List of governors of Arkansas
| Governor of Arkansas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | Arkansas Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | James Sevier Conway |
| Formation | 1836; Constitution of Arkansas |
| Succession | Every four years, unless re-elected. |
The Governor of Arkansas is the head of the executive branch of Arkansas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Arkansas Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[1]
The state has had 45 elected governors, as well as 10 acting governors who assumed powers & duties following the resignation or death of the governor, totaling 55 distinct terms. Before becoming a state, Arkansas Territory had four governors appointed to it by the President of the United States. Orval Faubus served the longest term as state governor, being elected six times to serve twelve years. Bill Clinton, elected five times over two distinct terms, fell only one month short of twelve years. The shortest term for an elected governor was the 38 days served by John Sebastian Little before his nervous breakdown; one of the acting successors to his term, Jesse M. Martin, served only three days, the shortest stint overall. The current governor is Mike Beebe, who took office on January 9, 2007; his second term will expire on January 13, 2015.
Governors
Governors of the Territory of Arkansas
- For the period before Arkansas Territory was formed, see the list of Governors of Missouri Territory.
Arkansaw Territory (renamed Arkansas Territory around 1822[a]) was split from Missouri Territory on July 4, 1819. It lost land twice, on November 15, 1824, and May 6, 1828, with the land being made unorganized territory both times; this land eventually became part of Oklahoma.
As secretary of the territory from 1819 to 1829, Robert Crittenden served as acting governor whenever the appointed governor was not in the state. This meant he was in fact the first person to perform the office of Governor of Arkansas Territory, since James Miller did not arrive in the territory until nine months after his appointment.[3]
| Picture | Governor | Took office | Left office | Appointed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
James Miller | March 3, 1819 | December 27, 1824 | James Monroe | [b][c] |
|
George Izard | March 4, 1825 | November 22, 1828 | James Monroe | [d][e] |
| John Quincy Adams | |||||
|
John Pope | March 9, 1829[7] | March 9, 1835 | Andrew Jackson | [f][g] |
|
William S. Fulton | March 9, 1835 | June 15, 1836 | Andrew Jackson | [h] |
Governors of the State of Arkansas
Arkansas was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836. It seceded from the Union on May 6, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America on May 18, 1861; there was no Union government in exile, so there was a single line of governors, though as the state fell to Union forces there was a loyalist government put in place with an insignificant Confederate government in exile. Following the end of the American Civil War, it was part of the Fourth Military District. Arkansas was readmitted to the Union on June 22, 1868.
The first state constitution of 1836 established four-year terms for governors,[11] which was lowered to two years in the 1874, and current, constitution.[12] Amendment 63 to the Arkansas Constitution, passed in 1984, increased the terms of both governor and lieutenant governor to four years.[13] Governors were originally limited only to serving no more than eight out of every twelve years,[11] but the 1874 constitution removed any term limit. A referendum in 1992 limited governors to two terms.[14]
Until 1864, the constitutions provided that, should the office of governor be rendered vacant, the president of the senate would serve as acting governor until such time as a new governor were elected or the disability removed, or the acting governor's senate term expired.[15][16] This led to some situations where the governorship changed hands in quick succession, due to senate terms ending or new senate presidents being elected. For example, after John Sebastian Little resigned in 1907, three senate presidents acted as governor before the next elected governor took office. Should the president of the senate be similarly incapacitated, the next in line for the governorship was the speaker of the state house of representatives.
The 1864 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor[17] who would also act as president of the senate,[18] and who would serve as acting governor in case of vacancy.[19] The 1868 constitution maintained the position,[20] but the 1874 constitution removed it and returned to the original line of succession.[21] Amendment 6 to the state constitution, passed in 1914 but not recognized until 1925,[22] recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who becomes governor in case of vacancy of the governor's office.[23] The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket.
Arkansas was a strongly Democratic state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic party. It elected three Republican governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 92 years passed before voters chose another Republican.
Democratic (48)[i] Republican (7)[j]
Other high offices held
Seventeen of Arkansas's governors have served other high offices, including one President of the United States, an Attorney General, and an ambassador. Thirteen represented Arkansas in the U.S. Congress, and another was refused his seat by the U.S. Senate shortly after the American Civil War, because Arkansas had not yet been reconstructed. Two governors were elected from other states, and one represented Arkansas in the Confederate Congress. Five governors (marked with *) resigned to take other offices, with four of these becoming members of the U.S. Senate and one becoming President of the United States. Two others (marked with †) resigned their seat in the U.S. House of representatives to become Governor of Arkansas.
