Article V — Legislative

The legislative power of this State shall be vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives shall consist of members to be chosen every second year by the qualified electors of the several counties.

The Senate shall consist of members to be chosen every four years by the qualified electors of the several districts. At the first session of the Senate the senators shall divide themselves into two classes by lot, and the first class shall hold their places for two years only, a…

No person shall be a senator or representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, nor any one who has not been for two years next preceding his election a resident of this State, and for one year next preceding his election a resident of the …

The General Assembly shall meet at the seat of government every two years on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in November until said time be altered by law.

The Governor shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies as shall occur in either house of the General Assembly.

No judge of the supreme, circuit or inferior courts of law or equity, Secretary of State, Attorney General for the State, Auditor or Treasurer, recorder, clerk of any court of record, sheriff, coroner, member of Congress, nor any other person holding any lucrative office under th…

No person who now is or shall be hereafter a collector or holder of public money, nor any assistant or deputy of such holder or collector of public money, shall be eligible to a seat in either house of the General Assembly, nor to any office of trust or profit, until he shall hav…

No person hereafter convicted of embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery or other infamous crime shall be eligible to the General Assembly or capable of holding any office of trust or profit in this State.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, be appointed or elected to any civil office under this State.

Each house shall appoint its own officers, and shall be sole judge of the qualifications, returns and elections of its own members, A majority of all the members elected to each house shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and …

Each house shall have the power to determine the rules of its proceedings; and punish its members or other persons for con tempt or disorderly behaviour in its presence; enforce obedience to its process; to protect its members against violence or offers of bribes or private solic…

The sessions of each house and of committees of the whole shall be open, unless when the business is such as ought to be kept secret.

Whenever an officer, civil or military, shall be appointed by the joint or concurrent vote of both houses, or by the separate vote of either house of the General Assembly, the vote shall be taken viva voce and entered on the journals.

The members of the General Assembly shall, in all cases except treason, felony and breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the sessions of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debat…

The members of the General Assembly shall receive such per diem pay and mileage for their services as shall be fixed by law. No member of either house shall, during the term for which he has been elected, receive any increase of pay for his services under any law passed during su…

The regular biennial sessions shall not exceed sixty days in duration, unless by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of said General Assembly. Provided, that this section shall not apply to the first session of the General Assembly under this Constitution, o…

Each house, at the beginning of every regular session of the General Assembly, and whenever a vacancy may occur, shall elect from its members a presiding officer to be styled, respectively, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and whenever,…

The style of the laws of the State of Arkansas shall be: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas."

The State of Arkansas shall never be made defendant in any of her courts.

No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall be so altered or amended on its passage through either house as to change its original purpose.

Every bill shall be read at length on three different days in each house, unless the rules be suspended by two-thirds of the house, when the same may be read a second or third time on the same day; and no bill shall become a law unless on its final passage the vote be taken by ye…

No law shall be revived, amended, or the provisions thereof extended or conferred by reference to its title only; but so much thereof as is revived, amended, extended or conferred shall be re-enacted and published at length.

The General Assembly shall not pass any local or special law changing the venue in criminal cases; changing the names of persons or adopting or legitimating children; granting divorces; vacating roads, streets or alleys.

In all cases where a general law can be made applicable no special law shall be enacted; nor shall the operation of any general law be suspended by the legislature for the benefit of any particular individual, corporation or association; nor where the courts have jurisdiction to …

No local or special bill shall be passed, unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been published in the locality where the matter or the thing to be affected may be situated, which notice shall be at least thirty days prior to the introduction into the General…

No extra compensation shall be made to any officer, agent, employe or contractor after the service shall have been rendered or the contract made; nor shall any money be appropriated or paid on any claim, the subject matter of which shall not have been provided for by preexisting …

Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.

No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in pursuance of specific appropriation made by law, the purpose of which shall be distinctly stated in the bill, and the maximum amount which may be drawn shall be specified in dollars and cents; and no appropriation shall be for a…

The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing but appropriations for the ordinary expense of the executive, legislative and judicial departments of the State. All other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject.

No State tax shall be allowed, or appropriation of money made, except to raise means for the payment of the just debts of the State, for defraying the necessary expenses of government, to sustain common schools, to repel invasion and suppress insurrection, except by a majority of…

No Act of the General Assembly shall limit the amount to be recovered for injuries resulting in death, or for injuries to persons or property; and in ease of death from such injuries the right of action shall survive and the General Assembly shall prescribe for whose benefit such…

No obligation or liability of any railroad or other corporation held or owned by this State shall ever be exchanged, transferred, remitted, postponed or in any way diminished by the General Assembly; nor shall such liability or obligation be released except by payment thereof int…

No new bill shall be introduced into either house during the last three days of the session. See. 35. Any person who shall, directly or indirectly, offer, give or promise any money or thing of value, testimonial, privilege or personal advantage to any executive or judicial office…

Proceedings to expel a member for a criminal offense, whether successful or not, shall not bar an indictment and punishment, under the criminal laws, for the same offense.