Arkansas State Government

The Legislative Branch

The House of Representatives

The Arkansas House of Representatives, along with the Arkansas Senate, compose the legislative branch of state government. Combined, the two organizations form the Arkansas General Assembly, which convenes in regular session on the second Monday in January of every odd-numbered year. The 85th General Assembly convened at noon on Monday, January 10, 2005.

The House of Representatives consists of 100 members elected from 100 districts, which are apportioned on a one- person, one-vote basis. Each House district has an average population of 26,734, according to the 2000 census.

The House of the 85th General Assembly is made up of 84 men and 16 women; 72 are Democrats and 28 are Republicans. A House member must be at least 21 years old, a resident of Arkansas for two years and a resident of his or her district for one year. Members of the House serve two-year terms and since 1993, under Amendment 73 to the state's Constitution, may serve no more than three terms in office.

The Speaker of the House presides over the body and is elected by the membership every two years. His duties include supervising and directing the daily order of business, recognizing members to speak, preserving order in the House, deciding all questions of order, certifying all measures passed, assigning committee leadership, and naming members to select committees.

The Speaker also appoints a leadership team, which includes a Speaker Pro Tempore, who presides in the absence of the Speaker. The Speaker also may appoint representatives from each of the House's four caucus districts to serve as Assistant Speakers Pro Tempore who assist in leadership duties.

The House utilizes an electronic voting system. To vote, a member pushes buttons on his or her desk: The green button means "yes," the red button "no" and the yellow "present." The votes are displayed on two large electronic boards at the front of the House chamber and are counted at the speaker's desk.
An official record of the tabulations is placed into journals, which become the permanent record of House proceedings. The Secretary of State maintains the journals on file at the State Capitol.
Because the House chamber is large and there are 100 members, each member has a microphone at his or her desk. When members wish to speak, they stand or raise their hands in an effort to be recognized by the Speaker. Once recognized, a member speaks into the microphone, which is turned on at the large console in the front of the chamber.

The House has 10 Standing Committees:

Education
Judiciary
Public Health, Welfare & Labor
Public Transportation
Revenue and Taxation
Aging, Children & Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs
Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development
City, County and Local Affairs
Insurance and Commerce
State Agencies and Governmental Affairs

Each Representative serves on two Standing Committees, and each committee has 20 members. Standing Committee chairmen and vice-chairmen are selected from respective committee rosters by the Speaker.

Two Select Committees operate exclusively within the House. Members of the committees are appointed by the Speaker. The House Select Committees are the House Committee on Rules and the House Management Committee.

The Committee on Rules considers all proposed action touching the House rules, the joint rules and the order of business. The Committee also considers all legislation dealing with alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, tobacco products, coin operated amusement devices, vending machines, lobbying, code of ethics, pari-mutuel betting and similar legislation.

The House Management Committee works with the Speaker of the House to direct and oversee operations of the House of Representatives. Its duties include the hiring and supervision of the House Staff, the development of personnel policies and procedures, and the monitoring of facility usage and maintenance.

Representatives also serve on five committees that operate jointly with the Senate. They are Joint Budget, Joint Retirement and Social Security Programs, Joint Energy, Joint Performance Review and Joint Committee on Advanced, Communications and Information Technology

House members of the Joint Budget Committee are chosen by their peers from respective caucus districts. House members on other Joint Committees are appointed to their positions by the Speaker.