All representatives and senators listed represented Arkansas except where noted.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Other offices held | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Miller | 1819–1825 | Elected Representative from New Hampshire but did not take his seat. | [4] |
| John Pope | 1829–1835 | Representative and Senator from Kentucky (including President pro tempore) | [45] |
| William S. Fulton | 1835–1836 | Senator | [10] |
| Archibald Yell | 1840–1844 | Representative | [46] |
| Powell Clayton | 1868–1871 | Senator*, Minister to Mexico | [47] |
| Augustus Hill Garland | 1874–1877 | Senator, Attorney General, Confederate Representative, Confederate Senator | [48] |
| James Henderson Berry | 1883–1885 | Senator | [49] |
| William Meade Fishback | 1893–1895 | Elected to the Senate but was refused his seat | [50] |
| James Paul Clarke | 1895–1897 | Senator (including President pro tempore) | [51] |
| Jeff Davis | 1901–1907 | Senator | [52] |
| John Sebastian Little | 1907 | Representative† | [53] |
| Joseph Taylor Robinson | 1913 | Representative†, Senator* (including Majority Leader and Minority Leader) | [54] |
| Thomas Chipman McRae | 1921–1925 | Representative | [55] |
| Dale Bumpers | 1971–1975 | Senator* | [56] |
| David Pryor | 1975–1979 | Representative, Senator* | [57] |
| Bill Clinton | 1979–1981, 1983–1992 | President of the United States* | [58] |
| Jim Guy Tucker | 1992–1996 | Representative | [59] |
Living former governors
As of August 2014[update], five former governors were alive. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Sid McMath (1949–1953), who died on October 4, 2003. The most recently serving governor to die was Frank D. White, who served from 1981 to 1983 and died on May 21 of 2003.
| Governor | Term of office | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Dale Bumpers | 1971–1975 | August 12, 1925 |
| David Pryor | 1975–1979 | August 29, 1934 |
| Bill Clinton | 1979–1981, 1983–1992 | August 19, 1946 |
| Jim Guy Tucker | 1992–1996 | June 12, 1943 |
| Mike Huckabee | 1996–2007 | August 24, 1955 |
Notes
- ^ The territory was formally organized with the name "Arkansaw", but spellings including "Arkansas" and "Arkansa" remained common until around 1822, when the popularity of the Arkansas Gazette helped standardize the spelling as "Arkansas".[2]
- ^ James Miller was appointed territorial governor on March 3, 1819, the same date the bill organizing Arkansaw Territory was signed. However, to avoid the hot southern summer, he delayed his departure from New Hampshire until September, and took a non-direct route, finally arriving in the territory on December 26, 1819.[4] Robert Crittenden, secretary of the territory, served as acting governor while Miller was delayed.[3]
- ^ Resigned citing poor health. At the time of his resignation, he had been absent from the territory for 18 months.[5]
- ^ George Izard did not arrive in Arkansas Territory until May 31, 1825; Robert Crittenden, Secretary of the territory, acted as governor in his stead, though Crittenden himself was out of state when Izard arrived.[6]
- ^ a b Died in office.
- ^ The office was vacant from November 22, 1828, until March 9, 1829. By the time notice of George Izard's death reached Washington, D.C., Andrew Jackson had been elected president, and the U.S. Senate refused to approve John Quincy Adams's choice for governor, preferring to wait until Jackson took office.[8]
- ^ Pope arrived in the territory in May 1829.[9]
- ^ William S. Fulton served as governor until statehood, when he was elected to the United States Senate.[10]
- ^ Includes one term served by a repeat governor and nine terms served by acting governors.
- ^ Includes one term served by an acting governor.
- ^ The official numbering includes repeat governors and omits acting governors. Subsequent terms for repeat governors are marked with their original number italicized.
- ^ The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1864 and abolished in 1874. It was recreated in 1914, and was not filled until 1926. The amendment to the state constitution creating the office was narrowly voted in by the electorate in 1914. The Speaker of the House declared that the measure had lost because it did not receive a majority of the highest vote total from that election. In 1925, it was discovered that a 1910 law amended this requirement such that only a majority of the votes on the specific question was required. Therefore, the 1914 initiative was declared to be valid.[22]
- ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- ^ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
- ^ Resigned to run for the United States House of Representatives, winning the election.[24]
- ^ As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term.
- ^ Resigned due to the low salary he received as governor.[25]
- ^ As president of the senate, acted as governor until special election.[26]
- ^ Elected in a special election to fill unexpired term.[27]
- ^ The 1861 constitution was enacted during Rector's term; while term lengths remained at four years, a new election schedule was created, calling for elections in 1862, two years into his term.[28]
- ^ a b Harris Flanagin fled Little Rock as it fell to Union forces on September 10, 1863, leading a largely inept government in exile in Washington, Arkansas until 1865. Isaac Murphy was elected provisional governor by a loyalist government set up after Union control of the state was established, taking office on April 18, 1864, causing a slight overlap in terms, though due to the collapse of the Confederate effort in Arkansas, Flanagin had no authority over the state.[29]
- ^ The 1864 constitution was enacted during Flanagin's term; however, it was drafted by the Union occupation, and had no effect on his government. While term lengths remained at four years, a new election schedule was created, calling for elections in 1864.[30]
- ^ Resigned to take office as state secretary of state.
- ^ a b c d Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ Ozra Amander Hadley's first name is sometimes spelled "Ozro" in sources; it is unknown which is correct.[33]
- ^ As president pro tempore of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term; the office of lieutenant governor at the time was vacant.[33]
- ^ Removed from office for a short time due to the Brooks–Baxter War.[35]
- ^ The 1874 constitution was enacted during Baxter's term, which shortened his tenure to two years as new elections were scheduled.
