Arkansas Senate

Arkansas State Senate
Arkansas General Assembly

Type
Type	Upper house
Term limits	16 years (both houses)
History
New session started	January 12, 2015
Leadership
President/Lt. Governor	Tim Griffin (R) Since January 13, 2015
President pro Tempore of the Senate	Jonathan Dismang (R) Since January 15, 2013
Majority Leader	Jim Hendren (R) Since January 15, 2013
Minority Leader	Keith Ingram (D) Since January 15, 2013
Structure
Seats	35

Political groups	Republican Party (24) Democratic Party (11)
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article 8, Section 2, Arkansas Constitution
Salary	$39,399.84/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 8, 2016 (35 seats)
Next election	November 7, 2018 (17 seats)
Redistricting	Arkansas Board of Apportionment and Arkansas General Assembly
Meeting place

State Senate Chamber Arkansas State Capitol Little Rock, Arkansas
Website
Arkansas State Senate

The Arkansas State Senate is the upper branch of the Arkansas General Assembly. The Senate consists of 35 members, each representing a district with about 83,000 people. Service in the state legislature is part-time, and many state senators have full-time jobs during the rest of the year. The 35-member Senate consists of twenty-four Republicans and eleven Democrats.

History

The Arkansas Senate was created and re-created by five separate constitutions, the first of which was ratified on January 30, 1836, and the fifth and current of which was adopted in 1874.^[1] The reason for so many constitutions is in part because of the secession of Arkansas from the United States during the time of the American Civil War and the aftermath of the war. The constitution has also changed over time through numerous amendments.^[1]

In 1947, the Arkansas Legislative Council committee was created to collect data for legislators and oversee the Bureau of Legislative Research, which is composed of professional, nonpartisan staff to aid in the legislative process. The committee consists of 36 legislators, 16 of which are state senators.^[2]

In 1964, Dorathy M. Allen became the first woman elected to the Arkansas Senate.^[3] During her time in office, she was the only female in the Arkansas Senate.^[4]

Originally, legislators met biennially. A 2008 ballot proposal approved by voters created annual legislative sessions.^[2] In 1992, voters approved term limits, limiting state senators to two four-year terms.^[2] In 2014, term limits were extended to 16 years cumlative in either house.

Powers and process

Arkansas state senators are responsible for making and amending the laws of Arkansas in collaboration with the Arkansas House of Representatives and the governor. Senators begin the legislative process by submitting bill requests to the staff of the Bureau of Legislative Research that drafts a bill to conform to the author's intent. Bills are then filed with the Secretary of the Arkansas Senate or an assistant secretary of the Arkansas Senate.^[5] The legislative process during the legislative session mirrors that of other state legislatures in the United States. Bills are introduced on First Reading and assigned to a committee, vetted by the committee, undergo Second and Third Readings on the floor of the Senate, go to the opposite house of the legislature, and return or go directly to the governor. The governor has veto power, but two-thirds of the membership of both houses of the legislature can override that veto.^[5]

State senators are also responsible for approving the governor's appointments and 16 members of the Arkansas Senate serve on the Arkansas Legislative Council and the Joint Auditing Committee.^[5] The Arkansas Legislative Council oversees the Bureau of Legislative Research, which provides professional support services for legislators.^[2] It also acts as an organizing committee and members on the council exert a greater degree of influence over the legislative process and outcome.^[2]

Terms and qualifications

The senators are usually elected for four-year terms. After the U.S. Census every ten years, all Senate districts are redrawn to ensure that they each have approximately the same number of constituents. After redistricting, every senate position appears on the ballot in the next election. Following this, senators draw lots, and 18 are allotted a two-year term while 17 receive a four-year term. This staggers elections so that only half the body is up for re-election every two years.

Two-year terms drawn by a senator after reapportionment do not count against a senator's service under the term limits amendment, which limits Arkansas state senators to two terms of four years. A senator who draws a two-year term can serve for 10 or even 12 years, depending on when they were elected.

Arkansas Constitution – Article 5. Legislative Department. § 3. Senate.

