Arkansas
Abstract
Arkansas SAGE Publications, Inc.1980DOI: 10.1177/027507408001400406 Robert L.Savage University of Arkansas In 1980, the Arkansas General Assembly held two sessions. The first, during January, was an extension of the 1979 general legislative session, and the second, during April, was a special session called by Governor Clinton. The extended session in January was largely limited to consideration of two proposals for constitutional amendments. Two external conditions necessitated these limited considerations. On the one hand, there was a likely threat that the State Supreme Court would disallow any actions taken by the General Assembly after the constitutionally allowed 60 days per biennial session (of which only four days remained for the extended session). On the other, the Governor is not permitted to call for constitutional amendments during special sessions. The two constitutional issues which resulted in the adoption of two proposals to be placed on the November 4, 1980, General Election ballot were property taxation and usury limitation. The property tax issue (described in the December, 1979, issue of MRPA) arose from earlier court decisions that required uniform taxation of all real properties determined at 20% of fair market value. The proposal finally enacted established variable categories for different types of