Van Hart v. deGRAFFENRIED

The Alabama Legislature, by a joint resolution adopted at an organizational session, increased the per diem and monthly expense allowances for legislators.

These two cases1 present the issue of the constitutionality of that resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 13) which was adopted at the 1979 Organizational Session, increasing by $15 and $100, respectively, the per diem and monthly expense allowances for legislators. The trial court found that the legislators did not violate the constitution by adopting the resolution at its organizational session, and that the Legislature could increase its…