Alabama Constitution Section 117 - Qualifications of governor and lieutenant governor lieutenant governor ex officio president of senate.
Certainly! Here's a detailed explanation of Section 117 of the Alabama Constitution, which addresses both the qualifications for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and the duties of the Lieutenant Governor as President of the Senate.
🔹 Part 1: Qualifications for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
To run for or hold the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor in Alabama, a person must meet the following constitutional requirements:
Minimum Age – The candidate must be at least 30 years old at the time of the election.
This ensures a basic level of maturity and experience.
U.S. Citizenship – The candidate must have been a citizen of the United States for at least 10 years.
This reflects loyalty and familiarity with the nation's political system.
State Residency – The candidate must have been a resident of Alabama for at least 7 years immediately before the election.
This ensures that the person is familiar with the state’s needs, culture, and policies.
These requirements are similar to other states, but Alabama’s are considered slightly more stringent in terms of the duration of residency and citizenship.
🔹 Part 2: Lieutenant Governor as Ex Officio President of the Senate
The Lieutenant Governor of Alabama has both executive and legislative functions, and one of the key legislative roles is:
"Ex officio president of the senate"
This means:
The Lieutenant Governor presides over the Alabama Senate (the upper chamber of the legislature) by virtue of holding their office — they don’t need to be elected by the Senate members to do this.
They manage the proceedings, maintain order, and often decide parliamentary procedures.
Can vote to break a tie in the Senate — this gives them limited voting power, only in deadlock situations.
This role is similar to how the Vice President of the United States serves as the President of the U.S. Senate.
Summary Table
| Requirement / Role | Governor | Lieutenant Governor |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 30 years | 30 years |
| U.S. Citizenship | 10 years | 10 years |
| Alabama Residency | 7 years | 7 years |
| Presides over Senate | ❌ | ✅ Yes (ex officio role) |
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