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Arkansas House of Representatives

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Arkansas House of Representatives


General Information
Type:   Lower house
Term limits:   3 terms (6 years)
2012 session start:   February 13, 2012
Website:   Official House Page
Leadership
House Speaker:  Robert Moore, (D)
Majority Leader:   Johnnie Roebuck, (D)
Minority leader:   John Burris, (R)
Structure
Members:  100
   Democratic Party (54)
Republican Party (46)
Length of term:   2 years
Authority:   Art 5, Arkansas Constitution
Salary:   $15,362/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (100 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (100 seats)
Redistricting:   Arkansas Board of Apportionment and Arkansas Legislature

Contents

The Arkansas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas State Legislature. The House of Representatives consists of 100 members elected from 100 districts, which are apportioned on a one-person, one-vote basis. Each member represents an average of 29,159 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 26,734 residents. [2] The House convenes in regular session on the second Monday in January of every odd-numbered year to begin the legislative session. In 2010, the House convened for a Fiscal Session, and it was in session from February 8th to March 4th.[3]

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. [4]

Section 17 of Article V limits the length of sessions to sixty days, unless extended by a two-thirds vote of each legislative house.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the House of Representatives will be in session from February 13 to March 13.

Major issues

The main issue taken up by legislators will be Governor Mike Beebe's (D) $4.7 billion budget, which includes increases in Medicaid and education funding. Other issues include repealing a tax break for truckers and toughening sentencing guidelines for sex offenders.[5]

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

See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives will be held in Arkansas on November 6, 2012. All 100 seats will be up for election.

The signature filing deadline for the elections is March 1, 2012 and the primary date is May 22, 2012.

Arkansas state representatives are subject to term limits, and may not serve more than three two-year terms. In 2012, there are 23 state representatives who will be termed-out.

2010

See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 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: [6]

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

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
NevadaMassachusettsColoradoNew MexicoWyomingArizonaMontanaCaliforniaOregonWashingtonIdahoTexasOklahomaKansasNebraskaSouth DakotaNorth DakotaMinnesotaIowaMissouriArkansasLouisianaMississippiAlabamaGeorgiaFloridaSouth CarolinaIllinoisWisconsinTennesseeNorth CarolinaIndianaOhioKentuckyPennsylvaniaNew JerseyNew YorkVermontVermontNew HampshireMaineWest VirginiaVirginiaMarylandMarylandConnecticutConnecticutDelawareDelawareRhode IslandRhode IslandMassachusettsNew HampshireMichiganMichiganAlaska

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[7]. For all special elections involving House seats, the County Board of Election Commissioners representing the vacant district must conduct the election[8]. 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[9].

Representatives

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state houses
Party As of May 2012
     Democratic Party 54
     Republican Party 46
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.[10]

Current leadership

Position Representative Party
State Speaker of the House Robert Moore Democratic
State House Speaker Pro Tempore Bobby Pierce Democratic
State House Majority Leader Johnnie Roebuck Democratic
State House Minority Leader John Burris Republican

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2011, members of the Arkansas House of Representatives 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.[11]

The $4,088/month that Arkansas representatives 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.[12]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Arkansas legislators assume office on the first day of session. This is on the second Monday of January.

