2009 Mock Constitution Convention
It's a "thick book" and we can fix it

In Alabama, there is no larger impediment to economic prosperity, local governance and healing the wounds of the state's racist past than the 1901 Alabama Constitution. This outdated framework erodes education systems, discourages citizen involvement and creates an extraordinarily inefficient government. Alabama can change its governing social contract through one of two ways: 1) by amending it or 2) through a constitution convention. To date, voters have amended Alabama's constitution over 800 times making it the longest state constitution in the world. However, a growing number of individuals and organizations are supporting the constitution convention path which affords the best opportunity to address the fundamental flaws of the document.

To educate the people of Alabama about a constitution convention process as well as engage new people in the growing Constitutional Reform Movement, a mock constitution convention will convene in the spring and summer of 2009. The Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform (ACCR) Foundation, a non-partisan 501(c)3 organization, will work with several partner groups to support this education initiative. While the constitution that the 2009 Mock Convention creates will have no legal status, it will help educate Alabamians about the injustices and inefficiencies embedded in our sixth constitution and, more importantly, show the type of modernized contract that people gathered today could create.

Community leaders from Alabama's 105 state house districts will assist in the process of identifying someone from their area to serve as a delegate to the 2009 Mock Convention.

During their meetings, the LSC will encourage people in their district to complete a "2009 Mock Convention Delegate Application Form." From the potential applications, the LSC will select the person who will serve as their delegate by November 11, 2008, which is the date in 1901 when voters supposedly "ratified" Alabama's current constitution. If a house district is unable to select a delegate by that time, the Mock Convention Steering Committee will form a Statewide Selection Committee to fulfill that duty.

To be a 2009 Mock Convention delegate, you must:

Complete, sign and submit the 2009 Mock Convention Delegate Application Form have lived in the state house district that you would like to represent for more than three years and continue to live in that same district in 2009.

Mock Convention Delegates' responsibilities include:

Promoting the mock convention in your state house district before, during and following this education initiative to engage people into the Constitution Reform Movement; Reading materials and responding to e-mails in a timely manner;

Participating in the entire convention process from the reading materials which will be sent via e-mail in December 2008 through the unveiling of the final product of the Mock Convention which will be unveiled on August 27, 2009; and Approaching the convention with an open mind and pledging to treat fellow delegates with respect and courtesy during the process.

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