Wikipedia

Politics and government of Arkansas

TheState government of Arkansasis divided into three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. These consist of the state governor's office, a bicameral state legislature known as theArkansas General Assembly,and a state court system. TheArkansas Constitutiondelineates the structure and function of the state government. Since 1963,Arkansashas had four seats in theU.S. House of Representatives.Like all other states, it has two seats in theU.S. Senate.

Government of Arkansas
Polity typeSub-national administrative division(federated state)
Part ofUnited States of America
ConstitutionConstitution of Arkansas
Legislative branch
NameGeneral Assembly
TypeBicameral
Meeting placeArkansas State Capitol
Upper house
NameSenate
Presiding officerLeslie Rutledge,President
Lower house
NameHouse of Representatives
Presiding officerMatthew Shepherd,Speaker
Executive branch
Head of stateandgovernment
TitleGovernor
CurrentlySarah Huckabee Sanders
AppointerElection
Cabinet
NameCabinet of Arkansas
LeaderGovernor
Deputy leaderLieutenant Governor
HeadquartersState Capitol
Judicial branch
NameJudiciary of Arkansas
CourtsCourts of Arkansas
Arkansas Supreme Court
Chief judgeJohn Dan Kemp
SeatLittle Rock
United States presidential election results for Arkansas[1]
Year Republican/Whig Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 759,241 64.20% 396,905 33.56% 26,530 2.24%
2020 760,647 62.40% 423,932 34.78% 34,490 2.83%
2016 684,872 60.57% 380,494 33.65% 65,310 5.78%
2012 647,744 60.57% 394,409 36.88% 27,315 2.55%
2008 638,017 58.72% 422,310 38.86% 26,290 2.42%
2004 572,898 54.31% 469,953 44.55% 12,094 1.15%
2000 472,940 51.31% 422,768 45.86% 26,073 2.83%
1996 325,416 36.80% 475,171 53.74% 83,675 9.46%
1992 337,324 35.48% 505,823 53.21% 107,506 11.31%
1988 466,578 56.37% 349,237 42.19% 11,923 1.44%
1984 534,774 60.47% 338,646 38.29% 10,986 1.24%
1980 403,164 48.13% 398,041 47.52% 36,377 4.34%
1976 268,753 34.93% 499,614 64.94% 1,029 0.13%
1972 445,751 68.82% 198,899 30.71% 3,016 0.47%
1968 189,062 31.01% 184,901 30.33% 235,627 38.65%
1964 243,264 43.41% 314,197 56.06% 2,965 0.53%
1960 184,508 43.06% 215,049 50.19% 28,952 6.76%
1956 186,287 45.82% 213,277 52.46% 7,008 1.72%
1952 177,155 43.76% 226,300 55.90% 1,345 0.33%
1948 50,959 21.02% 149,659 61.72% 41,857 17.26%
1944 63,551 29.84% 148,965 69.95% 438 0.21%
1940 42,121 20.98% 158,622 79.02% 0 0.00%
1936 32,039 17.86% 146,765 81.80% 619 0.34%
1932 28,467 12.91% 189,602 85.96% 2,493 1.13%
1928 77,751 39.33% 119,196 60.29% 746 0.38%
1924 40,564 29.28% 84,795 61.21% 13,173 9.51%
1920 71,117 38.73% 107,409 58.49% 5,111 2.78%
1916 48,879 28.73% 112,211 65.97% 9,014 5.30%
1912 25,585 20.45% 68,814 55.01% 30,705 24.54%
1908 56,624 37.30% 87,015 57.31% 8,183 5.39%
1904 46,860 40.25% 64,434 55.35% 5,127 4.40%
1900 44,800 35.04% 81,142 63.46% 1,924 1.50%
1896 37,512 25.12% 110,103 73.72% 1,732 1.16%
1892 47,072 31.78% 87,834 59.30% 13,211 8.92%
1888 59,752 38.04% 86,062 54.80% 11,244 7.16%
1884 51,198 40.70% 72,734 57.83% 1,847 1.47%
1880 41,661 38.66% 60,489 56.13% 5,622 5.22%
1876 38,649 39.87% 58,086 59.92% 211 0.22%
1872 41,373 52.17% 37,927 47.83% 0 0.00%
1868 22,112 53.68% 19,078 46.32% 0 0.00%
1860 0 0.00% 5,357 9.89% 48,795 90.11%
1856 0 0.00% 21,910 67.12% 10,732 32.88%
1852 7,404 37.82% 12,173 62.18% 0 0.00%
1848 7,587 44.93% 9,301 55.07% 0 0.00%
1844 5,604 36.99% 9,546 63.01% 0 0.00%
1840 5,160 43.58% 6,679 56.42% 0 0.00%
1836 1,334 35.92% 2,380 64.08% 0 0.00%

