Board of Directors.

Ala. Code tit. 10A, ch. 2A, art. 8, div. A

in effect

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.01 Requirement for and Functions of Board of Directors.

10A-2A-8.01. Requirement for and Functions of Board of Directors. (a) Except as may be provided in an agreement authorized under Section 10A-2A-7.32, each corporation shall have a board of directors. (b) Except as may be provided in an agreement authorized under Section 10A-2A-7.32, and subject to any limitation in the certificate of incorporation permitted by Section 10A-2A-2.02(b), all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of the board of directors, and the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction, and subject to the oversight, of the board of directors. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.02 Qualifications of Directors.

10A-2A-8.02. Qualifications of Directors. (a) The certificate of incorporation or bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors or for nominees for directors. Qualifications must be reasonable as applied to the corporation and be lawful. (b) A requirement that is based on a past, prospective, or current action, or expression of opinion, by a nominee for director or a director that could limit the ability of a nominee for director or a director to discharge his or her duties as a director is not a permissible qualification under this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, qualifications may include not being or having been subject to specified criminal, civil, or regulatory sanctions or not having been removed as a director by judicial action or for cause. (c) A director shall be a natural person of the age of at least 19 years but need not be a resident of this state or a stockholder unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws so prescribe. (d) A qualification for nomination for director prescribed before a person’s nomination shall apply to that person at the time of nomination. A qualification for nomination for director prescribed after a person’s nomination shall not apply to that person with respect to that person’s nomination. (e) A qualification for director prescribed before a director has been elected or appointed may apply only at the time an individual becomes a director or may apply during a director’s term. A qualification prescribed after a director has been elected or appointed shall not apply to that director before the end of that director’s term. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.03 Number and Election of Directors.

10A-2A-8.03. Number and Election of Directors. (a) A board of directors shall consist of one or more individuals, with the number specified in or fixed in accordance with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. (b) The number of directors may be increased or decreased from time to time by amendment to, or in the manner provided in, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. (c) Except as set forth in Section 10A-2A-2.04, directors are elected at the first annual stockholders’ meeting and at each annual stockholders’ meeting thereafter unless elected by written consent in lieu of an annual meeting as permitted by Section 10A-2A-7.04 or unless their terms are staggered under Section 10A-2A-8.06. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.04 Election of Directors by Certain Classes or Series of Stock.

10A-2A-8.04. Election of Directors by Certain Classes or Series of Stock. If the certificate of incorporation or action by the board of directors pursuant to Section 10A-2A-6.02 authorizes dividing the stock into classes or series, the certificate of incorporation may also authorize the election of all or a specified number of directors by the holders of one or more authorized classes or series of stock. A class or series (or multiple classes or series) of stock entitled to elect one or more directors is a separate voting group for purposes of the election of directors. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.05 Terms of Directors Generally.

10A-2A-8.05. Terms of Directors Generally. (a) The terms of the initial directors of a corporation expire at the first stockholders’ meeting at which directors are elected. (b) The terms of all other directors expire at the next, or if their terms are staggered in accordance with Section 10A-2A-8.06, at the applicable second or third, annual stockholders’ meeting following their election, except to the extent (i) provided in Section 10A-2A-10.22 if a bylaw electing to be governed by that section is in effect, or (ii) a shorter term is specified in the certificate of incorporation in the event of a director nominee failing to receive a specified vote for election. (c) A decrease in the number of directors does not shorten an incumbent director’s term. (d) Except as set forth in the next sentence of this subsection, the term of a director elected to fill a vacancy expires at the next stockholders’ meeting at which directors are elected. The term of a director elected to fill a vacancy in a corporation, the directors of which have been divided into groups under Section 10A-2A-8.06, shall hold office until the next election of the group for which that group of directors has been chosen, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. (e) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or under Section 10A-2A-10.22 if a bylaw electing to be governed by that section is in effect, despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director continues to serve until the director’s successor is elected and qualifies or there is a decrease in the number of directors. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.06 Staggered Terms for Directors.

