Arkansas House of Representatives

Arkansas House members in 1893, the four known African American members are segregated to the bottom right

During the Reconstruction era that followed the American Civil War, the Federal government passed the Reconstruction Acts and African Americans were enfranchised with voting rights. African Americans were elected and served in the Arkansas House although the numbers eventually declined as the Democrats retook control and were able to restore white supremacy. By the start of the 20th century African Americans were largely barred from holding in the Arkansas House and across the southern states.

The Speaker of the House presides over the body and is elected by the membership every two years. Its duties include the supervision and directing the daily order of business, recognizing members to speak, preserving order in the House, deciding all questions of order and germaneness, certifying all measures passed, assigning committee leadership, and naming members to select committees. In the Speaker's absence, the Speaker Pro Tempore presides.

The House has 10 Standing Committees:

CLASS A

• Education
• Judiciary
• Public Health, Welfare & Labor
• Public Transportation
• Revenue and Taxation

CLASS B

• Aging, Children & Youth, Legislative & Military Affairs
• Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development
• City, County and Local Affairs
• Insurance and Commerce
• State Agencies and Governmental Affairs

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEES

• Rules
• House Management

JOINT COMMITTEES

• Budget
• Energy
• Performance Review
• Public Retirement and Social Security Programs
• Advanced Communication and Information Technology

CURRENT COMMITTEES INCLUDE:[3]

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.

John Wilson, the first Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, stabbed Representative J. J. Anthony to death during a legislative debate on the floor of the chamber in 1837. Wilson was later acquitted. The Old State House is said to be haunted to this day.[4][5]

In 1922, Frances Hunt became the first woman elected to a seat in the Arkansas General Assembly when she was elected to a seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives.[6]

In 2020, several members tested positive for COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas.[7]

• Arkansas General Assembly
• Arkansas Senate
• Arkansas State Capitol

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arkansas House of Representatives.

• Official website
• Arkansas House of Representatives at Ballotpedia

34°44′48″N 92°17′21″W