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 76,000 people. Service in the state legislature is part-time, and most state senators have full-time jobs during the rest of the year. The 35-member Senate consists of seven Republicans, 27 Democrats and one vacancy. There are five women, twenty-nine men, thirty European-Americans, and four African-Americans.
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Election
The senators are each elected for four-year terms, the Senate being renewed by half every two years. So a Senate lasts two years with the same composition.
Legal basis :
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.
Legal basis :
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 2009-2010
- 87th General Assembly
| Affiliation | Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature | 27 | 8 | 35 | 0 |
| Begin | 27 | 8 | 35 | 0 |
| August 21, 2009[1] | 7 | 34 | 1 | |
| Latest voting share | 79.4% | 20.6% | ||
Officers
| Office | Officer | Party | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| President/Lieutenant Governor | Bill Halter | Democratic | |
| President pro tempore | Bob Johnson | Democratic | 18 |
| Assistant Presidents pro tempore | Paul Bookout | Democratic | 14 |
| Tracy Steele | Democratic | 34 | |
| Ed Wilkinson | Democratic | 6 | |
| Hank Wilkins IV | Democratic | 5 |
Floor Leaders
| Office | Officer | Party | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Majority Leader | Joyce Elliott | Democratic | 33 |
| Majority Whip | Steve Faris | Democratic | 27 |
| Minority Leader | Kim Hendren | Republican | 9 |
| Minority Whip | Bill Pritchard | Republican | 35 |
Members of the 87th Senate
| District | Name | Party | Residence | Seat Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnny Key | Rep | Mountain Home | 2012 |
| 2 | Randy Laverty | Dem | Jasper | 2010 |
| 3 | Ruth Whitaker | Rep | Cedarville | 2012 |
| 4 | VACANT | 2012 | ||
| 5 | Henry Wilkins IV | Dem | Pine Bluff | 2012 |
| 6 | Ed Wilkinson | Dem | Greenwood | 2012 |
| 7 | Sue Madison | Dem | Fayetteville | 2010 |
| 8 | Cecile Bledsoe | Rep | Rogers | 2012 |
| 9 | Kim Hendren | Rep | Gravette | 2010 |
| 10 | Paul Miller | Dem | Melbourne | 2012 |
| 11 | Robert Thompson | Dem | Paragould | 2010 |
| 12 | David Wyatt | Dem | Batesville | 2012 |
| 13 | Denny Altes | Rep | Fort Smith | 2010 |
| 14 | Paul Bookout | Dem | Jonesboro | 2010 |
| 15 | Steve Bryles | Dem | Blytheville | 2012 |
| 16 | Jack Crumbly | Dem | Widener | 2012 |
| 17 | Jim Luker | Dem | Wynne | 2010 |
| 18 | Bob Johnson | Dem | Little Rock | 2012 |
| 19 | Terry Smith | Dem | Hot Springs | 2012 |
| 20 | Larry Teague | Dem | Nashville | 2012 |
| 21 | Barbara Horn | Dem | Ashdown | 2012 |
| 22 | Shane Broadway | Dem | Bryant | 2010 |
| 23 | Jerry Taylor | Dem | Pine Bluff | 2012 |
| 24 | Jimmy Jeffress | Dem | Crossett | 2012 |
| 25 | Gene Jeffress | Dem | Louann | 2010 |
| 26 | Percy Malone | Dem | Arkadelphia | 2012 |
| 27 | Steve Faris | Dem | Malvern | 2012 |
| 28 | Bobby Glover | Dem | Carlisle | 2010 |
| 29 | John Paul Capps | Dem | Searcy | 2010 |
| 30 | Gilbert Baker | Rep | Conway | 2012 |
| 31 | Mary Anne Salmon | Dem | North Little Rock | 2010 |
| 32 | David Johnson | Dem | Little Rock | 2012 |
| 33 | Joyce Elliott | Dem | Little Rock | 2012 |
| 34 | Tracy Steele | Dem | North Little Rock | 2010 |
| 35 | Bill Pritchard | Rep | Elkins | 2010 |
References
- ^ Republican Sharon Trusty (D-4) resigned
External links
- Arkansas Senate official government website
- Project Vote Smart - State Senate of Arkansas
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