reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 14-42-304 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 42 - Government Of Municipalities Generally|Subchapter 3 - Charters for Cities of the First Class and Second Class|§ 14-42-304. Amendments to charter

 (a) Amendments to any charter may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of the governing body of the municipality or by petition of ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors of the municipality.  (b) The amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the municipality at a regular or special election called in accordance with § 7-11-201 et seq.  (c) The proposed amendment shall be published at least one (1) time in some newspaper of general circulation throughout the municipality.  (d) Any amendment approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon shall become a part of the charter at the time fixed in the amendment and shall be certified to the Secretary of State.  (e) Each amendment submitted shall be confined to one (1) subject, and when more than one (1) amendment shall be submitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the voters to vote on each amendment separately.
AR Code § 14-42-305 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 42 - Government Of Municipalities Generally|Subchapter 3 - Charters for Cities of the First Class and Second Class|§ 14-42-305. Effect of approval

 Any proposed charter which is approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, and with the additions of any such parts and as modified by any such alternative provisions as may be separately submitted and approved by those voting on any such parts and provisions, shall become the organic law of the municipality at the time fixed in the charter and shall supersede all laws affecting the organization and government of the municipality which are in conflict therewith.
AR Code § 14-42-306 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 42 - Government Of Municipalities Generally|Subchapter 3 - Charters for Cities of the First Class and Second Class|§ 14-42-306. Limitations on charters

 (a) No charter adopted pursuant to this subchapter shall be in conflict with it, nor shall it alter any civil service or pension laws in existence under the general laws of this state, any seventy-two-hour laws, vacation laws, two-platoon law for firefighters, or the Arkansas Constitution.  (b) No charter shall alter or change any statutory laws providing for the powers, duties, and manner of appointment of any airport, water, sewer, or housing authority commissions within the city.
AR Code § 14-42-307 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 42 - Government Of Municipalities Generally|Subchapter 3 - Charters for Cities of the First Class and Second Class|§ 14-42-307. Powers of municipalities

 (a)  (1) Each municipality operating under a charter shall have the authority to exercise all powers relating to municipal affairs.  (2) This grant of authority shall not be deemed to limit or restrict the powers of the General Assembly in matters of state affairs, nor shall this subchapter be construed as increasing or diminishing the powers of the state to regulate utilities not municipally owned or fix the rates thereof.    (b) The following shall be deemed to be a part of the powers conferred upon the municipalities by this subchapter:  (1) To levy, assess, and collect taxes within the limits prescribed in the charter adopted by the municipality and the limits prescribed in the Arkansas Constitution;  (2) To furnish all local public services and to acquire property therefor by condemnation or otherwise, within or without the corporate limits, subject, however, to the provisions of the general laws of the State of Arkansas, including any law requiring that the acquisition of a utility plant be approved by a municipal election. However, no property can be acquired under this subchapter by the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness unless the bonds, notes, or evidence of indebtedness is secured by the credit of the city and all the property therein; and  (3) To exercise all powers conferred by the state constitution and the General Assembly generally upon municipalities not contrary to this subchapter.    (c) No municipality shall pass any laws contrary to the criminal laws of the State of Arkansas.
AR Code § 14-42-308 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 42 - Government Of Municipalities Generally|Subchapter 3 - Charters for Cities of the First Class and Second Class|§ 14-42-308. Annual budget, taxes, and rates

 (a) The governing body of each municipality operating under a charter shall prepare, approve, and publish, not less than sixty (60) days in advance of the annual municipal general election, a proposed budget of operational expenditures of the municipality for the forthcoming year, together with proposed taxes and rate or rates sufficient to provide the funds therefor, excluding the rates under any continuing levies previously authorized.  (b)  (1) The taxes and the rate or rates so proposed shall be submitted to the qualified electors at the next annual municipal general election.  (2)  (A) The proposed taxes shall be approved or disapproved in their entirety.  (B)  (i) If a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon shall approve the taxes so proposed, then the taxes so approved shall be collected at the rate provided.  (ii) In the event a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall disapprove the proposed taxes, then the taxes shall be collected at the last rate legally levied.  (iii) One (1) council member from each ward of the city.
AR Code § 14-42-309 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 42 - Government Of Municipalities Generally|Subchapter 3 - Charters for Cities of the First Class and Second Class|§ 14-42-309. Election results

