Whereas, Alabama’s 1901 Constitution is generally acknowledged to be antiquated
and totally inadequate to meet the future needs of the Great State of Alabama;

Whereas, its creation was motivated by the worst segregationalist feelings of the times
and adopted through the use of massive voter fraud;

Whereas, the constitution’s original provisions kept almost a majority of citizens from fully
exercising their rights as members of a democratic society
for decades after its creation;

Whereas, the intent of the Constitution founders to exclude those of color, the poor and women
from equal rights and political participation run counter
to the American values of fair play and equality;

Whereas, its seven hundred and six amendments makes it the longest state constitution
of the country, revealing how far it strays from true constitutional matters and
into micromanagement that hampers the growth and development of our state;

Whereas, the constitution is structured to leave our state education system impoverished,
to strengthen the power of special interests through the centralization of power at the state level,
and to strip our citizens of much of their power at the local levels of government;

The Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, through its executive committee, endorses the
promise of constitutional reform and urges the executive and legislative branches
to adopt modernizing our state’s constitution as a matter of priority.

The Alabama Trial Lawyers Association further urges the leadership of Alabama
to update Alabama’s Constitution in a manner that reinforces, not contradicts, the principles
of the Bill of Rights.

The Alabama Trial Lawyers Association also directs its leadership and staff to pursue
constitutional reform as a major goal of their advocacy efforts on behalf of the association’s membership.

Adopted by the Executive Committee of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association,
June 14, 2001.
Randy S. Haynes, President