[prden]

Do you get the sense that Alabama is FINALLY gaining momentum in updating what must be the worst constitution of any governing body? I would love to see a Constitutional Convention to do it right in the great state of Alabama.

[Southlander]

Frankly.....no.

[The_Rambler]

Interesting video about the AL constitution: It's a Thick Book

[prden]

Originally Posted by The_Rambler

Interesting video about the AL constitution: It's a Thick Book

Not only interesting but enlightening. Why do we put up with this Constitution? Any explanations?

[recycled]

Alabama is famous for having the longest state constitution in the USA. When I went on a tour of the state capitol in Montgomery, one of the tour guides explained a theory behind the original intent. Since Alabama has always been on the side of more states rights than federal rights, the authors of the AL Constitution thought that if they put down all sorts of things that were not part of the federal constitution, they would be in charge of their own destiny and set a precedent, instead of letting someone else set a precedent on that matter. Only problem is that some (many?) of the things that were put into the AL constitution are no longer in tune with today's world.

[sedriskell]

While the constitution seems great, in that it lets us vote on nearly EVERYTHING, it is disastrously long. It is a HUGE hold up when it comes to getting things through government.

It's not only the longest in the US, but the longest in the entire world. The problem is that these days, politicians are too partison to set their differences aside and place the basic rights of the citizens of Alabama in the thing. I'd frankly be worried about what the outcome of a new Constitutional Convention in Alabama would be.

[mimpdaddy]

We need a new constitution and let me write it.

[prden]

Originally Posted by mimpdaddy

We need a new constitution and let me write it.

I'm sure you'll do a great job. ANYBODY could do better than what we've got.

[southernerd]

If anyone opposes you, you might try disqualifying their votes under the idiots and insane persons clause.

[prden]

Editorial from today's Anniston Star:
Apr 29, 2010

When it comes to Alabama’s 1901 Constitution, it has long been known — even acknowledged by those involved — that its ratification was shrouded in fraud.

Most historians agree that in Alabama’s Black Belt, votes were cast in favor of the Constitution even though the voters never appeared at the polls. Additionally, the votes of those who did appear were either not counted or were counted for ratification when, in fact, they were cast against it.

That’s why nine African-American residents in Alabama brought suit recently to have the ratification of the 1901 Constitution set aside because of voter fraud.

The suit’s basic premise is that fraud ensured that 12 predominantly black Alabama counties would cast votes for the Constitution, even though the document was detrimental to the rights of African-Americans in the state.

Alas, the state Supreme Court refused to hear the case and threw it out last week. The court would not even consider it.

The suit’s goal, of course, was to force a reluctant state Legislature and the special interests that the Constitution empowers to write a new constitution, which Alabama badly needs. Efforts to replace the Constitution through a convention or by a section-by-section legislative rewrite have been blocked by those who want to maintain the status quo.

So the people who suffered the most under the Constitution went to court to have the vote that made this heinous document Alabama’s fundamental law declared invalid. If that occurred, then a new election could be called and another vote — a legitimate vote on ratification — could be held.

Despite overwhelming historical evidence that backed the plaintiffs’ claims, the court told plaintiffs — and, by extension, all Alabamians who have been hurt by this Constitution — that they lack legal standing in court.

The court reasoned that none of the plaintiffs or other Alabamians who have suffered as a result of that fraud were alive in 1901. Thus, the fraudulent vote didn’t affect them.

The law is supposed to resolve issues justly and fairly. But in this case, the law resolved an issue expediently.

Justice and fairness lost.