Arkansas General Assembly

Arkansas General Assembly
Arkansas General Assembly
93rd Arkansas General Assembly
	State seal
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate; House of Representatives
History
Founded	September 12, 1836; (184 years ago)
Preceded by	General Assembly of Arkansas Territory
New session started	January 11, 2021
Leadership
President of the Senate &; Lieutenant Governor	Tim Griffin (R) ; since January 13, 2015
President Pro Tempore of the Senate	Jimmy Hickey Jr. (R) ; since January 11, 2021
Speaker of the House	Matthew Shepherd (R) ; since June 15, 2018
Structure
Seats	135 voting members; 35 senators; 100 representatives;
State Senate political groups	Republican (27); Democratic (7); Independent (1);
House of Representatives political groups	Republican (76); Democratic (24);
Elections
State Senate last election	November 3, 2020; (17 seats)
House of Representatives last election	November 3, 2020
State Senate next election	November 8, 2022; (18 seats)
House of Representatives next election	November 8, 2022
Meeting place
	Arkansas State Capitol; Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Website
	www.arkleg.state.ar.us
Constitution
	Arkansas Constitution of 1874

The General Assembly of Arkansas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Arkansas Senate with 35 members, and the lower Arkansas House of Representatives with 100 members. All 135 representatives and state senators represent an equal number of constituent districts. The General Assembly convenes on the second Monday of every other year. A session lasts for 60 days unless the legislature votes to extend it. The Governor of Arkansas can issue a "call" for a special session during the interims between regular sessions. The General Assembly meets at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock.

History[]

The General Assembly of Arkansas is authorized by the Arkansas Constitution, which is the state's fifth constitution. The first was constitution was ratified on January 30, 1836, and the current constitution was adopted in 1874.^[1] The constitution has also been amended throughout the state's history since 1874.^[1]

Originally, legislators met biennially, but today meet annually.^[2]

In 1922, Frances Hunt became the first woman elected to a seat in the General Assembly when she was elected to a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives.^[3]

Powers and process[]

The General Assembly of Arkansas is responsible for making and amending the laws of Arkansas. The legislative process is similar to that of other state legislatures in the United States. Bills undergo committee review and three readings on the floor of each house of the legislature. The governor has veto power, but a simple majority of both houses of the legislature can override that veto.^[4]

Legislators also select 20 state representatives and 16 state senators to serve on the Arkansas Legislative Council, which oversees the Bureau of Legislative Research and acts as an organizing committee for the legislature.^[2]

Terms and term limits[]

Amendment 73 of the Arkansas Constitution, approved by voters in the 1992 state general elections, set term limits for Representatives and Senators. Representatives were limited to three two-year terms (six years); Senators were limited to two four-year terms (eight years).

Amendment 73 also set term limits for U.S. Senators and Representatives, but this part of the Amendment was found unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton. As Section 4 of the Amendment included a severability clause, the remainder of the amendment remained in force.

This was replaced to a large extent by Amendment 94 in 2014, which extended the total years that could be served to 16 in any combination of House and Senate seats.

The law was changed again in 2020 by a referendum removing the lifetime limit of 16 years in the legislature and switching to 12 consecutive years with the option to return after a four year break.

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Arkansas General Assembly, Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture (accessed April 28, 2013)
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Arkansas Legislative Council, Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture (accessed April 28, 2013)
^ "Women". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Arkansas: The Central Arkansas Library System. 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
^ http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/BOSTable3.16.pdf

External links[]

Official website
Media related to Arkansas General Assembly at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by General Assembly of Arkansas Territory	Legislature of Arkansas September 12, 1836 – present	Succeeded by Current

Coordinates: 34°44′48″N 92°17′21″W / 34.7467387°N 92.2892220°W / 34.7467387; -92.2892220

[aga-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Arkansas General Assembly, Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture (accessed April 28, 2013)

[arklegcouncil-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b Arkansas Legislative Council, Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture (accessed April 28, 2013)

[The_Encyclopedia_of_Arkansas_History_&_Culture-3] "Women". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Arkansas: The Central Arkansas Library System. 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2010.

[4] ttp://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/BOSTable3.16.pdf

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

show v t State of Arkansas
Little Rock (capital)
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Arkansas portal

show v t Members of the Arkansas Senate
93rd General Assembly (2021) President of the Senate Tim Griffin (R) President pro tempore Jimmy Hickey Jr. (R) Majority Leader Scott Flippo (R) Minority Leader Keith Ingram (D)
Bart Hester (R) Jim Hendren (I) Cecile Bledsoe (R) Greg Leding (D) (R) Gary Stubblefield (R) (R) (R) Terry Rice (R) Larry Teague (D) Jimmy Hickey Jr. (R) (R) Alan Clark (R) Bill Sample (R) (R) (R) Scott Flippo (R) Missy Irvin (R) James Sturch (R) (R) (R) (R) Ron Caldwell (R) Keith Ingram (D) Stephanie Flowers (D) (R) (R) Jonathan Dismang (R) (R) Linda Chesterfield (D) Joyce Elliott (D) Clarke Tucker (D) Kim Hammer (R) Jane English (R) Jason Rapert (R)
Republican (27) Democratic (7) Independent (1) Arkansas General Assembly Arkansas House of Representatives Arkansas Senate

show v t Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly (2021-present) Speaker of the House Matthew Shepherd (R) Speaker pro tempore (R) Majority Leader Austin McCollum (R) Minority Leader Tippi McCullough (D)
Carol Dalby (R) Lane Jean (R) Danny Watson (R) DeAnn Vaught (R) David Fielding (D) Matthew Shepherd (R) Sonia Eubanks Barker (R) Jeff Wardlaw (R) Howard Beaty (R) Mike Holcomb (R) Mark McElroy (R) David Tollett (R) David Hillman (R) (R) Ken Bragg (R) (D) Vivian Flowers (D) Richard Womack (R) Justin Gonzales (R) (R) Marcus Richmond (R) (R) Lanny Fite (R) Bruce Cozart (R) (R) (R) Julie Mayberry (R) (R) Fredrick Love (D) Fred Allen (D) (R) Ashley Hudson (D) Tippi McCullough (D) Joy Springer (D) Andrew Collins (D) (D) Jamie Scott (D) (R) Mark Lowery (R) (R) Karilyn Brown (R) Mark Perry (D) (R) Cameron Cooper (R) (R) Les Eaves (R) (R) Reginald Murdock (D) (R) (D) Deborah Ferguson (D) Dwight Tosh (R) (R) (R) Monte Hodges (D) Joe Jett (R) (R) Brandt Smith (R) Jack Ladyman (R) (R) (R) Michelle Gray (R) (R) (R) (R) (R) (R) (R) Aaron Pilkington (R) Spencer Hawks (R) (R) Stephen Magie (D) Mary Bentley (R) (R) (R) (R) (R) Jay Richardson (D) (R) Charlene Fite (R) (R) (R) (R) Denise Garner (D) David Whitaker (D) Nicole Clowney (D) (R) (R) Megan Godfrey (D) (R) Delia Haak (R) Gayla Hendren McKenzie (R) (R) (R) Austin McCollum (R) (R) (R) (R) (R) Nelda Speaks (R)
Republican (78) Democratic (22) Arkansas General Assembly Arkansas House of Representatives Arkansas Senate

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Legislative elections	2010 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
List of U.S. state legislators

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