The Senate shall consist of members to be chosen every four years, by the qualified electors of the several districts. At the first session of the Senate, the Senators shall divide themselves into two classes, by lot, and the first class shall hold their places for two years only, after which all shall be elected for four years.

They are also limited to serving no more than two four-year terms.

Arkansas Constitution – Amendment 73. Arkansas Term Limitation Amendment. § 2(b). Legislative Branch.

The Arkansas Senate shall consist of members to be chosen every four years by the qualified electors of the several districts. No member of the Arkansas Senate may serve more than two such four-year terms.

Current composition

Composition of the Arkansas State Senate after the 2014 elections

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total

	Democratic	Republican		Vacant
End of the 88th General Assembly	20	15	35	0

Begin	14	21	35	0
August 20, 2013^[6]	13	34	1
January 14, 2014^[7]		22	35	0
End of the 89th General Assembly		35	0

Begin	11	24	35	0
Latest voting share	7001314000000000000♠31.4%	7001686009999900000♠68.6%

Organization

The President of the Senate is the presiding officer of the Arkansas Senate, but the President Pro Tempore is the presiding officer in the absence of the Senate president.^[5] In practice, the President Pro Tempore generally serves as the presiding officer. Other Senate leadership positions include Majority leader, Whip and minority party positions. Committee assignments are determined by seniority, according to the rules of the Senate.^[5]

Officers

Office	Officer	Party	District
President/Lieutenant Governor	Tim Griffin	Republican
President Pro Tempore of the Senate	Jonathan Dismang	Republican	16
Assistant Presidents pro tempore	Eddie Joe Williams	Republican	18
	Jane English	Republican	34
	Cecile Bledsoe	Republican	9
	Bobby Pierce	Democratic	25

Floor Leaders

Office	Officer	Party	District
Majority Leader	Jim Hendren	Republican	29
Majority Whip	Jimmy Hickey, Jr.	Republican	28
Minority Leader	Keith Ingram	Democratic	24
Minority Whip	Bobby Pierce	Democratic	27

Committees

Current committees include:^[8]

Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development
- Senate Small Business & Economic Development
- Senate Forestry & Natural Resources
Ar Legislative Council
Children And Youth Committee
- Senate Children & Youth Subcommittee
City, County & Local Affairs Committee
Education Committee
- Public School Employee Health Insurance Subcommittee
- Ar Comprehensive School Improvement Plans
Insurance & Commerce
- Senate Financial Institutions Subcommittee
Judiciary Committee
- Senate Health Services Subcom. (Synthetic Marijuana-K2)
- Senate Court And Civil Law Subcommittee
- Senate Correction, Criminal Law & Child Support Subcom.
Public Health - Senate Subcommittee On Minority Health
Public Health - Senate Substance Abuse Treatment Services Subcommittee

Public Health, Welfare And Labor Committee
- Senate Labor & Environment Subcommittee
- Senate Human Services Subcommittee
- Senate Health Services
Revenue & Tax
- Senate Subcommittee On Economic And Tax Policy
- Senate Sales, Use, Misc. Taxes & Exepmtions Sub.
Senate Biennial Institute
Senate Efficiency
Senate Rules, Resolutions & Memorials
- Winthrop Rockefeller Memorial Subcommittee
State Agencies & Govt'L Affairs
- Senate Election Laws Subcommittee
- State Agencies & Gov'T Affairs - Senate Constitutional Issues Subcommittee
State Agencies & Govt'L Affairs - Senate Sub. On Cosmetology Board Rules
Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs
- Senate Waterways & Aeronautics Subcommittee
- Senate Motor Vehicle & Highways Subcommittee