The state was historically part of the Solid South, and was a one-party state dominated by Democrats. Arkansas was the only state in the nation not carried by Republicans at least once between 1876 and 1968, although it voted for segregationistGeorge Wallacein 1968. It was the only Deep South state carried byLyndon Johnsonin 1964, just following the passage of the Civil Rights Act, however, Democratic support did weaken after this. The state voted Republican for the first time in 100 years in 1972, and became a swing state, voting for the national winner in every election from 1972 to 2004.[2]In 2008, the state continued in rightward turn in the 21st century, when DemocratBarack Obamabecame the first Democrat to win the presidency without carrying the state. Democrats lost the state legislature in 2012 and lost control of all statewide and congressional offices by 2014.[3]

Reflecting the state's large evangelical population, the state has a strong socially conservative bent. The 1874Arkansas Constitutionestablished Arkansas as aright to work state(a provision then directed against union organizers). In the early 21st century an initiative to restrictsame-sex marriagepassed by a 3:1 margin, although the United States Supreme Court overrode this in 2015 with itsObergefell v. Hodgesdecision.[4][5]Abortion in Arkansas is illegal except when it is necessary to save the life of the mother.[6]

Political history

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Main article:Political party strength in Arkansas

Democrats

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Since the late 19th century, Southern Democrats of Arkansas have traditionally had an overwhelming majority of registered voters in the state. At that time, they consolidated their power and achieved effective disfranchisement of African Americans (and Republican) voters by passage of the Election Law of 1891 and apoll taxamendment in 1892, which also dropped many poor white Democrats from the rolls. Together these also suppressed the coalition of Republican and farmer-labor parties, which had threatened the Democrats. Assessing fees to register and vote resulted in many poor people being dropped from voter rolls. The Election Law set up secret ballots and standardized ballots in progressive reforms that also made voting more complicated and effectively closed out illiterate voters. It set up a state election board and officials, putting power into the hands of the Democratic Party, rather than county workers. Voter rolls declined for both black and white voters. By 1895, there were no longer any African-American representatives in the state house.[7]African Americans were closed out of the political system for decades and this continued after the advent of theSouthern Strategywhere Republicans became the more conservative party while the Democrats became less so as the parties essentially swapped positions over thecivil rights movementas of 1954.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Arkansas Democrats have tended to be more conservative than their national counterparts, particularly in areas outside metropolitanLittle Rock.Traditionally having strength in most areas outside the Northwest and North Central parts of the state, in the 21st century Democrats in Arkansas predominate along the Mississippi River in the East, in central Little Rock, and aroundPine Bluffand the areas south of there along the Louisiana border.

Republicans

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Historically Republicans in the state were based in the northwestern areas, long a supporter of the Unionist cause in the Civil War. These were areas of yeomen farmers in the antebellum years. Planters and major slaveholders lived in the Delta area along the Mississippi River and tended to ally with the Democratic Party. As noted above, the disenfranchisement of African Americans and the consolidation of power by the Democrats left the Republicans nearly powerless. They concentrated on developing patronage positions.[8]

In 1966, RepublicanJohn Paul Hammerschmidtwon a U.S. House seat from this northwestern area, the first Republican from Arkansas to be elected to Congress since after Reconstruction.[8]He held the seat until 1992, when he retired. What was more surprising, that year multi-millionaireWinthrop Rockefellerwas elected to the governorship. A 1950s migrant from New York, he was joined by RepublicanMaurice "Footsie" Britt,a World War II hero elected as lieutenant governor. Unlike in other parts of the South at the time, Rockefeller's coalition was based on "progressive Democrats and newly enfranchised black voters." They also elected him in 1968. Rockefeller faced resistance from the conservative Democratic legislature. In 1970 the Democrats put up their own progressive candidate and defeated Rockefeller. Rockefeller died in 1973, which weakened the emerging Republican Party. It was 1978 beforeEd Bethunewas elected to Congress as the second Republican from the state; he served three terms from central Arkansas.[8]

It was not until the late 20th century that more white conservatives in Arkansas began to shift from the Democratic to the Republican Party. In 1989 Democratic CongressmanTommy Robinsonannounced his shift to the Republican Party, an indication of change.[8]The party continues to be strongest in the northwestern part of the state, due to historic conditions of that area, particularly inFort SmithandBentonville,as well as North Central Arkansas around theMountain Homearea. In the latter area, Republicans have been known to get 90 percent or more of the vote.

