Arkansas House of Representatives
| Arkansas House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | 3 terms (6 years) |
| 2013 session start: | January 14, 2013 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Davy Carter, (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Bruce Westerman, (R) |
| Minority leader: | Greg Leding, (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 100 |
| Democratic Party (48) Republican Party (51) Green Party(1) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art 5, Arkansas Constitution |
| Salary: | $15,362/year + $136/day |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 6, 2012 (100 seats) |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 (100 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Arkansas Board of Apportionment and Arkansas Legislature |
Contents |
In Arkansas, representatives serve two-year terms with a three term limit.
Sessions
Article V of the Arkansas Constitution establishes when the Arkansas General Assembly, of which the House is a part, is to convene. Section 5 of Article V establishes the beginning date for regular sessions, but this date has been changed by law (as Section 5 allows). Under the law, the Arkansas legislature convenes its regular session on the second Monday in January of every odd numbered year. The fiscal session is convened on the second Monday in February of every even numbered year. [3]
Section 17 of Article V limits the length of sessions to sixty days, unless extended by a two-thirds vote of each legislative house.
2013
- See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions
In 2013, the Legislature will be in session from January 14 through March 21.
Major issues
New Speaker of the House Davy Carter (R) said the biggest issue facing lawmakers in 2013 is the Medicaid funding shortfall. Other major issues include tax cuts, education, voter ID, lottery scholarships, and abortion.[4][5] During the first budget negotiations of the year, the Joint Budget Committee rejected a pay increase for elected officials.[6]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House of Representatives was in session from February 13 to March 13.
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the House of Representatives was in session from January 10 to April 27.
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House of Representatives convened for its Fiscal Session, meeting from February 8th to March 4th.
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives were held in Arkansas on November 6, 2012. All 100 seats were up for election.
The signature filing deadline for the elections was March 1, 2012 and the primary date was May 22, 2012.
Arkansas state representatives are subject to term limits, and may not serve more than three two-year terms. In 2012, there were 23 state representatives who were termed-out.
The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.
| 2012 Margin of Victory, Arkansas House of Representatives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Winner | Margin of Victory | Total Votes | Top Opponent |
| District 52 |  John Hutchison |
0.4% | 10,073 | L.J. Bryant |
| District 69 |  Betty Overbey |
1.6% | 9,387 | Dwight Hoyle |
| District 13 | David Hillman |
2.1% | 9,591 | Garland Derden, Jr. |
| District 61 | Scott Baltz |
2.9% | 10,552 | Lori Benedict |
| District 41 | Jim Nickels |
3.9% | 12,892 | Alan L. Pogue |
| District 73 | John Catlett |
4.3% | 7,838 | Mary Bentley |
| District 39 | Mark Lowery |
4.8% | 12,758 | Kelly Halstead |
| District 60 | James Ratliff |
5.5% | 9,761 | Ronald Cavenaugh |
| District 18 | Richard Womack |
5.6% | 11,112 | Fred W. Harris |
| District 58 | Harold Copenhaver |
6% | 10,719 | Jon Hubbard |
2010
Elections for the office of Arkansas State Representative were held in Arkansas on November 2, 2010. State house seats in all 100 districts were on the ballot in 2010.
The signature-filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in these elections was March 8, 2010, and the primary election day was May 18, 2010.
In 2010, candidates running for the House raised a total of $5,568,912 in campaign contributions. Their top 10 contributors were: [7]
| 2010 Donors, Arkansas House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
| Donor | Amount |
| Arkansas Health Care Associations | $177,750 |
| Stephens Group | $113,372 |
| Arkansas Realtors Association | $85,350 |
| Arkansas Republican Party | $79,473 |
| Arkansas Democratic Party | $75,250 |
| Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association | $73,000 |
| Wal-Mart | $72,250 |
| Entergy | $57,750 |
| Bryant, L J | $53,045 |
| Arkansas Medical Society | $51,950 |
Qualifications
Article 5, Section 4 of the Arkansas Constitution states: No person shall be a Senator or Representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, nor any one who has not been for two years next preceding his election, a resident of this State, and for one year next preceding his election, a resident of the county or district whence he may be chosen. Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and Representatives at least twenty-one years of age.
Vacancies
| How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures |
 |
If there is a vacancy in the House, the Governor must call for a special election in order to fill the vacancy. The election must be called by the Governor without delay[8]. For all special elections involving House seats, the County Board of Election Commissioners representing the vacant district must conduct the election[9]. All special elections must be held on the second Tuesday of each month. The only other dates an election can be held if the second Tuesday of the month falls on a legal holiday or is in June during an even-numbered year[10].
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Arkansas
The Arkansas Board of Apportionment is responsible for redistricting at the state legislative level. This is one of 11 commissions nationwide that are responsible for redistricting.
2010 census
The Census Bureau releases population data to Arkansas the week of February 7, 2011. Arkansas' population increased by 9.1 percent to 2,926,229 between 2000 and 2010.[11] On July 29, 2011, the Board of Apportionment approved new state legislative maps by a 2-1 vote along party lines. The number of majority-minority districts in the House was reduced from 13 to 11.
Representatives
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 48 | |
| Republican Party | 51 | |
| Green Party | 1 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body and is elected every two years by the membership. Duties on the Speaker include preserving order and decorum, deciding all questions of order, assigning committee leadership, and naming Members to select committees. The Speaker also appoints a Speaker Pro Tempore and may appoint Assistant Speakers Pro Tempore to assist in leadership duties.[12]
Current leadership
| Current Leadership, Arkansas House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Representative | Party |
| State Speaker of the House | Davy Carter |  Republican
|
| State House Speaker Pro Tempore | Darrin Williams |  Democratic
|
| State House Majority Leader | Bruce Westerman | Republican
|
| State House Minority Leader | Greg Leding | Democratic
|
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2013, members of the Arkansas legislature are paid $15,869 per year. They are also given per diem of $136 per day (in voucher form) plus mileage tied to the federal rate.[13]
The $15,869/year that Arkansas legislators are paid as of 2011 is an increase over the $14,765/year that they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. The per diem has also increased from 2007 levels of $130 per day.[14]
When sworn in
Arkansas legislators assume office on the first day of session. This is on the second Monday of January.
Current members
Standing committees
The Arkansas House of Representatives has eleven standing committees:
- Advanced Communications and Information Technology
- Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- City, County and Local Affairs Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- Education Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- Insurance and Commerce Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- Judiciary Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- Public Transportation Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- Revenue and Taxation Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
It also has two select committees:
- Management Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
- Rules Committee, Arkansas House of Representatives
External links
- Official Website of the Arkansas House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Arkansas House of Representatives
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Arkansas House website
- ↑ Today's THV, "Major issues facing Arkansas legislature," January 11, 2013
- ↑ KUAR, "New Ark. House Speaker Says Medicaid Budget Is Biggest Issue," January 11, 2013
- ↑ Arkansas online, " Legislative panel rejects pay rise for elected officials," January 16, 2013
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Arkansas House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature "Arkansas Code"(Referenced Statutes, 10-2-118 and 10-2-119)
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature "Arkansas Code"(Referenced Statutes, 7-11-103(a))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature "Arkansas Code"(Referenced Statutes, 7-11-105 1 (a)-(c))
- ↑ The City Wire "Census: Arkansas population up 9.1%," December 21, 2010
- ↑ About the Arkansas House of Representatives
- ↑ NCSL.org, "2012 State Legislator Compensation and Per Diem Table," accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
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