Constitution of Alabama
Clocking in at 310,296 words, the constitution of Alabama is the longest constitution in the world. By comparison, the U.S. constitution is only 4,543 words (including the signatures).
The bloat of the document is a result of the state government deciding that it needed to micromanage the individual counties. So all kinds of local regulations have been included in the constitution. Wikipedia explains:
You can read the full document here.
The bloat of the document is a result of the state government deciding that it needed to micromanage the individual counties. So all kinds of local regulations have been included in the constitution. Wikipedia explains:
About 90 percent of the document's length, as of 2018, is made up of its 946 amendments ... About 75 percent of the amendments cover individual counties or cities, and some are so detailed as to deal with salaries of specific officials (e.g. Amendment 480 and the Greene County probate judge). As a result, Alabama has a very high number of constitutional officers and the constitution makes it very difficult for residents of most counties to solve their own problems.
The Constitutional Convention was called with the intention by Democrats of the state "to establish white supremacy in this State," "within the limits imposed by the Federal Constitution." Its provisions essentially disenfranchised most African Americans and thousands of poor whites, who were excluded for decades.
The Constitutional Convention was called with the intention by Democrats of the state "to establish white supremacy in this State," "within the limits imposed by the Federal Constitution." Its provisions essentially disenfranchised most African Americans and thousands of poor whites, who were excluded for decades.
You can read the full document here.
Comments
Come the revolution, first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.
Posted by Kevin Pottorff on 07/17/20 at 09:45 AM
@Kevin -- I think that has to be the second thing. Remember that the marketing division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation has to be the first against the wall when the revolution comes. A displaced copy of the Encyclopedia Galactica confirms it.
Posted by Phideaux on 07/17/20 at 10:28 AM
I'm honestly not sure whether I prefer William Shakespeare or Douglas Adams.
Posted by Richard Bos on 07/18/20 at 11:05 AM
Since finding the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation might take a long time , I propose that the Alabama constitution gets scrapped first. Let's replace it with the American Bill of Rights during the time it takes to write a new one.
Posted by Yudith on 07/19/20 at 07:12 AM
Funny how a desire to “get government out of our lives” creates more bureaucracy...
Posted by Brian on 07/19/20 at 10:07 PM
Have you ever seen the "evolution of regulation" meme?
Pythagorean Theorem = 24 words
Lord's Prayer = 66 words
Archimedes' Principle = 67 words
Christians' 10 Commitments = 179 words
US Declaration of Independence = 1,300 words
US Constitution (amendments) = 7,818 words
EU directive on the sale of cabbages = 26,911 words
Pythagorean Theorem = 24 words
Lord's Prayer = 66 words
Archimedes' Principle = 67 words
Christians' 10 Commitments = 179 words
US Declaration of Independence = 1,300 words
US Constitution (amendments) = 7,818 words
EU directive on the sale of cabbages = 26,911 words
Posted by Phideaux on 07/19/20 at 10:58 PM
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Category: Government | Regulations | Law