Arkansas Senate: Difference between revisions

During the [[Reconstruction era]] after the [[American Civil War]], the federal government passed the [[Reconstruction Acts]] and enfranchised African Americans. Many African Americans served in the Arkansas House and a smaller number in the AriansasArkansas Senate ([[African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era]]) until Democrats reasserted [[white supremacy]] and barred them from voting and holding office as was done across the American south.

Legislators met biennially until a 2008 ballot initiative created annual legislative sessions.<ref name="alc"/> In 1992, voters approved term limits of two four-year terms.<ref name="alc"/> In 2014, term limits were extended to 16 years cumulative in either house. In 2020, voters approved a constitutional amendment changing terms limits to 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a 4 -year break.<ref>{{cite web |title=Issue 2 - Arkansas Term Limits Amendment |url=https://www.uaex.edu/business-communities/voter-education/issue2.aspx |publisher=University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Research & Extension |access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref> This change only effectsaffects legislators elected after the November 2020 elections. Legislators elected in the November 2020 elections or earlier can serve 16 years consecutively or non-consecutively and return once 4 years have passed from their last term expiring.

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 draftsdrafting 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.<ref name="rules">[http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/docs/2013-SenateRules.pdf 2013 Senate Rules], Arkansas Senate (accessed April 27, 2013)</ref> 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.<ref name="rules"/>

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.<ref name="rules"/> The Arkansas Legislative Council oversees the Bureau of Legislative Research, which provides professional support services for legislators.<ref name="alc">[http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=7363 Arkansas Legislative Council], Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture (accessed April 28, 2013)</ref> It also acts as an organizing committee and members onof the council exert a greater degree of influence over the legislative process and outcome.<ref name="alc"/>

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. ThisThese staggers elections so that only half the body is up for re-election every two years.

Two-year terms are drawn by a senator after reapportionment dodoes 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.