While the rest of the state used to be more Democratic, since the late 20th century Republicans have attracted members from the Little Rock suburbs, the southwest (especiallyTexarkana), and the northeast aroundJonesboro.Tim Hutchinson,elected in 1996, was the first Republican U.S. Senator from Arkansas since Reconstruction. As an indication of increasing Republican strength in the state, in2008,Republican nomineeJohn McCaindefeated Democratic nomineeBarack Obamaby 19.9%, the largest margin of victory for a candidate in Arkansas since1984despite McCain losing nationally.

History since 1992

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Arkansas GovernorBill Clinton,a Democrat, was electedPresident of the United States candidatein1992and was reelected in1996.In the former election, the state was the only one in the nation to give majority support to Clinton. However, the state has voted Republican by increasing margins in every presidential election since 1996, the longest such streak of any state in the nation, as of 2024.

Former First Lady ofArkansasandFirst Lady of the United States,Hillary Clinton,was elected aUnited States Senatorfor New York in2000.[9]

The state voted forJohn McCainin 2008 by a margin of 20 percentage points, making it one of the few states in the country to vote more Republican that year than it had in 2004. (The others were Louisiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and West Virginia.)[10]Even while supporting Republican candidates for president, Arkansas voters continued to favor Democrats for statewide offices. In 2006, Democrats were elected to all statewide offices in a Democratic sweep that included regaining the governorship. However, in the 2010s, the Republican dominance at the presidential level spread to the local level. In 2012, they captured both chambers of the state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. Republicans had won all statewide offices and all congressional seats in 2014, and won both Senate seats for the first time since Reconstruction. Republicans have consistently captured over 60% of the vote in statewide elections since 2012.

Local government

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As in the national government of the United States, political power in Arkansas is divided into three main branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Each officer's term is four years long. Office holders areterm-limitedto two full terms plus any partial terms before the first full term. Arkansas governors served two-year terms until a referendum lengthened the term to four years, effective with the 1986 general election. Statewide elections are held two years after presidential elections.

Some of Arkansas'scountieshave twocounty seats,as opposed to the usual one seat. The arrangement dates back to when travel was extremely difficult in the state. The seats are usually on opposite sides of the county to serve residents within easier traveling distances. Although travel conditions have improved, there are few efforts to eliminate the two-seat arrangement where it exists, since the county seat is a source of pride (and jobs) to the cities involved.

Arkansas is the only state to specify by law the pronunciation of its name (AR-kan-saw).[a]

Article 19 (Miscellaneous Provisions), Item 1 in theArkansas Constitutionis entitled "Atheists disqualified from holding office or testifying as witness," and states that "No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court." In 1961, theUnited States Supreme CourtinTorcaso v. Watkins(1961), held that a similar requirement inMarylandwas unenforceable because it violated theFirstandFourteenthAmendments to the US Constitution. The latter amendment, per current precedent, makes thefederal Bill of Rightsbinding on the states. As a result, this 'religious test' provision has not been enforced in modern times. It would be overturned if challenged in court.

Executive branch

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The daily administration of the state’s laws are carried out by the chief executive—theGovernor,and their second in command theLieutenant Governor,theSecretary of State,theAttorney General,theCommissioner of State Lands,theState Treasurer,theState Auditor,and by the staff and employees of the 15 executive branch departments.

Elected executive officials in Arkansas

Governor

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See also:Governor of Arkansas,List of governors of Arkansas,and2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election

The current Governor of Arkansas isSarah Huckabee Sanders,aRepublican,who was elected on November 8, 2022.[11][12][13]Arkansas also elects thelieutenant governorand several cabinet-level positions:secretary of state,attorney general,treasurer,auditor,andland commissioner.[14]The governor appoints qualified individuals to lead various state boards, committees, and departments.