 (a) In all elections provided for in this subchapter, the results of the vote shall be certified immediately after the election by the county board of election commissioners to the mayor.  (b) The certified results shall become final and conclusive if they are not attacked in the courts within a period of thirty (30) days thereafter.
AR Code § 14-42-310 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 42 - Government Of Municipalities Generally|Subchapter 3 - Charters for Cities of the First Class and Second Class|§ 14-42-310. Election expenses

 The expenses of the elections provided by this subchapter shall be borne by the municipality concerned.
AR Code § 14-42-311 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 42 - Government Of Municipalities Generally|Subchapter 3 - Charters for Cities of the First Class and Second Class|§ 14-42-311. Expiration of charter

 By amendment to the charter, a date may be fixed for the expiration of the charter. On the date specified, the municipality shall cease to operate under this subchapter.
AR Code § 14-43-201 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 2 - Elections Generally|§ 14-43-201. Odd-year elections abolished

 (a) Municipal elections in 1965 and all odd years in the future are abolished.  (b) It is the purpose of this section to elect municipal officials at the regular general election for the election of state and county officials.
AR Code § 14-43-202 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 2 - Elections Generally|§ 14-43-202. Write-in votes not counted

 In all general elections held in cities of the first class and second class and incorporated towns for the election of officials of these municipalities, no ballots shall be counted for any person whose name is written in thereon. Only votes cast for the regularly nominated, or otherwise qualified, candidates whose names are printed on the ballot as candidates in the election shall be counted by the judges and clerks.
AR Code § 14-43-301 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-301. Type of election

 In cities of the first class, all officers to be elected shall be elected at the regular general election for municipal corporations.
AR Code § 14-43-303 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-303. Officials in mayor-council cities of 50,000 or more

 (a)  (1)  (A) In the general election in the year 1960, and every four (4) years thereafter, cities of the first class that have a population of fifty thousand (50,000) persons or more, according to the latest federal decennial census or special federal census, and that also have the mayor-council form of government shall elect the following officials:  (B) All of these officials shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are elected and qualified.    (2)  (A) At the general election in the year 1962 and every four (4) years thereafter, the city shall elect:  (i) One (1) city attorney;  (ii) One (1) city treasurer; and  (iii) One (1) council member from each ward of the city.    (B) All of these officials shall hold office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are elected and qualified.    (3) The governing body of a city in transition to the mayor-council form of government may provide by ordinance that the mayor, city clerk, city attorney, and city treasurer shall be elected on the same date and every four (4) years thereafter.    (b) In all primaries or general elections, the candidates for the office of council member shall reside in their respective wards. However, all qualified electors residing in these cities and entitled to vote in the elections may vote at their several voting precincts for each and every candidate so to be nominated or elected.  (c) All odd-year elections for municipal officials in the cities of the first class that have a population of fifty thousand (50,000) or more persons, according to the latest federal census, and that also have the mayor-council form of government are abolished.  (d)  (1) If a city first attains a population of fifty thousand (50,000) as shown in a federal decennial census or special federal census completed after January 1, 1997, and the mayor or other elected official of the city last elected before the census was elected to a four-year term and the term will expire two (2) years before the quadrennial general election year at which city officials are elected as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the terms of such officials shall be extended for a period of two (2) years in order that the terms will coincide with the next quadrennial general election year. At that quadrennial general election and at each quadrennial general election thereafter, the mayor and such other municipal officials shall be elected to terms of four (4) years as provided in this section.  (2) The provisions of this subsection shall not affect in any way the provisions of this section that provide for staggering the terms of office of council members so that one (1) council member will be elected from each ward every two (2) years.       (i)  One (1) mayor;    (ii)  One (1) city clerk; and
AR Code § 14-43-304 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-304. Mayors in cities having mayor-council government

