Mayor-Council Act of 1955

The Mayor-Council Act of 1955 is the Alabama State Law which establishes and defines the structure and powers of municipal government for the City of Birmingham under the Alabama Constitution of 1901. It was created to give citizens greater representation in local government and to establish a balance of power between the city's executive and legislative branches.

Specifically the movement to change the form of government was shepherded by business leaders who wanted to give the city's political leadership a more progressive voice during a time of heightened racial tensions. According to a study commissioned by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and the Birmingham Bar Association, a "strong mayor-council form of municipal government is best suited to the present and future needs of a greater and better Birmingham."

The first mayor to serve under the new act was Albert Boutwell, who was elected in 1963 and was sworn in on April 15 of that year. For the first five weeks of his administration the former Birmingham City Commission filed a legal challenge to the election and refused to leave office, giving Birmingham two governments. It was during this contentious transition period that acting Police Commissioner Bull Connor turned dogs and fire hoses on demonstrators participating in the Birmingham Campaign for Civil Rights.

In recent years certain provisions of the Act have been criticized. Bills have been introduced in the Alabama Legislature that would change the terms of office of the Mayor and City Council so that both were elected in the same cycle. (Currently sitting Council members are able to campaign for mayor without resigning unless they win the election.)

Articles

• Article I: Adoption of the Mayor-Council Form of Government; Election and Term of Council
• Article II: Legal Status, Form of Government, Powers
• Article III: The Council
• Article IV: Mayor
• Article V: Budget
• Article VI: Department of Finance
• Article VII: Succession in Government
• Article VIII: General Provisions
• Article IX: Abandonment of Mayor-Council Form of Government
• Article X: General Statutory Provisions

References

• Act No. 452, Alabama Acts of 1955, as supplemented by Act No. 294, Alabama Acts of 1965
• Stock, Erin & Joseph D. Bryant (April 15, 2008) "Birmingham's Mayor-Council Act turns 45". Birmingham News

External links

• The Mayor-Council Act at birminghamal.gov