ADVOCACY IN ACTION HOW THE STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS

ADVOCACY IN ACTION HOW THE STATE GOVERNMENT WORKS & WHY IT IS IMPORTANT Presented by: Steve Schulte, SPHR June 13, 2013

Why is it important? “All politics is local. ” - Former U. S. Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill

Arkansas Government n 3 Branches • Executive • Legislative • Judicial n Legislative – Bicameral • House • Senate n Executive – Includes most administrative agencies • • • DWS – Department of Workforce Services Arkansas Department of Labor DFA – Department of Finance and Administration

Basis for Arkansas Government n Arkansas Constitution – 1874 • Adopted at end of Reconstruction • First Constitution was 1836 • Distrust of central government reflected in Constitution

Arkansas Constitution n Power of Governor Weakened • Constitutional Officers elected instead of appointed • Two terms instead of four • Veto overridden by simple majority n Power of Legislature Weakened • Legislative session of 60 days • Legislative sessions occur every two years n Dispersed Power Locally • 75 counties • County Judge

Legislative Branch n Senate • Lt. Governor Serves as President of the Senate • 35 Senate Districts • Term limits of two four-year terms • Each Senate District represents population of about 83, 312 people • 33 Senate Districts have a white racial majority • 2 Senate Districts have a black racial majority

Legislative Branch n House • • Speaker of the House elected by members 100 House Districts Term limits of three two-year terms Each House District represents a population of about 29, 150 people • House Districts – 87 majority white • House Districts – 11 majority black • House Districts – 2 with no majority

Senate District Demographics n Highest Percentage White • • • n 97% SD 17 – Senator Johnny Key, Mountain Home SD 20 – Senator Robert Thompson, Paragould Highest Percentage Black • 59% • SD 25 – Senator Stephanie Flowers, Pine Bluff n Highest Percentage Hispanic • 29%

House District Demographics n Highest Percentage White • 97% • HD 73 – Rep. John Catlett, Rover n Highest Percentage Black • 63% • HD 39 – Rep. Mark Lowery, Maumelle n Highest Percentage Hispanic • 46% • HD 93 – Rep. Jim Dotson, Bentonville

Legislative Districts n n Redrawn every 10 years after Federal Census Board of Apportionment • • • n Governor Lt. Governor Secretary of State Federal Congressional Districts are created by General Assembly

How are laws made? n n n n n Drafted Introduced by Legislator Read in House or Senate – probably two times Assigned to Committee – placed on agenda Committee Meeting – open to public Committee votes Placed on Calendar of House or Senate Vote in House or Senate – read third time Repeat same process in other chamber Sent to Governor

#’s Needed to Pass a Bill n Bill requires a simple majority to pass UNLESS • Appropriation bill (requires 3/4 vote) • Amending an initiated act (requires 2/3 vote) (Note: Workers Compensation is an initiated act)

Governor’s Options n n n Sign into law Send back Veto • Simple majority to override veto n Not signed or vetoed • Becomes law 20 days after end of session

Citizens’ Initiative n Citizens may pass new laws, amend the Constitution, or eliminate current laws without action by the Legislature

Citizens’ Initiative • Initiated act – currently requires 62, 507 signatures • Constitutional amendment – currently requires 78, 133 signatures • Veto current law – currently requires 46, 880 signatures • If petitions contain appropriate number of signatures, issue is placed on ballot for general election • Legislature may refer three initiatives per election

Procedure of Citizen Initiated Act or Constitutional Amendment n n No requirement for single subject No restriction on subject covered No requirement to indentify funding source If two conflict – one with most yes votes prevails

Procedure of Citizen Initiated Act or Constitutional Amendment n Petition Process • Draft bill, ballot title, popular name • Submit to Attorney General for approval – 10 days • Attorney General either approves or returns for revision • File copy of Petition • Petition can be challenged by taxpayer for legal sufficiency (Continued)

Procedure of Citizen Initiated Act or Constitutional Amendment n Petition Process • Gather signatures – total number and distribution requirements • Must be collected in person • Must be filed four months before election • Secretary of State verifies signatures • Petitioner has 30 days to collect more signatures or prove signatures

Term Limits n n n Restrictive After completing = cannot serve in that position again Led to significant turnover Has there been a shift in the balance of power? Is the quality of legislation adversely impacted? Constitutional Amendment