In Arkansas, the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor and can be from a different political party.[15]

Following reorganization in 2019, state government is subdivided into fifteen departments, each led by a cabinet-level official (titledsecretary):

Legislative branch

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Main article:Arkansas General Assembly
Arkansas State Capitolbuilding in Little Rock designed by architectGeorge R. Mann

TheArkansas General Assemblyis the state'sbicameralbodies of legislators, composed of theSenateandHouse of Representatives.Elections in the ArkansasSenateare staggered such that half the body is up for re-election every two years. Since the late 20th century, the Senate has 35 members from districts of approximately equal population. These districts are redrawn decennially with each US census. The entire state senate was up for reelection in 2012. Arkansas voters elected a 21-14 Republican majority in the Senate.

House districts are redistricted by the Arkansas Board of Apportionment. Following the 2012 elections, Republicans gained a 51-49 majority in the House of Representatives.[16]

Following the 2014 elections, an amendment to theArkansas Constitutionwas approved that expanded legislative term limits to 16 years total in either theSenateandHouse of Representatives.Prior to this, senators were limited to two four-year terms and representatives were limited to three two-year terms.

The Republican Partymajoritystatus in the Arkansas State House of Representatives following the 2012 elections is the party's first since 1874 during theReconstruction era.Democrats regained control of the state house and suppressed black and Republican voters. At the turn of the century, the legislature passed a new constitution and lawsdisenfranchising most African Americansand establishingJim Crow.African Americans were closed out of the political system for many decades. It was 2012 before the Republican Party re-established control of the state legislature.[17]

Composition of the Arkansas legislature

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Arkansas's legislature is controlled by theRepublican Party,which gained the majority in both houses following the 2012 general election.

Arkansas House of Representatives

Arkansas State House, party breakdown 2012
Affiliation Members
Republican 76
Democratic 24
Seat Vacant 0
Total 100

Arkansas Senate

Arkansas State Senate, party breakdown 2012
Affiliation Members
Republicans 26
Democrats 9
Seat Vacant 0
Total 35

Judiciary

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Arkansas's judicial branch has five court systems:Arkansas Supreme Court,Arkansas Court of Appeals,Circuit Courts, District Courts and City Courts.

Most cases begin in district court, which is subdivided into state district court and local district court. State district courts exercise district-wide jurisdiction over the districts created by the General Assembly. Local district courts are presided over by part-time judges who may also privately practice law. Twenty-five state district court judges preside over 15 districts. The legislature has committed to establishing more districts in 2017 to accommodate growth in population.

There are 28 judicial circuits of Circuit Court, with each containing five subdivisions: criminal, civil, probate, domestic relations, and juvenile court. The jurisdiction of the Arkansas Court of Appeals is determined by the Arkansas Supreme Court. There is noright of appealfrom the Court of Appeals to the high court. However, the Arkansas Supreme Court can review Court of Appeals cases upon application by either a party to the litigation, upon request by the Court of Appeals, or if the Arkansas Supreme Court believes the case should have been assigned to it. The twelve judges of the Arkansas Court of Appeals are elected from judicial districts to renewable six-year terms.

The Arkansas Supreme Court was established in 1836 by the Arkansas Constitution as the court of last resort in the state. It is composed of seven justices elected to eight-year terms. The court's decisions can be appealed only to theSupreme Court of the United States.

Federal representation

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U.S. Senate

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Arkansas's twoU.S. senatorsare elected at large:

U.S. House of Representatives

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Map of Arkansas showing allfour congressional districts

Arkansas has fourcongressional districts.There were 5th, 6th, 7th, andat-largedistricts, but they were eliminated in 1963, 1963, 1953, and 1885, respectively in theU.S. House of Representatives:

Arkansas remains the only formerConfederate statethat has never sent a Black representative to theU.S. House.[18]

Judiciary

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Arkansas is part of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Arkansasand theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansasin the federal judiciary. The district's cases are appealed to the St. Louis-based United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Notes

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  1. ^The name Arkansas has been pronounced and spelled in a variety of fashions. The region was organized as theTerritory of Arkansawon July 4, 1819, but the territory was admitted to the United States as the state of Arkansas on June 15, 1836. The name was historically/ˈɑːrkənsɔː/,/ɑːrˈkænzəs/,and several other variants. The people of Arkansas call themselves either "Arkansans" or "Arkansawyers". In 1881, theArkansas General Assemblypassed the following concurrent resolution, now Arkansas Code 1-4-105 (official textArchived2011-09-24 at theWayback Machine):

    Whereas, confusion of practice has arisen in the pronunciation of the name of our state and it is deemed important that the true pronunciation should be determined for use in oral official proceedings.

