Alabama Constitution Section 73 - Appropriations to charitable or educational institutions not under absolute control of state.
Alabama Constitution – Section 73
Appropriations to charitable or educational institutions not under absolute control of state
Text of Section 73:
“No appropriation shall be made to any charitable or educational institution not under the absolute control of the state, other than normal schools established by the state for the training of white teachers, except by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.”
✅ Explanation:
Section 73 of the Alabama Constitution places strict limits on state appropriations (i.e., government funding) to charitable or educational institutions that are not under the full control of the state.
Key points:
Normally, the state cannot fund private or semi-private educational or charitable organizations.
Exception: Funding can be provided if two-thirds of all elected members of both the House and Senate approve it.
Historically, it included a specific mention of “normal schools established by the state for training white teachers,” which reflects the racially segregated educational policies of the past.
⚠️ Note on historical context:
This section reflects Jim Crow-era laws and contains discriminatory language that would be considered unconstitutional under modern federal law. Today, such language and race-based provisions would not be legally enforceable due to federal civil rights protections and U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
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