The Green Papers: Alabama State and Local Government

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Governor:1
Senators: 2 (Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
2020 Census: 5,030,053 (1.52% of 331,797,979
- 2024, 2028 Electors: 9 (1.67% of 538)
- 2022-2030 Representatives: 7 (1.61% of 435)
2010 Census: 4,802,982 (1.55% of 309,785,186)
- 2012, 2016, 2020 Electors: 9 (1.67% of 538)
- 2012-2020 Representatives: 7 (1.61% of 435)
Capital: Montgomery

Current Alabama Statewide Office Holders

Official Name/Status All States

The STATE of Alabama
Status: STATE of the Union
Organized as a Territory: 3 March 1817. 3 Stat. 371; previously, part of Mississippi Territory
Admitted to the Union as a State: 14 December 1819 by a Joint Resolution of Congress (3 Stat. 608)
The 22nd state.

Traditional Sections and Regions All States

Section: SOUTH
Region: Lower ["Deep"] South
Survey: Public Domain

Constitutions All States Links to State Constitutions

Enabling Act (of the Congress of the United States): 2 March 1819 [3 Stat. 489: authorizing formation of a State government and Admission thereafter]
- 1st (1819-1865) [Adopted: 2 August 1819 Convention convened, 5 July 1819, Ratified: 2 August 1819 not submitted to the People; effective upon Admission, 14 December 1819]
- 2nd (1865-1868) [Adopted: 30 September 1865 Convention convened, 12 September 1865, Ratified: 30 September 1865 not submitted to the People]
- 3rd (1868-1875) [Adopted: 6 December 1867 Convention convened, 5 November 1867, Ratified: 1868]
- 4th (1875-1901) [Adopted: 2 October 1875 Convention convened, 6 September 1875, Ratified: 16 November 1875 ratified by vote of 95,672 to 30,004; effective, 6 December 1875]
- 5th (1901-) [Adopted: 3 September 1901 Convention convened, 21 May 1901, Ratified: 28 November 1901]

Executive Branch All States

Chief Executive
- GOVERNOR
Successor to a Vacancy
- President of the State Senate (1819-1867) [under State's 1st and 2nd Constitutions: would merely become "acting Governor"; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
- Lieutenant Governor (1867-1875) [under State's 3rd Constitution: elected separately from GOVERNOR; next in line of succession: President pro Tempore of the State Senate]
- President of the State Senate (1875-1901) [under State's 4th Constitution: would merely become "acting Governor"; next in line of succession: Speaker of the State House of Representatives]
- Lieutenant Governor (1901--) [under State's 5th Constitution: elected separately from GOVERNOR; next in line of succession: President pro Tempore of the State Senate, then Speaker of the State House of Representatives, followed- if ever necessary- by Statewide Elected Executive Officers]

Major Executive Officers Elected Statewide All States
- Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
- Lieutenant Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. Elected separately from the Governor.
- Secretary of State: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Attorney General: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Treasurer: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Auditor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026
- Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

Legislative Branch All States

Legislature
- LEGISLATURE (1817-1819) [as a Territory]
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY (1819-1901)
- LEGISLATURE (1901--) [Name changed upon the adoption of the State's 5th Constitution]

Upper House
- Legislative Council (1817-1819) [as a Territory]
- Senate (1819--) [currently 35 Senators by DISTRICT: 4-year terms]
Lower House
- House of Representatives (1817--) [as both a Territory and a State]
  [currently 105 Representatives by DISTRICT: 4-year terms]

Judicial Branch All States

Court of Last Resort
- Supreme Court (1819--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
Intermediate Appellate Court
- Court of Appeals (1910-1969) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]
- Court of Civil Appeals (1969--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]
- Court of Criminal Appeals (1969--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]

General Trial Jurisdiction
- Circuit Court (1819--) Constitutional Court [IN: circuit FOR: county]

Limited Jurisdiction
- County Court (--1977) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: county]
- Recorder's Court (--1977) Statutory Court [FOR: municpality]
- Justices of the Peace (1819-1977) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county-1875: precinct]
- District Court (1975--) Statutory Court [FOR: county]
- Municipal Court (1975--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality]
Special Jurisdiction
- Chancery Court (1819--) Constitutional Court [IN: division & district FOR: county. Authorized by the State's Constitutions, over the years, to be a separate court but its equity jurisdiction has, historically, been exercised by the Circuit Court.]
- Probate Court (1819--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]

