Alabama Ethics Commission Found Weak

A national survey says Alabama is one of only three states that gives no subpoena power to its ethics commission.

By: Christian Stapleton | WKRG-TV
Published: November 08, 2009

» Comments | Post a Comment

A national survey says Alabama is one of
only three states that gives no subpoena power to its ethics
commission.
The Alabama Ethics Commission cannot force people to appear
before it or to turn over documents.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that state
ethics panels in North Carolina and Michigan are in the same
predicament.
Although Alabama's Ethics Commission is among the country's
weakest, 10 states have no ethics panels at all, according to the
February 2008 survey. Some of the strongest ethics commissions can
be found in Alabama's neighbor states. Ethics agencies in Georgia,
Tennessee and Mississippi can both issue subpoenas and give orders
that are enforceable in court. Just 11 states entrust their ethics
panels with both powers, according to the survey.