The Arkansas General Assembly convenes on the second Monday of
every other year. A session lasts for 60 days unless the
legislature votes to extend it. The governor can issue a "call"
for a special session during the interims between regular
sessions.
The major issues are funding of public schools, institutions of
higher education, highway and bridge construction, health and
human services, state prisons, the State Police and state parks.
The state Senate in Little Rock has 35 members, each
representing a district with about 76,383 people.
The state Senate should not be confused with the U.S. Senate in
Washington. Arkansas has two U.S. Senators who represent the
entire state, and their offices work on different issues. The
U.S. Senate is where to call if you have a question about
veterans affairs, Social Security, passports, farm subsidies and
foreign affairs. The telephone numbers of the U.S. Senate
offices in Little Rock are 375-2993 and 324-6336.
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 Arkansas Senate has eight Republicans and 27
Democrats. There are seven women and three African-Americans.
Two senators are attorneys. One is a pastor and one directs a
religious foundation. One senator heads a foundation that raises
money for a hospital.
Three senators are in the insurance business. One senator has a
funeral home and one senator a nursing home. One has a recycling
company. One senator is a bank president. One senator is a
rancher, two are farmers and another senator is in
agriculture-related business.
Two senators are retired teachers. One owns an automobile
dealership and also has real estate interests. One senator is a
building contractor and one is an engineer. One senator owns a
radio station and one senator owns a pharmacy. One runs a
telephone company and one is retired from a telephone company.
Of the 35 senators, 29 have served previously in the state House
of Representatives.
The Legislative Branch
Two senators are attorneys. One is a pastor and one directs a
religious foundation. One senator heads a foundation that raises
money for a hospital.
