Alabama Constitution Section 82 - Disclosure of personal or private interest in bills, etc., by legislators.
Alabama Constitution – Section 82: Disclosure of Personal or Private Interest in Bills by Legislators
📜 Summary:
Section 82 of the Alabama Constitution requires legislators to disclose any personal or private financial interest they may have in legislation or other official actions before participating in those matters.
🔑 Key Provisions:
Disclosure Requirement:
Any member of the legislature who has a personal or private interest in any bill or legislative matter must:
Publicly disclose that interest on the record of the legislative house to which they belong.
Scope of Disclosure:
Applies to any kind of interest (financial or otherwise) that could benefit the legislator personally or privately.
Not limited to just bills — includes any legislative measure they vote on or act upon.
Purpose:
To ensure transparency and accountability.
To avoid conflicts of interest.
To maintain public trust in the legislative process.
⚖️ Legal and Ethical Implications:
Disclosure doesn’t necessarily bar participation, but it ensures that the public and fellow legislators are aware of potential conflicts.
In modern application, this may relate to:
Business ownerships
Family financial ties
Contracts with the state
✅ Example:
If a legislator owns a construction company and a bill involves funding for state infrastructure contracts, that legislator must disclose their connection before voting or participating in discussions.
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