| State government | | | | passed laws to segregate and disenfranchise |
| | | | black residents. The state became part of the |
| Alabama's government is supervised by the | | | | "Solid South," a one-party system in which |
| Alabama Constitution, which was ratified in | | | | the Democratic Party became essentially the |
| 1901. At more than 770 amendments and 310,000 | | | | only political party in every Southern state. |
| words, it is the world's longest constitution | | | | For nearly 100 years, local and state |
| and is roughly forty times the length of the | | | | elections in Alabama were decided in the |
| U.S. Constitution. | | | | Democratic Party primary, with generally no |
| | | | Republican challenger running. It was not |
| Alabama is divided into three co-equal | | | | until the 1980s that Republicans began to |
| branches: | | | | successfully challenge and win elections in |
| | | | local and state offices. |
| The legislative branch is the Alabama | | | | |
| Legislature, a bicameral assembly composed of | | | | Alabama state politics gained nationwide and |
| the Alabama House of Representatives, with | | | | international attention in the 1950s and |
| 105 members, and the Alabama Senate, with 35 | | | | 1960s during the American Civil Rights |
| members. The Legislature is responsible for | | | | Movement, when it bureaucratically, and at |
| writing, debating, passing, or defeating | | | | times, violently resisted protests for |
| state legislation. | | | | electoral and social reform. This ended up |
| | | | hurting Alabama's image and making it out to |
| The executive branch is responsible for the | | | | be a hotbed for racism. The state's governor |
| execution and oversight of laws. It is headed | | | | during the period, George Wallace, remains a |
| by the Governor of Alabama. Other members of | | | | notorious and controversial figure. |
| executive branch include the cabinet, the | | | | |
| Attorney General of Alabama, the Alabama | | | | Federal politics |
| Secretary of State, the Alabama Commissioner | | | | |
| of Agriculture and Industries, the Alabama | | | | From 1876 through 1956, Alabama supported |
| State Treasurer, and the Alabama State | | | | only Democratic presidential candidates, by |
| Auditor. | | | | large margins. 1960 was a curious election; |
| | | | the Democrats won with John F. Kennedy on the |
| The judicial branch is responsible for | | | | ballot, but the Democratic electors gave most |
| interpreting the Constitution and applying | | | | of their electoral votes as a protest to |
| the law in state criminal and civil cases. | | | | someone else. In 1964, Republican Barry |
| The highest court is the Supreme Court of | | | | Goldwater carried the state. In the 1968 |
| Alabama. | | | | presidential election, Alabama supported |
| | | | native son and American Independent Party |
| Local and county government | | | | candidate George Wallace over both Richard |
| | | | Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. In 1976, |
| Alabama has 67 counties. Each county has its | | | | Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter carried the |
| own elected legislative branch, usually | | | | state, the region, and the nation, but |
| called the Board of Commissioners, which | | | | Democratic control of the region slipped |
| usually also has executive authority in the | | | | thereafter. Since 1980, the Republican party |
| county. Due to the restraints placed in the | | | | has become increasingly dominant in Alabama's |
| Alabama Constitution, all but 7 counties | | | | federal elections. In local politics, by |
| (Jefferson, Lee, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery, | | | | contrast, Democrats still control many |
| Shelby, and Tuscaloosa) in the state have | | | | offices, such as their large and long |
| little to no home rule. Instead, most | | | | standing majority in the Alabama Legislature. |
| counties in the state must lobby the Local | | | | |
| Legislation Committee of the state | | | | In 2004, George W. Bush won Alabama's nine |
| legislature to get simple local policies such | | | | electoral votes by a margin of 25 percentage |
| as waste disposal to land use zoning. | | | | points with 62.5% of the vote. The only 11 |
| | | | counties voting Democratic were Black Belt |
| Alabama is an alcoholic beverage control | | | | counties, where African Americans are in the |
| state; the government holds a monopoly on the | | | | majority. Alabama is one of the most |
| sale of alcohol. | | | | conservative states in the country; Shelby |
| | | | County, in suburban Birmingham, and the city |
| State politics | | | | of San Francisco, California are the closest |
| | | | pair of greatly populated areas to being |
| The current governor of the state is Bob | | | | political polar opposites. In 2004, Bush won |
| Riley. The lieutenant governor is Lucy | | | | Shelby County, and John Kerry won San |
| Baxley. The Democratic Party currently holds | | | | Francisco, each with approximately 80% of the |
| a large majority in both houses of the | | | | vote. Although it must be said, the above |
| Legislature. Due to the Legislature's power | | | | mentioned black belt counties voted the most |
| to override a gubernatorial veto by a mere | | | | Democratic in the country, giving 97% of the |
| simple majority (most state Legislatures | | | | vote to Kerry. |
| require a 2/3 majority to override a veto), | | | | |
| the relationship between the executive and | | | | The state's two current U.S. senators are |
| legislative branches can be easily strained | | | | Jefferson B. Sessions III and Richard C. |
| when different parties control both branches. | | | | Shelby, both from the Republican Party. |
| | | | |
| During Reconstruction following the American | | | | In the U.S. House of Representatives, the |
| Civil War, Alabama was occupied by federal | | | | state is represented by seven members, five |
| troops of the Third Military District under | | | | of whom are Republicans, and two Democrats. |
| General John Pope. In 1874 the Redeemers took | | | | The Representatives are Jo Bonner, Terry |
| control of the state government from the | | | | Everett, Mike D. Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Bud |
| Republicans. After 1890 a coalition of whites | | | | Cramer, Spencer Bachus, and Artur Davis. |