Welcome to Rainbow City Alabama


Alabama Government

State  governmentpassed 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 inthe Democratic Party became essentially the
1901. At more than 770 amendments and 310,000only political party in every Southern state.
words, it is the world's longest constitutionFor nearly 100 years, local and state
and is roughly forty times the length of theelections 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-equaluntil 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 ofAlabama state politics gained nationwide and
the Alabama House of Representatives, withinternational attention in the 1950s and
105 members, and the Alabama Senate, with 351960s during the American Civil Rights
members. The Legislature is responsible forMovement, when it bureaucratically, and at
writing, debating, passing, or defeatingtimes, 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 thebe a hotbed for racism. The state's governor
execution and oversight of laws. It is headedduring the period, George Wallace, remains a
by the Governor of Alabama. Other members ofnotorious  and  controversial  figure.
executive branch include the cabinet, the
Attorney General of Alabama, the AlabamaFederal  politics
Secretary of State, the Alabama Commissioner
of Agriculture and Industries, the AlabamaFrom 1876 through 1956, Alabama supported
State Treasurer, and the Alabama Stateonly 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 forballot, but the Democratic electors gave most
interpreting the Constitution and applyingof 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 ofGoldwater carried the state. In the 1968
Alabama.presidential election, Alabama supported
native son and American Independent Party
Local  and  county  governmentcandidate George Wallace over both Richard
Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. In 1976,
Alabama has 67 counties. Each county has itsDemocratic candidate Jimmy Carter carried the
own elected legislative branch, usuallystate, the region, and the nation, but
called the Board of Commissioners, whichDemocratic control of the region slipped
usually also has executive authority in thethereafter. Since 1980, the Republican party
county. Due to the restraints placed in thehas become increasingly dominant in Alabama's
Alabama Constitution, all but 7 countiesfederal elections. In local politics, by
(Jefferson, Lee, Mobile, Madison, Montgomery,contrast, Democrats still control many
Shelby, and Tuscaloosa) in the state haveoffices, such as their large and long
little to no home rule. Instead, moststanding majority in the Alabama Legislature.
counties in the state must lobby the Local
Legislation Committee of the stateIn 2004, George W. Bush won Alabama's nine
legislature to get simple local policies suchelectoral 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 controlcounties, where African Americans are in the
state; the government holds a monopoly on themajority. Alabama is one of the most
sale  of  alcohol.conservative states in the country; Shelby
County, in suburban Birmingham, and the city
State  politicsof San Francisco, California are the closest
pair of greatly populated areas to being
The current governor of the state is Bobpolitical polar opposites. In 2004, Bush won
Riley. The lieutenant governor is LucyShelby County, and John Kerry won San
Baxley. The Democratic Party currently holdsFrancisco, each with approximately 80% of the
a large majority in both houses of thevote. Although it must be said, the above
Legislature. Due to the Legislature's powermentioned black belt counties voted the most
to override a gubernatorial veto by a mereDemocratic in the country, giving 97% of the
simple majority (most state Legislaturesvote  to  Kerry.
require a 2/3 majority to override a veto),
the relationship between the executive andThe state's two current U.S. senators are
legislative branches can be easily strainedJefferson B. Sessions III and Richard C.
when different parties control both branches.Shelby,  both  from  the  Republican  Party.
During Reconstruction following the AmericanIn the U.S. House of Representatives, the
Civil War, Alabama was occupied by federalstate is represented by seven members, five
troops of the Third Military District underof whom are Republicans, and two Democrats.
General John Pope. In 1874 the Redeemers tookThe Representatives are Jo Bonner, Terry
control of the state government from theEverett, Mike D. Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Bud
Republicans. After 1890 a coalition of whitesCramer, Spencer Bachus, and Artur Davis.



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