Alabama Constitution

The Alabama Constitution was adopted in 1901 and is one of the longest and most detailed constitutions in the world. It has 799 amendments, many on obscure issues like the specific salaries of certain judges. Many amendments are specific to certain counties in Alabama. Much of the tax code itself is in the Alabama Constitution. The heavy centralization of the government of Alabama in its capital, Montgomery, further contributes to the length of the Constitution as local entities are without power to pass local laws customarily handled at the local level in other states.

The 555th amendment to the Constitution established that a "local amendment did not have to be voted on statewide if it passed both houses of the Legislature without a dissenting vote."[1] If just one person in the legislature dissents, then the local law goes on the statewide ballot for a vote. If no one dissents, then it is voted on only in the affected county.

Its preamble states, "We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution."

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.constitutionalreform.org/news/article93.shtml (emphasis added).