Alabama Constitution Section 48 - Time and place of meetings of legislature; maximum length of sessions.
Alabama Constitution – Section 48: Time and Place of Meetings of Legislature; Maximum Length of Sessions
Text:
"The legislature shall meet annually at the seat of government, and at such other times as the governor may convene it. Regular sessions of the legislature shall not exceed thirty legislative days in a regular session held during a calendar year. Neither house shall sit more than sixty calendar days in a regular session."
Explanation:
Section 48 governs when, where, and how long the Alabama Legislature can meet. Here's a breakdown:
1. Meeting Time and Place:
The Alabama Legislature meets annually.
Meetings are held at the seat of government, which is Montgomery, Alabama.
The governor has the power to call special sessions at other times if needed.
2. Length of Regular Sessions:
A regular session of the Legislature can include no more than 30 legislative days (i.e., actual working days where legislative action is taken).
These 30 legislative days must occur within a span of 60 calendar days.
This means that not every day within the 60-day window is used for formal legislative work.
The gap allows time for committees, constituent services, or breaks between session days.
Example:
If the legislature begins its session on March 1, they must finish all their work by April 30 (60 calendar days), but within that window, they are only allowed to meet and legislate on 30 separate days.
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