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