CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS OF 1874 Updated as of October 5, 2015 Table of Contents Preamble ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Articles ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1. Boundaries --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2. Declaration of Rights -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Section: 1. Source of power --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2. Freedom and independence -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 3. Equality before the law ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 4. Right of assembly and of petition ------------------------------------------------------------ 2 5. Right to bear arms ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 6. Liberty of the press and of speech – Libel -------------------------------------------------- 2 7. Jury trial – Right to – Waiver – Civil cases – Nine jurors agreeing --------------------- 2 8. Criminal charges – Self-incrimination – Due process – Double jeopardy – Bail ------ 2 9. Excessive bail or punishment prohibited – Witnesses – Detention ---------------------- 3 10. Right of accused enumerated – Change of venue ----------------------------------------- 3 11. Habeas corpus ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 12. Suspension of laws ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 13. Redress of wrongs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 14. Treason -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 15. Unreasonable searches and seizures -------------------------------------------------------- 3 16. Imprisonment for debt ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 17. Attainder – Ex post facto laws --------------------------------------------------------------- 4 18. Privileges and immunities – Equality ------------------------------------------------------ 4 19. Perpetuities and monopolies ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4 20. Resident aliens – Descent of property ------------------------------------------------------ 4 21. Life, liberty and property – Banishment prohibited -------------------------------------- 4 22. Property rights – Taking without just compensation prohibited ------------------------ 4 23. Eminent domain and taxation ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4 24. Religious liberty ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 25. Protection of religion ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 26. Religious tests ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 27. Slavery – Standing armies – Military subordinate to civil power ---------------------- 5 28. Tenure of lands -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 29. Enumeration of rights of people not exclusive of other rights – Protection against encroachment --------------------------------------------------------- 5 3. Franchise and Elections ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Section: 1. Qualifications of electors ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 2. Right of suffrage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 3. [Repealed.] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 4. Privilege of electors from arrest -------------------------------------------------------------- 6 5. [Repealed.] -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 6. Violation of election laws – Penalty --------------------------------------------------------- 6 i 7. Soldiers and sailors – Residence – Voting rights ------------------------------------------- 6 8. Time of holding elections ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 9. Testimony in election contest – Self-incrimination ---------------------------------------- 6 10. Election officers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 11. Votes to be counted --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 12. Elections by representative – Viva voce vote --------------------------------------------- 6 4. Departments ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Section: 1. Departments of government ------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 2. Separation of departments --------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 5. Legislative Department ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 Section: 1. Initiative and Referendum --------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 2. House of Representatives --------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 3. Senate -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 4. Qualifications of senators and representatives --------------------------------------------- 11 5. Regular and fiscal sessions ------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 6. Vacancies – Writs of election ---------------------------------------------------------------- 11 7. Officers ineligible ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 8. Defaulters ineligible --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 9. Persons convicted ineligible ------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 10. Members ineligible to civil office ---------------------------------------------------------- 12 11. Appointment of officers – Qualifications of members – Quorum --------------------- 12 12. Powers and duties of each house ----------------------------------------------------------- 12 13. Sessions to be open --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 14. Election of officers by General Assembly ------------------------------------------------ 12 15. Privileges of members ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 16. [Repealed.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 17. Duration of sessions -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 18. Presiding officers ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 19. Style of laws – Enacting clause ------------------------------------------------------------ 13 20. State not made defendant -------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 21. Laws by bills – Amendment ---------------------------------------------------------------- 13 22. Passage of bills -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 23. Revival, amendment or extension of laws ------------------------------------------------ 14 24. Local and special laws ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 25. Special laws – Suspension of general laws ----------------------------------------------- 14 26. Notice of local or special bills -------------------------------------------------------------- 14 27. Extra compensation prohibited – Exception ---------------------------------------------- 14 28. Adjournments --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 29. Appropriations -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 30. General and special appropriations -------------------------------------------------------- 15 31. Purposes of taxes and appropriations ------------------------------------------------------ 15 32. Workmen's Compensation Laws – Actions for personal injuries --------------------- 15 33. Liabilities of corporations to state --------------------------------------------------------- 15 ii 34. Introduction of bills – Time limit ---------------------------------------------------------- 15 35. Bribery of member of General Assembly or state officer ------------------------------ 15 36. Expulsion of member no bar to indictment ----------------------------------------------- 16 37. [Laws – Enactment – Majority required] ------------------------------------------------- 16 38. [Taxes – Increase – Approval by electors] ------------------------------------------------ 16 39. [State expenses – Limitation – Exceptions] ---------------------------------------------- 16 40. [General appropriation bill – Enactment] ------------------------------------------------- 16 41. [Expenses incurred or authorized only by bill – Repealing clause] ------------------- 16 42. [Review and approval of administrative rules] ------------------------------------------- 16 6. Executive Department ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17 Section: 1. Executive officers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17 2. Governor – Supreme