    And, whereas, the matter has been thoroughly investigated by the State Historical Society and the Eclectic Society of Little Rock, which have agreed upon the correct pronunciation as derived from history, and the early usage of the American immigrants.

    Be it therefore resolved by both houses of the General Assembly, that the only true pronunciation of the name of the state, in the opinion of this body, is that received by the French from the native Indians and committed to writing in the French word representing the sound. It should be pronounced in three (3) syllables, with the final "s" silent, the "a" in each syllable with the Italian sound, and the accent on the first and last syllables. The pronunciation with the accent on the second syllable with the sound of "a" in "man" and the sounding of the terminal "s" is an innovation to be discouraged.

    Residents of thestate of Kansasoften pronounce theArkansas Riveras/ɑːrˈkænzəsˈrɪvər/,in a manner similar to the common pronunciation of the name of their state.

References

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  1. ^Leip, David."Presidential General Election Results Comparison – Arkansas".US Election Atlas.RetrievedJanuary 1,2023.
  2. ^"Arkansas Presidential Election Voting History - 270toWin".
  3. ^Davis, John C. (2024).From Blue to Red: The Rise of the GOP in Arkansas.University of Arkansas Press.ISBN978-1-68226-244-3.
  4. ^"HB1004".arkleg.state.ar.us.RetrievedMarch 16,2024.
  5. ^"The Latest: Arkansas counties begin to issue same-sex marriage licenses".4029 TV. June 26, 2015.RetrievedMarch 16,2024.
  6. ^Blumenthal, Paul (2022-06-14)."These States Will Ban Abortion Now That Roe Is Overturned".HuffPost.Retrieved2022-06-24.
  7. ^Branam, Chris M. (2010)."Another Look at Disfranchisement in Arkansas, 1888—1894".The Arkansas Historical Quarterly.69(3): 245–262.JSTOR23046114.
  8. ^abcdJay Barth, "Republican Party",Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture,2014
  9. ^"Hillary Clinton's startling decision to run for Senate set her on a path no woman has walked | The Washington Post".The Washington Post.
  10. ^Seeimage.
  11. ^"Winners in '06 Governors races"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on July 28, 2011.RetrievedJuly 30,2010.
  12. ^"Arkansas.gov Administration page for Governor".Dwe.arkansas.gov. March 16, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon June 14, 2006.RetrievedJuly 30,2010.
  13. ^"Governor Terms and Term Limits"(PDF).Snelling Center for Government. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on July 7, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 6,2013.
  14. ^Arkansas Code 7-5-806.
  15. ^"Office of Lieutenant Governor".Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.The Pryor Center. February 28, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 6,2013.
  16. ^Cooke, Mallory (14 November 2012)."Republicans Take Control of Arkansas House, Senate".KFSM-TV.RetrievedJanuary 8,2013.
  17. ^"Arkansas Senate flips; first time since Reconstruction".The Courier. November 7, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon January 17, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 8,2013.
  18. ^De Millo, Andrew (October 7, 2021)."Arkansas redistrict plan splitting Pulaski County advances".Associated Press.RetrievedDecember 6,2022.

Further reading

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  • Barnes, Kenneth C.Who Killed John Clayton? Political Violence and the Emergence of the New South, 1861–1893.Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1998.
  • Graves, John William.Town and Country: Race Relations in an Urban-Rural Context, Arkansas 1865–1905.Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 1990.
  • Kousser, J. Morgan.The Shaping of Southern Politics: Suffrage Restriction and the Establishment of the One-Party South, 1880–1910.New Haven: Yale University Press, 1974.
  • Ogden, Frederic D.The Poll Tax in the South.Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1958.
  • Perman, Michael.Struggle for Mastery: Disfranchisement in the South, 1888–1908.Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2001.
  • Woodward, C. Vann.Origins of the New South, 1877–1913.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1951.

See also

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