SB 65

Section 279 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 279 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, requires all members of the Legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, before they enter upon the execution of the duties of their respective offices, to take a specified oath of office. Section 36-4-6, Code of Alabama 1975, requires governing officials of cities and towns to take the oath of office as prescribed by the Constitution of Alabama

This bill would amend Section 279 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 279 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to provide that state public officials when taking the oath of office may choose to do so by raising the right hand and placing the left hand upon a religious holy book or upon a copy of the Constitution of the State of Alabama or a copy of the Constitution of the United States

To amend Section 279 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 279 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to provide that state public officials when taking the oath of office may choose to do so by raising the right hand and placing the left hand upon a religious holy book or upon a copy of the Constitution of the State of Alabama or a copy of the Constitution of the United States.

Section 1

The following amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, is proposed and shall become valid as a part thereof when approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon and in accordance with Sections 284, 285, and 287 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended: PROPOSED AMENDMENT Section 279 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 279 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, is amended to read as follows: Section 279.

All members of the legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, before they enter upon the execution of the duties of their respective offices, shall take the following oath or affirmation:

"I, …, solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Alabama, so long as I continue a citizen thereof; and that I will faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, to the best of my ability. So help me God."

The oath may be administered by the presiding officer of either house of the legislature, or by any officer authorized by law to administer an oath.

The oath may be taken with a raised right hand, and at the discretion of the oath taker, with a hand placed upon a religious holy book or upon either of the Constitution of the State of Alabama or the Constitution of the United States."

Section 2

An election upon the proposed amendment shall be held in accordance with Sections 284 and 285 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Sections 284 and 285 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, and the election laws of this state.

Section 3

The appropriate election official shall assign a ballot number for the proposed constitutional amendment on the election ballot and shall set forth the following description of the substance or subject matter of the proposed constitutional amendment:

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to amend Section 279 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 279 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to provide that state public officials when taking the oath of office may choose to do so by raising the right hand and placing the left hand upon a religious holy book or upon a copy of the Constitution of the State of Alabama or a copy of the Constitution of the United States."

Proposed by Act ________." This description shall be followed by the following language:

Yes ( ) No ( )."