SB371 Alabama 2017 Session

Under existing constitutional provisions, the Lieutenant Governor is the President of the Senate, is entitled to vote in the event of a tie, and is vested with certain prescribed legislative duties, powers, and responsibilities. Also, under existing constitutional provisions, the Lieutenant Governor and the Governor are elected separately

This bill would propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, which would require the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be elected jointly, would remove the power of the Lieutenant Governor to preside over the Senate and to vote in the event of a tie, and would provide that the sole duty of the Lieutenant Governor would be to succeed to the office of the Governor upon the Governor's removal from office, death, or resignation

This bill would also specify that the Lieutenant Governor would hold no duties, responsibilities, or powers regarding the Legislative Department. This bill would require the members of the Senate to elect from its membership a President of the Senate and would provide that the prior legislative duties, responsibilities, and powers of the Lieutenant Governor would be vested in the President of the Senate. The bill would also provide that the President Pro Tempore of the Senate would preside over the Senate in the absence of the President of the Senate

This bill would specify that the annual salary of the Lieutenant Governor would be an amount equal to 75 percent of the annual salary paid to the Governor

Proposing an amendment to Section 117 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901; requiring the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be elected jointly; removing the duty of the Lieutenant Governor to serve as the President of the Senate and other duties, responsibilities, and powers regarding the Legislative Department; specifying that the sole duty of the Lieutenant Governor is to succeed to the Office of Governor under certain existing conditions; vesting these duties, responsibilities, and powers with the President of the Senate who shall be elected by the members of the Senate from the membership of the Senate; providing that the President Pro Tempore of the Senate would preside over the Senate in the absence of the President of the Senate; and providing for the annual salary of the Lieutenant Governor.