Issue
   Should the Chamber of Commerce support efforts to rewrite Alabama’s Constitution?

Discussion
   The Alabama Constitution of 1901 is thought by many to be a fatally flawed document, grounded in racism and reaction to the harsh years of reconstruction that followed the Civil War. Amended more than 600 times, it is the longest constitution of any state in the United States of America.

   Still, in spite of its many amendments, many believe that it embodies fundamentally flawed theories about the role of the State in serving its citizens. Although there have been several efforts over the years to rewrite the document in its entirety, all have failed. One section of the constitution, relating to the judiciary, was rewritten in the 70’s and is heralded as one of the most progressive judicial articles in the U.S.

   There is a growing consensus among many community and civic leaders across the State that the time has come to clean the slate and draft a new constitution.

   Opponents of rewriting the Constitution fear, among other things, protections afforded them in the existing document (and associated court rulings) would be removed. There is also considerable speculation that special interests would dominate any rewrite effort.

Chamber Position
   The Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County joins the Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery Chambers of Commerce in their support of Constitution reform. We support the grassroots effort led by Citizens for Constitution Reform to achieve this worthy goal.