The Alabama State Constitution

The Alabama State Constitution provides extensive analysis on American's longest state constitution, with an emphasis on the impact of recent court decisions declaring several of its most recently adopted provisions as in conflict with the U.S. Constitution and thus invalid. Since entering the Union in 1819, Alabama has had six constitutions. While the original constitution was regarded as one of the most progressive in the nation, its current constitution, adopted in 1901, is one of the most restrictive, especially from the perspective of the limits it imposes on local governments. The second edition updates and expands the previous edition, providing new analysis, with citations to court decisions and relevant scholarly commentary. This edition provides important accompanying explanations on newly added provisions including gay marriage, immigration, environmental protection, energy, and taxation and the court decisions interpreting them. The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States is an important series that reflects a renewed international interest in constitutional history and provides expert insight into each of the 50 state constitutions. Each volume in this innovative series contains a historical overview of the state's constitutional development, a section-by-section analysis of its current constitution, and a comprehensive guide to further research. Under the expert editorship of Professor G. Alan Tarr, Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University, this series provides essential reference tools for understanding state constitutional law. Books in the series can be purchased individually or as part of a complete set, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.

Series Forward by G. Alan Tarr Foreword by the Honorable Donald Patterson Author's Note The Constitutional History Of Alabama Alabama Constitution and Commentary PREAMBLE Article I: Declaration of Rights (Secs. 1-36.04) Article II: State and County Boundaries and Location of Courthouses Sections 37-41.01) Article III: Distribution of Powers Of Government and Specifically of the Judiciary (Sections 42-43.01) Article IV: Legislative Department (Secs. 44-111.06) Article V: Executive Department (Secs. 112-138.04) Article VI: Judicial Department (Secs. 139-161) Article VII: Impeachments (Sections 173, 175, 176) Article VIII: Suffrage and Elections (Section 177) Article IX: Representation (Sections 197-201) Article X: Exemptions (Sections 204-210) Article XI: Taxation and Finance (Sections 211-213.37, 215.05, 216.04-219.09) Article XII: Corporations (Secs. 220-242) Article XIII: Banks and Banking (Section 247) Article XIV: Education (Secs. 256-269.08) Article XV: Militia (Sections 271-278) Article XVI: Oath of Office (Section 279) Article XVII: Miscellaneous Provisions (Sections 280-282) Article XVIII: Mode of Amending the Constitution (Sections 284-287) Appendix: Explanation for Completely Excluded Sections and Amendments (Supplemental to Previously Stated Reasons) Bibliography Table of Cases Index