizures 29
Section 6. Due Process of Law 30
Section 7. No Ex Post Facto Laws 31
Section 8. Information and Indictment 31
Section 9. No Double Jeopardy 32
Section 10. Civil Suits 33
Section 11. Trial by Jury 33
Section 12. Libel 34
Section 13. Remedies for Wrongs 34
vii
viii ■ contents
Section 14. Sovereign Immunity 34
Section 15. Fines and Punishment 36
Section 16. Bail 37
Section 17. Habeas Corpus 37
Section 18. Treason 37
Section 19. Bills of Att ainder 37
Section 20. Debt Imprisonment 38
Section 21. Suspension of Laws 38
Section 22. Ex Post Facto Laws; Obligation of Contract;
Special Privileges 38
Section 23. Eminent Domain 39
Section 24. Freedom of Navigation 40
Section 25. Assembly and Petition 40
Section 26. Bearing Arms 41
Section 27. Civil Supremacy 41
Section 28. Quartering of Troops 41
Section 29. Political Equality 41
Section 30. Immigration and Emigration 42
Section 31. Legal Residence 42
Section 32. Slavery Prohibited 42
Section 33. Suff rage 42
Section 34. Rights of Aliens 42
Section 35. Legitimate Government Role 42
Section 36. Constitutional Construction 43
Article II. State and County Boundaries (Sections 37–41) 45–46
Article III. Distribution of Powers of Government (Sections 42–43) 49
Article IV. Legislative Department 51
Section 44. Legislative Composition 51
Section 45. Form and Content of Laws 52
Section 46. Filling of Legislative Seats 52
Section 47. Legislative Qualifi cations 53
Section 48. Legislative Sessions 53
Section 50. Apportionment of Legislators 54
Section 51. Legislative Offi cers and Membership 54
Section 52. Quorums 55
Section 53. Legislative Rules and Conduct 55
Section 54. Legislative Conduct (continued) 55
Section 55. Journals 55
Section 56. Legislative Immunity 56
Section 57. Openness of Sessions 56
contents ■ ix
Section 58. Adjournment 56
Section 59. Legislative Service and Other Offi ces 57
Section 60. Legislative Conduct (continued) 57
Section 61. Legislative Procedure 57
Section 62. Referral of Bills 58
Section 63. Legislative Procedure (continued) 58
Section 64. Legislative Procedure (continued) 58
Section 65. Gambling 59
Section 66. Legislative Procedure (continued) 59
Section 67. Staff Compensation 60
Section 68. Compensation of Local Offi cials 60
Section 69. Government Printing 60
Section 70. Revenue Bills 61
Section 71. Appropriation Bills 62
Section 72. Financial Accountability 62
Section 73. Appropriations Forbidden 63
Section 74. Investment of Trust Funds 63
Section 75. Changes of Venue 63
Section 76. Special Legislative Sessions 63
Section 77. State Inspections 64
Section 78. Capital City 64
Section 79. Bribery 64
Section 80. Bribery (continued) 65
Section 81. Corrupt Solicitation 65
Section 82. Confl icts of Interest 65
Section 83. Voting in the Legislature 66
Section 84. Arbitration 66
Section 85. Compilation of Codes of Laws 66
Section 86. Dueling Forbidden 66
Section 87. Neglect of Duty 66
Section 88. Poor Relief 67
Section 89. Consistency of Laws 67
Section 90. Foreign Territory 68
Section 91. Exempted Property 68
Section 92. Exempted Property (continued) 68
Section 93. State Entrepreneurial Activities 68
Section 94. Local Entrepreneurial Activities 69
Section 95. Civil Suits 70
Section 96. Costs of County Government 71
Section 97. Termination of Compensation 71
Section 98. Retirement Benefi ts 71
Section 99. State Grants to Private Interests 72
Section 100. Obligations to the State 72