Arkansas 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 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 eight Republicans and 27 Democrats. There are six women and four African-Americans.

Election

The senators are elected for a four-years term, 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 2007-2008

Senate Composition for the 86th General Assembly :

Minority leadership

External links

* [http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/ Arkansas Senate] official government website
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/official_state_legislator.php?type=office&criteria=upper&state_id=AR Project Vote Smart - State Senate of Arkansas]