Current members

District Representative Party Residence
1 Mary P. Hickerson Image:Reddot.png Republican
2 Larry Cowling Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Foreman
3 David Powers Image:Bluedot.png Democrat North Hope
4 Lane Jean Image:Reddot.png Republican
5 David Fielding Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
6 Matthew Shepherd Image:Reddot.png Republican
7 Garry Smith Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Camden
8 Jeff R. Wardlaw Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
9 Eddie Cheatham Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Crossett
10 Sheilla E. Lampkin Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
11 Efrem Elliott Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
12 Robert Moore Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Arkansas City
13 Clark Hall Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Marvell
14 Tiffany Rogers Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Stuttgart
15 Walls McCrary Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Lonoke
16 James Word Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Pine Bluff
17 Henry Wilkins, IV Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
18 Toni Bradford Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Pine Bluff
19 Bobby Pierce Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Sheridan
20 Johnnie Roebuck Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Arkadelphia
21 Nate Steel Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
22 Nate Bell Image:Reddot.png Republican
23 Randy Stewart Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Kirby
24 Bruce Cozart Image:Reddot.png Republican Hot Springs
25 John T. Vines Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
26 Loy Mauch Image:Reddot.png Republican
27 Andy Mayberry Image:Reddot.png Republican
28 Kim Hammer Image:Reddot.png Republican
29 Ann Clemmer Image:Reddot.png Republican Benton
30 Bruce Westerman Image:Reddot.png Republican
31 David J. Sanders Image:Reddot.png Republican
32 Allen Kerr Image:Reddot.png Republican Little Rock
33 Fred Allen Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Little Rock
34 John W. Walker Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
35 Fredrick Love Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
36 Darrin Williams Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Little Rock
37 Kathy Webb Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Little Rock
38 John Edwards Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Little Rock
39 Tracy Steele Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
40 Barry Hyde Image:Bluedot.png Democrat North Little Rock
41 Ed Garner Image:Reddot.png Republican Maumelle
42 Elizabeth English Image:Reddot.png Republican North Little Rock
43 Jim Nickels Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Sherwood
44 Mark Perry Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Jacksonville
45 Linda Tyler Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Conway
46 David Meeks Image:Reddot.png Republican
47 Stephen Meeks Image:Reddot.png Republican
48 Davy Carter Image:Reddot.png Republican Cabot
49 Jeremy Gillam Image:Reddot.png Republican
50 Mark Biviano Image:Reddot.png Republican
51 Marshall Wright Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
52 Reginald Murdock Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
53 Keith Ingram Image:Bluedot.png Democrat West Memphis
54 Hudson Hallum Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Marion
55 Tommy Baker Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Osceola
56 Buddy Lovell Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Marked Tree
57 Jerry Brown Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Wynne
58 Jody Dickinson Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Newport
59 Josh Johnston Image:Reddot.png Republican
60 Tommy Thompson Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
61 John Catlett Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
62 Terry Rice Image:Reddot.png Republican Waldron
63 Denny Altes Image:Reddot.png Republican
64 Stephanie Malone Image:Reddot.png Republican Fort Smith
65 Tracy Pennartz Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Fort Smith
66 Gary Deffenbaugh Image:Reddot.png Republican
67 Gary Stubblefield Image:Reddot.png Republican
68 Andrea Lea Image:Reddot.png Republican Russellville
69 Betty Overbey Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
70 Robert Dale Image:Reddot.png Republican Dover
71 Tommy Wren Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
72 James McLean Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Batesville
73 James Ratliff Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
74 Butch Wilkins Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Bono
75 Jon Hubbard Image:Reddot.png Republican
76 Homer Lenderman Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
77 Charolette Wagner Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Manila
78 Billy Gaskill Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Paragould
79 Mike Patterson Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Piggott
80 Linda Collins-Smith Image:Reddot.png Republican
81 Karen Hopper Image:Reddot.png Republican Mountain Home
82 Lori Benedict Image:Reddot.png Republican
83 Leslee Milam Post Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
84 Jon S. Eubanks Image:Reddot.png Republican
85 John Burris Image:Reddot.png Republican Harrison
86 Kelley Linck Image:Reddot.png Republican
87 Justin T. Harris Image:Reddot.png Republican
88 Uvalde Lindsey Image:Bluedot.png Democrat Fayetteville
89 Charlie Collins Image:Reddot.png Republican
90 David L. Branscum Image:Reddot.png Republican
91 Bryan King Image:Reddot.png Republican Green Forest
92 Greg Leding Image:Bluedot.png Democrat
93 Jon Woods Image:Reddot.png Republican Springdale
94 Les Carnine Image:Reddot.png Republican Rogers
95 Duncan Baird Image:Reddot.png Republican Lowell
96 Debra Hobbs Image:Reddot.png Republican Rogers
97 Jonathan Barnett Image:Reddot.png Republican West Siloam Springs
98 Donna Hutchinson Image:Reddot.png Republican Bella Vista
99 Tim Summers Image:Reddot.png Republican Bentonville
100 Mary Slinkard Image:Reddot.png Republican Gravette

Standing committees

Arkansas House of Representatives has ten standing committees:

It also has two select committees:

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ Session dates for Arkansas legislature, 2010
  4. ↑ Arkansas House website
  5. ↑ Arkansas News, "Fiscal session begins Monday with leaders watching calendar," February 12, 2012
  6. ↑ Follow the Money: "Arkansas House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  7. ↑ Arkansas Legislature "Arkansas Code"(Referenced Statutes, 10-2-118 and 10-2-119)
  8. ↑ Arkansas Legislature "Arkansas Code"(Referenced Statutes, 7-11-103(a))
  9. ↑ Arkansas Legislature "Arkansas Code"(Referenced Statutes, 7-11-105 1 (a)-(c))
  10. ↑ About the Arkansas House of Representatives
  11. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
  12. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
v • d • e
Democrat majority Current members of the Arkansas House of Representatives
House Speaker: Robert Moore (D) • Majority Leader: Johnnie Roebuck (D) • Minority Leader: John Burris (R)
   
Democratic (54) • Republican (46) • Arkansas State Senate • Arkansas House of Representatives
v • d • e
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