Background
   The state of Alabama’s Constitution was written in 1901 and has since been amended over 650 times, making it the longest and most unwieldy state constitutional in America. By comparison, the U.S. Constitution has only 27 amendments, very clearly delegating certain powers to the Federal government and leaving the rest to the states. The Alabama Constitution has 220,000 words making it 2 * times as long as any other state’s constitution.

   It is a document that is dangerously unfair because it is almost incomprehensible, confusing and barely workable. Moreover, it is becoming increasingly difficult to know the status of a particular local law, because the Constitution may say one thing by some obscure local amendment may abrogate that completely.

   Our Constitution was deliberately written to place stringent limitations on state government, eliminate the independence of local government, and severely limit the Legislature’s ability to pass local laws. The Constitution is so rife with errors that it does not even describe the boundaries of our state correctly.

   It contains archaic restrictions that are totally impractical today, such as the prohibition of local borrowing and state debt except in times of war.

   The State Constitution is the foundation of our government. Until we have a good foundation, all our other efforts are severely limited.

The Issue
   Two of the most important challenges facing Decatur and Morgan County and its business community are education and home rule:

1. Education: Alabama continues to lag behind the nation in practically every education yardstick. Our members rank Education as their #1 concern and demand and deserve better quality graduates than what our public education system currently produces. The systematic problems with education are rooted in our State Constitution.

2. Home Rule: Under the current constitution, many local issues have to be dealt with by the State Legislature. This lack of home rule causes delay and expense, leading frequently to lost opportunities. It places mandates on City and County government sometimes without providing proper funding.

Our Position and Plan of Action
Because of its antiquated nature and lack of adequate framework to allow for good governmental performance, the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors calls for a new Alabama Constitution and lends its support to the statewide effort.

   This position statement will be sent to Governor Don Siegelman and members of the Alabama Legislature and released to all media sources as an objective of this Chamber.

   We will encourage our leadership and members collectively and individually, to assume leadership roles in this worthwhile effort to provide all Alabamians with a new Constitution.

June 19, 2000

Return to : Resolutions Index