- ^ Resigned after suffering a nervous breakdown soon after taking office.[36]
- ^ As president of the senate, acted as governor until the legislature adjourned.[37]
- ^ As the new president pro tempore of the senate, became acting governor until his senate term expired.[38]
- ^ As the new president pro tempore of the senate, became acting governor for three days until the next elected governor took office.[39]
- ^ As president of the senate, acted as governor for six days before a new president of the senate was elected.[40]
- ^ As the new president of the senate, acted as governor until special election.[41]
- ^ Elected in special election to fill unexpired term.[42]
- ^ Resigned to be a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.[43]
- ^ a b c As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
- ^ a b As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term.
- ^ Represented the Democratic Party.
- ^ Resigned to be President of the United States.
- ^ Gubernatorial terms changed from two years to four years during Clinton's term; he was elected for two-year terms in 1982 and 1984, and for four-year terms in 1986 and 1990.
- ^ a b Represented the Republican Party.
- ^ Resigned after being convicted of mail fraud in the Whitewater scandal.[44]
- ^ Governor Beebe's second term expires on January 13, 2015; he is term limited.
References
- General
- "Governors of Arkansas". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 31, 2007. [dead link]
- Rose, Uriah M. (1891). The Constitution of the State of Arkansas. Press Printing Co.
- "The Road from Conway to Clinton: Biographies of Arkansas's Governors". Old State House Museum. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- "The Encyclopedia of Arkansas, Category: Politics and Government, State". Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- "About The Office – Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas". Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- Herndon, Dallas Tabor (1922). Centennial History of Arkansas. Southern Historical Press. ISBN 978-0-89308-068-6. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- Constitutions
- "Constitution of the State of Arkansas" (pdf). Arkansas State Legislature. 1874. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
- Constitution of the State of Arkansas. 1868. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- Constitution of the State of Arkansas. 1864. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- Constitution of the State of Arkansas. 1861. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- Constitution of the State of Arkansas. 1836. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- Specific
- ^ AR Const. art. VI
- ^ "Timeline – 1822: Indian Peace Treaty". Historic Arkansas Museum. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- ^ a b "Robert Crittenden (1797–1834)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
- ^ a b "James Miller (1776–1851)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- ^ "Timeline – 1824: Expansion". Historic Arkansas Museum. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ^ "George Izard (1776–1828)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- ^ Bruce, Henry Addington (1909). The Romance of American Expansion. Moffat, Yard & Company. p. 86.
- ^ "Timeline – 1828: Final Indian Treaty". Historic Arkansas Museum. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- ^ Williams, Nancy A.; Jeannie M. Whayne (2000). Arkansas Biography: A Collection of Notable Lives. University of Arkansas Press. p. 226. ISBN 1-55728-587-X.
- ^ a b "Fulton, William Savin". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- ^ a b 1836 Const. art. V, § 4
- ^ AR Const. art. VI, § 1
- ^ AR Const. amendment 63
- ^ "State Gubernatorial Term Limits". Retrieved September 9, 2007.
- ^ 1836 Const. art. V, § 18
- ^ 1861 Const. art. V, § 18
- ^ 1864 Const. art. VI, § 19
- ^ 1864 Const. art. VI, § 20
- ^ 1864 Const. art. VI, § 23
- ^ 1868 Const. art. VI, § 1
- ^ AR Const. art. VI, § 12
- ^ a b "About The Office – Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas". Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- ^ Arkansas Supreme Court, Bryant v. English, 311 Ark. 187, 843 S.W.2d 308 (1992).
- ^ "Arkansas Governor Archibald Yell". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 14, 2008.[dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor Thomas Stevenson Drew". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor Richard C. Byrd". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor John Selden Roane". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ 1861 Const. art. IV, § 8
- ^ "Harris Flanagin (1817–1874)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
- ^ 1864 Const. art. IV, § 8
- ^ Herndon p. 287
- ^ Herndon p. 293
- ^ a b "Ozro Amander Hadley (1826–1915)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
- ^ Herndon p. 306
- ^ "Arkansas Governor Elisha Baxter". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor John Sebastian Little". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor John Isaac Moore". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor Xenophon Overton Pindall". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "John Sebastian Little (1851–1916)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
- ^ "Arkansas Governor William Kavanaugh Oldham". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor Junius Marion Futrell". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor George Washington Hays". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Arkansas Governor John Ellis Martineau". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 14, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ R.H., Melton; Michael Haddigan (May 5, 1996). "Three Guilty in Arkansas Fraud Trial". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
- ^ "Pope, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 31, 2007.
- ^ "Yell, Archibald". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Clayton, Powell". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Garland, Augustus Hill". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Berry, James Henderson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Arkansas Governor William Meade Fishback". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 13, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Clarke, James Paul". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Davis, Jeff". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Little, John Sebastian". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Robinson, Joseph Taylor". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "McRae, Thomas Chipman". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Bumpers, Dale". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Pryor, David Hampton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Arkansas Governor William Jefferson Clinton". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 13, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Tucker, James (Jim) Guy, Jr". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
External links
 Arkansas statewide elected officials | |
|---|---|