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Editorial
August 24, 2001

   Getting a new state constitution drafted will be a monumental feat. Getting it on the books will be even more difficult.

   That's a reflection on the 1901 Constitution, because the wordy document doesn't satisfactorily spell out how the process would work.

   A group that pushed the constitution idea from infancy to where it now has statewide support wants to make sure that the process doesn't get tangled in legal controversy.

   Whether a convention or the Legislature drafts the new constitution, the group wants state voters to approve it in a statewide referendum.

   Tom Corts, president of Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, called on the governor to include legislation that would do that in the special session that begins Tuesday.

   It's a practical approach to what promises to be a long and controversial process. He says the present constitution "is vague and unclear" about whether a replacement must be submitted to a state vote. He also says voters should have the final word.

   The law needs to be clear, but the law also needs to give voters the right of final approval to a new constitution.

   "The final decision on any new document must be made by the people of Alabama," Mr. Corts said in a letter to the governor.

   The governor runs the risk of putting too many issues before the Legislature in this special session that he originally called to deal with congressional reapportionment.

   Yet, including Mr. Corts' proposal will be one more indication that the governor truly supports a new constitution, and one more step toward actually getting down to the awesome job of crafting the new document.

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