State Democratic Executive Committee of Alabama.

The State Democratic Executive Committee, established in the 1800s, provides the infrastructure for the Democratic Party in Alabama. The committee consists of elected representatives from each county, as well as several committeemen elected from the state at large, each serving a four year term. The chairman, who presides over the committee, is elected from among the committee membership and also serves a four year term.

The committee is responsible for promoting and executing Democratic campaigns and primary elections throughout the State of Alabama. The committee also has the authority to settle Democratic primary election disputes and to qualify candidates wishing to enter a Democratic primary. In addition, the committee coordinates with local and national Democratic organizations and monitors the political atmosphere at local, state and national levels.

For much of its existence, the committee has played a very important and powerful role in Alabama politics. Because Alabama was virtually a single party state for many decades, the candidates who won in the Democratic primary rarely faced serious opposition. In addition, the committee controlled the candidate and voter qualifications requirements for Democratic primaries. In this manner, the committee was able to prevent many white citizens and a majority of black citizens from participating in the Democratic primaries, allowing the committee to essentially pick the state's political leaders.

From the description of Records 1875-1986. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122498763