Members of the 90th Senate

District	Name	Party	Residence	First elected	Seat up	Term-limited
1	Bart Hester	Rep	Cave Springs	2012	2016	2024
2	Jim Hendren	Rep	Gravette	2012	2016	2022
3	Cecile Bledsoe	Rep	Rogers	2008	2018	2018
4	Uvalde Lindsey	Dem	Fayetteville	2012	2018	2026
5	Bryan King	Rep	Green Forest	2012	2018	2024
6	Gary Stubblefield	Rep	Branch	2012	2018	2028
7	Jon Woods	Rep	Springdale	2012	2016	2024
8	Jake Files	Rep	Fort Smith	2010	2018	2024
9	Terry Rice	Rep	Waldron	2014	2018	2024
10	Larry Teague	Dem	Nashville	2008	2018	2018
11	Jimmy Hickey, Jr.	Rep	Texarkana	2012	2016	2028
12	Bruce Maloch	Dem	Magnolia	2012	2016	2028
13	Alan Clark	Rep	Lonsdale	2012	2016	2028
14	Bill Sample	Rep	Hot Springs	2010	2018	2020
15	David J. Sanders	Rep	Little Rock	2012	2018	2026
16	Greg Standridge	Rep	Russellville	2015 special election	2018	2032
17	Scott Flippo	Rep	Mountain Home	2014	2018	2030
18	Missy Irvin	Rep	Mountain View	2010	2018	2026
19	Linda Collins-Smith	Rep	Pocahontas	2014	2018	2026
20	Blake Johnson	Rep	Corning	2014	2018	2030
21	John Cooper	Rep	Jonesboro	2014 (special)	2016	2032
22	David Burnett	Dem	Osceola	2010	2016	2026
23	Ron Caldwell	Rep	Wynne	2012	2016	2028
24	Keith Ingram	Dem	West Memphis	2012	2018	2024
25	Stephanie Flowers	Dem	Pine Bluff	2010	2016	2020
26	Eddie Cheatham	Dem	Crossett	2012	2016	2022
27	Bobby Pierce	Dem	Sheridan	2012	2016	2022
28	Jonathan Dismang	Rep	Beebe	2010	2016	2024
29	Eddie Joe Williams	Rep	Cabot	2010	2016	2026
30	Linda Chesterfield	Dem	Little Rock	2010	2018	2018
31	Joyce Elliott	Dem	Little Rock	2008	2014	2018
32	David Johnson	Dem	Little Rock	2008	2016	2020
33	Jeremy Hutchinson	Rep	Benton	2010	2018	2020
34	Jane English	Rep	North Little Rock	2012	2016	2026
35	Jason Rapert	Rep	Conway	2010	2018	2026

References

1 2 Arkansas General Assembly, Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture (accessed April 28, 2013)
1 2 3 4 5 Arkansas Legislative Council, Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture (accessed April 28, 2013)
↑ Smith, Lindsley Armstrong (29 October 2009). "Dorathy N. McDonald Allen". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
↑ Johnson, Ben (15 July 2009). "Modern Era, 1968 through the Present". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
1 2 3 4 5 2013 Senate Rules, Arkansas Senate (accessed April 27, 2013)
↑ Democrat Paul Bookout (District 21) resigned
↑ Republican John Cooper won the special election for District 21
↑ "Arkansas Senate Committees". Open States. Sunlight Foundation. 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2014-04-09.

External links

Arkansas Senate official government website
State Senate of Arkansas at Project Vote Smart
Arkansas Senate at Ballotpedia

Members of the Arkansas State Senate

90th General Assembly (2015)

President of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor: Tim Griffin (R)
President Pro Tempore: Jonathan Dismang (R)
Majority Leader: Jim Hendren (R)
Minority Leader: Keith Ingram (D)

Bart Hester (R)
Jim Hendren (R)
Cecile Bledsoe (R)
Uvalde Lindsey (D)
Bryan King (R)
Gary Stubblefield (R)
Jon Woods (R)
Jake Files (R)
Terry Rice (R)

Larry Teague (D)
Jimmy Hickey, Jr. (R)
Bruce Maloch (D)
Alan Clark (R)
Bill Sample (R)
David J. Sanders (R)
Greg Standridge (R)
Scott Flippo (R)
Missy Irvin (R)

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Coordinates: 34°44′46″N 92°17′21″W / 34.74612°N 92.28912°W / 34.74612; -92.28912

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 136162723 LCCN: n89116863 GND: 126329-8

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