Alabama Online

Alabama Government

Alabama’s Constitutional Government
Like other states within the United States, Alabama’s government is run according to the laws of its state constitution. Alabama has had six state constitutions, but the current constitution dates from 1901. This document has over 700 amendments and is the longest constitution in the nation.

The Alabama Constitution calls for a bi-cameral state legislature, meaning one that has two houses. The Senate and the House of Representatives pass legislation for the state. The governor leads the executive branch of government that is responsible for carrying out the state’s laws. The judicial branch of government conducts criminal and civil trials and interprets the state’s laws.

Back to Top

How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Alabama state constitution dictates that every law must be approved as a bill. It is up to the state legislators to propose and pass these bills. Legislators in either the House or the Senate may propose bills. Before a bill is introduced, it must go through a process called “Notice and Proof.” During this period, the bill is published in newspapers where people might be affected by the legislation.

After the bill is officially introduced, various committees in both houses review the bill and decide if it deserves a vote. Once the bill has been shaped in the committees, it is voted on in whichever house was considering it. If the bill passes, it is transferred to the other house for a vote. If an amendment is added to the bill by the second house, the bill must be considered again by the house of origin. When the bill is approved by both houses in identical form, it is sent to the governor. The governor can sign the bill or veto it.

Back to Top

How Alabama’s Local Governments Operate
As you move through your local community, think about how much of what you see is provided by your local government. You will pass schools, police cars, fire stations, libraries, parks, hospitals, and other facilities that are maintained by government offices.

Alabama contains governments that represent both counties and municipalities. These governments vary in form, but most municipalities are led by a mayor and a city council. Many city governments have boards that are responsible for various local issues. For example, Huntsville has an Electric Utility Board, an Air Pollution Control Board, and a Board of Zoning.

Back to Top

Governors of the State of Alabama
The complete list of Alabama’s governors can be found on the website maintained by the Alabama Department of History and Archives
(www.archives.state.al.us/govslist.html).

Back to Top

Voting in Alabama
The Office of the Secretary of State maintains the state’s election procedures. This office dictates some of the rules on how the state’s citizens vote. A voter must be at least 18 years old by election day and must not have had a felony conviction.

A citizen may register to vote when applying for a driver’s license, at public libraries, and at armed forces recruiting stations. A citizen needs to register only once. However, if a voter’s name or address changes, he or she should contact the Board of Registrars. A citizen registering to vote does not have to declare a party preference.

On election day, the voter must present an acceptable form of identification at the polling location. The poll worker finds the voter’s name on the poll list, and the voter signs the rolls. When this is finished, the voter casts his or her vote.

Back to Top

Alabama Constitution
Many states have had several constitutions. Their history, like Alabama’s, can be traced by looking at how constitutional law has developed in each state. Alabama’s history can be traced throughout its six constitutions, the first being written in 1819, the current written in 1901. The first three constitutions (1819, 1861, and 1865) were not ratified by a vote of the people. Instead they went into effect once the basic framework of each was accepted by the State Constitutional Convention that wrote it.

Similar to the United States Constitution, the 1901 Alabama constitution remains in effect today and has been changed only by the amendment process. If citizens of Alabama want to change anything in the state’s laws, an amendment to the constitution must be passed. This process has made the Alabama constitution the longest constitution in the country. While the United States Constitution has only been amended 27 times and the average state constitution has about 118 amendments, the Alabama Constitution of 1901 has over 700 amendments.

Back to Top

List of U.S. Senators and Representatives from Alabama
Alabama has seven members in the U.S. House of Representatives.

• Robert Aderholt, 4th District
• Spencer Bachus, 6th District
• Jo Bonner, 1st District
• Robert E. “Bud” Cramer, 5th District
• Artur Davis, 7th District
• Terry Everett, 2nd District
• Mike Rogers, 3rd District

Like every other state, Alabama has two members in the U.S. Senate.

• Jeff Sessions
• Richard Shelby
  

Back to Top