Alabama Constitution Section 63 - Number of readings for bills; recordation of votes on bills; majority vote required for passage of bills.
Alabama Constitution – Section 63: Number of Readings for Bills; Recordation of Votes on Bills; Majority Vote Required for Passage of Bills
📜 Text of Section 63:
"No bill shall become a law until it shall have been read on three different days in each house, and passed each house by a majority of the whole number elected to each house, and the yeas and nays of the members of each house shall be entered upon the journal."
🧠 Explanation:
Section 63 establishes the procedural safeguards for passing legislation in Alabama’s state legislature. Here's a breakdown:
✅ Key Requirements:
Three Readings Per House:
Every bill must be read on three separate days in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
This ensures deliberation and transparency, giving legislators time to study and debate the bill.
Majority Vote of Elected Members:
A bill requires the approval of a majority of the total elected members of each house (not just a majority of those present).
For example, if a chamber has 105 members, at least 53 must vote in favor, regardless of attendance.
Recorded (Roll-Call) Votes:
The yeas and nays (votes for and against) must be recorded in the journal, making the vote a matter of public record.
This promotes accountability of lawmakers to the public.
📌 Purpose and Effect:
Ensures that legislation is not rushed through without adequate debate.
Makes it difficult to pass bills in secrecy or through procedural shortcuts.
Holds legislators accountable for their votes, supporting democratic transparency.
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