10A-2A-8.06. Staggered Terms for Directors. The certificate of incorporation may provide for staggering the terms of directors by dividing the total number of directors into two or three groups, with each group containing half or one-third of the total, as near as may be practicable. In that event, the terms of directors in the first group expire at the first annual stockholders’ meeting after their election, the terms of the second group expire at the second annual stockholders’ meeting after their election, and the terms of the third group, if any, expire at the third annual stockholders’ meeting after their election. At each annual stockholders’ meeting held thereafter, directors shall be elected for a term of two years or three years, as the case may be, to succeed those whose terms expire. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.07 Resignation of Directors.

10A-2A-8.07. Resignation of Directors. (a) A director may resign at any time by delivering a written notice of resignation to the board of directors or its chair, to the secretary, or to the corporation. (b) A resignation is effective as provided in Section 10A-2A-1.41(i) unless the resignation provides for a delayed effectiveness, including effectiveness determined upon a future event or events. A resignation that is conditioned upon failing to receive a specified vote for election as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.08 Removal of Directors by Stockholders.

10A-2A-8.08. Removal of Directors by Stockholders. (a) The stockholders may remove one or more directors with or without cause unless the certificate of incorporation provides that directors may be removed only for cause. (b) If a director is elected by a voting group of stockholders, only the stockholders of that voting group may participate in the vote to remove that director. (c) A director may be removed if the number of votes cast to remove exceeds the number of votes cast not to remove the director, except to the extent the certificate of incorporation or bylaws require a greater number; provided that if cumulative voting is authorized, a director may not be removed if, in the case of a meeting, the number of votes sufficient to elect the director under cumulative voting is voted against removal and, if in the case of an action by written consent, the action is taken by less than unanimous consent. (d) A director may be removed by the stockholders only at a meeting called for the purpose of removing the director and the meeting notice must state that removal of the director is a purpose of the meeting. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.09 Removal of Directors by Judicial Proceeding.

10A-2A-8.09. Removal of Directors by Judicial Proceeding. (a) The designated court, and if none, the circuit court for the county in which the corporation’s principal office is located in this state, and if none in this state, the circuit court for the county in which the corporation’s most recent registered office is located may remove a director from office or may order other relief, including barring the director from reelection for a period prescribed by the court, in a proceeding commenced by or in the right of the corporation if the court finds that (i) the director engaged in fraudulent conduct with respect to the corporation or its stockholders, grossly abused the position of director, or intentionally inflicted harm on the corporation; and (ii) considering the director’s course of conduct and the inadequacy of other available remedies, removal or such other relief would be in the best interest of the corporation. (b) A stockholder proceeding on behalf of the corporation under subsection (a) shall comply with all of the requirements of Division D of Article 7, except clause (2) of Section 10A-2A-7.42. (Act 2019-94, §1; Act 2020-73, §7.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.10 Vacancy on Board of Directors.

10A-2A-8.10. Vacancy on Board of Directors. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 10A-2A-8.10(b) or the certificate of incorporation, if a vacancy occurs on the board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors: (1) the stockholders may fill the vacancy; (2) the board of directors may fill the vacancy; or (3) if the directors remaining in office are less than a quorum, they may fill the vacancy by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the directors remaining in office. (b) Unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, if the vacant office was held by a director elected by a voting group of stockholders, only the holders of stock of that voting group are entitled to vote to fill the vacancy if it is filled by the stockholders, and only the remaining directors elected by that voting group, even if less than a quorum, are entitled to fill the vacancy if it is filled by the directors. (c) A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date (by reason of a resignation effective at a later date under Section 10A-2A-8.07(b) or otherwise) may be filled before the vacancy occurs but the new director may not take office until the vacancy occurs. (Act 2019-94, §1; Act 2023-503, §3.)

Ala. Code § 10A-2A-8.11 Compensation of Directors.

10A-2A-8.11. Compensation of Directors. Unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise, the board of directors may fix the compensation of directors. (Act 2019-94, §1.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026