Local Government All States

PRIMARY CIVIL DIVISION All States
- County [Type: Strong, Executive and Legislative: COMMISSION]
  - MINOR CIVIL DIVISION
    - precinct [Type: None, Executive and Legislative: no associated governmental structure. Functioned historically as the jurisdiction of Alabama's justices of the peace (until that office was abolished in 1977); some precincts still elect a constable but this office may be abolished by local option. Where a constable is no longer elected, the precinct is largely dormant]

Incorporated Municipalities All States
- City [Separated from MCD: ---, Population requirement(s): 2,000 +, Form(s) of government: Mayor/Aldermen;
  Commission]
- Town [Separated from MCD: ---, Population requirement(s): 300-1,999, Form(s) of government: Mayor/Aldermen;
  Commission]

Localities All States
- Alabama Civil Divisions and Municipalities

Key Statewide / Federal Officials All States

Alabama Officials

Statutory Election Information All States

General Election All States
- (2006--) The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, senators and representatives ... shall be elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2006, and every fourth year thereafter. A president of the Public Service Commission shall be elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2008, and every fourth year thereafter. [§17-14-3]
Presidential Primary All States
- (--2006) Section 17-16-6. Presidential preference primaries and primary elections, except special primary elections ... shall be held on the first Tuesday in June....
- (2007-2011) Section 17-13-100 (a) Primary elections for the purpose of determining the preferred candidates for President of the United States shall be held the first Tuesday in February each year in which a President is to be elected beginning in the year 2008. (c) (2) Qualified electors in Mobile County, Baldwin County, and any county that recognizes Mardi Gras as a county holiday may vote in the presidential preference primary on the Wednesday preceding the first Tuesday in February. (4) When early voting is provided, votes on that day shall be counted by poll workers at the voting centers and the results shall be sealed without disclosure... such results shall remain sealed until the first Tuesday in February, when the final tabulation and canvassing shall be conducted, after which all results shall be announced at the same time.
- (2011-2015) Primary elections for the purpose of determining the preferred candidates for President of the United States shall be held the second Tuesday in March each year in which a President is to be elected beginning in the year 2012. [§17-13-100a]
- (2015--) Primary elections for the purpose of determining the preferred candidates for President of the United States shall be held the first Tuesday in March each year in which a President is to be elected beginning in the year 2016. [§17-13-100a]
State Primary All States
- (--2006) Section 17-16-6. Presidential preference primaries and primary elections, except special primary elections ... shall be held on the first Tuesday in June.... 17-16-36.(b) If no candidate receives a majority of all of the votes cast in the primary election ... then there shall be held a second primary election on the sixth Tuesday following the primary election....
- (2006-2011) Section 17-13-3. Primary elections, except special primary elections and presidential preference primaries ... shall be held on the first Tuesday in June.
  Section 17-13-18. (b) If no candidate receives a majority of all of the votes cast ..., then there shall be held a second primary election on the sixth Tuesday following the primary election.
- (2011-2015) ... primary elections ... shall be held on the first Tuesday in June. When necessary ... a second or runoff primary election shall be held on the sixth Tuesday following the primary election. [§17-13-3 (a)]
  In years in which a presidential primary is conducted, the primary election shall be the second Tuesday in March. [§17-13-3 (b)]
- (2015-2019) ... primary elections ... shall be held on the first Tuesday in June. When necessary ... a second or runoff primary election shall be held on the sixth Tuesday following the primary election. [§17-13-3 (a)]
  In years in which a presidential primary is conducted, the primary election shall be the first Tuesday in March. [§17-13-3 (b)]
- (2019--) ... primary elections ... shall be held on the 4th Tuesday in May. When necessary ... a second or runoff primary election shall be held on the 4th Tuesday following the primary election. [§17-13-3 (a)]
  In years in which a presidential primary is conducted, the primary election shall be the first Tuesday in March. [§17-13-3 (b)]
Polling times All States
- Code of Alabama Section 11-46-28. (a) Every polling place shall open for voting at 7:00 A.M. and shall close at 7:00 P.M. and shall remain open for voting for not less than 12 consecutive hours. All polling places in areas operating on eastern time may open and close under this section pursuant to eastern time.

Links Links to other web sites. These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes.

Election Authority. All States
- Alabama Secretary of State
- AlabamaVotes.gov
Legislature. All States
- Alabama House of Representatives
- Alabama Legislature
- Alabama State Senate
- Alison - Alabama Legislative Information System OnLine
- Alison - Alabama Legislative Information System OnLine. (The "Code of Ala" tab is near the left margin)
Democratic
- Alabama Democratic Party
Republican
- Alabama Republican Party
Third Party
Media & others

State and Local Government Outline

Modified .