 (a)  (1) A mayor of a city of the first class having a mayor-council form of government shall be elected:  (A) By a majority vote of the qualified electors of the city; or  (B) In accordance with § 7-5-106.    (2) This section does not apply to a city of the first class with a city manager form of government or a city administrator form of government.    (b)  (1) As soon as the returns from all precincts are received, but no later than the fifteenth day after the election, the county board of election commissioners shall proceed to ascertain, from the certificates and ballots received from the several precincts, and declare the result of the election and deliver a certificate of his or her election to any person having the requisite amount of legal votes for the office of mayor.  (2) The county board of election commissioners shall also file in the office of the clerk of the county court a certificate setting forth in detail the results of the election.    (c)  (1) If no candidate for mayor of a city of the first class receives the requisite amount of the votes cast in the general election, the two (2) candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be certified to a special runoff election that shall be held four (4) weeks from the day on which the general election is held.  (2) The special runoff election shall be conducted in the same manner as provided by law, and the election results of the special runoff election shall be canvassed and certified in the manner provided by law.    (d) If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor of a city described in this section and the unexpired term is more than one (1) year, the vacancy shall be filled by a special election and special runoff election, if necessary, as provided in subsection (c) of this section.
AR Code § 14-43-305 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-305. Mayors in mayor-council cities of less than 50,000

 (a) The qualified voters of cities of the first class having a population of less than fifty thousand (50,000) and having the mayor-council form of government, on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of 1970 and every four (4) years thereafter, shall elect a mayor for four (4) years.  (b) Incumbent mayors shall continue in office until their successors are elected and qualified.
AR Code § 14-43-307 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-307. Election of council members at large or by ward

 (a)  (1) Candidates for the office of council member in cities of the first class shall reside in the ward from which they seek to be elected and shall run at large.  (2)  (A) All of the qualified electors of these cities shall be entitled to vote in the election.  (B)  (i)  (a) Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section, provisions shall be made by the election commissioners in these cities so that the qualified electors of each ward shall have at least one (1) voting site in each ward where the resident electors thereof may cast their ballots.  (b) The county board of election commissioners may reduce the number of voting sites in a city of the first class by unanimous vote if:  (1) In the most recent federal decennial census the city has a population of five thousand (5,000) or less; and  (2) The county in which the city is situated has established vote centers under § 7-5-101.      (ii) Cities of the second class that elect their council members citywide may have one (1) public place only for holding elections.        (b)  (1)  (A) The city council of any such city or the governing body of any city in transition to the mayor-council form of government may provide by ordinance that all council members be elected by ward, in which event each council member shall be voted upon by the qualified electors of the ward from which he or she is a candidate.  (B)  (i) When so provided by city ordinance, the name of the candidate shall appear upon the ballot only in the ward in which he or she is a candidate.  (ii) The city council of these cities may provide for the election of one (1) council member from each ward citywide and the other council members from each ward by the voters of the ward only.      (2) All such cities choosing to elect all council members by wards or in part by wards shall provide, in the manner provided by law, for the establishment of wards of substantially equal population in order that each council member elected from each ward shall represent substantially the same number of people in the city.
AR Code § 14-43-308 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-308. Residence qualifications of council members in primaries

 (a)  (1) In all primaries held in any city of the first class by any organized political party, the candidates for nomination for the office of council member shall reside in their respective wards.  (2) All qualified electors residing in these cities and entitled to vote in the primaries may vote at their several voting precincts for each and every candidate so to be nominated.    (b)  (1) The city council may provide by ordinance that the candidate shall only be voted upon by qualified voters of the ward who are entitled to vote in the primary from which the person is a candidate.  (2) When provided by ordinance, a candidate under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall appear upon the ballot only in the ward in which he or she is a candidate.
AR Code § 14-43-309 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-309. Residence qualifications of council members in general elections

 (a)  (1) In all general elections for council members in cities of the first class, the council members so elected shall reside in their respective wards, as provided by law.  (2) All qualified electors residing in these cities may vote at their several voting precincts for each council member so to be elected.    (b)  (1) The city council of a a city of the first class may provide by ordinance that each council member shall only be voted upon by qualified voters of the ward from which the person is a candidate.  (2) When provided by ordinance, the name of the candidate shall appear upon the ballot only in the ward in which he or she is a candidate.
AR Code § 14-43-310 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-310. Council member ceasing to reside in ward

 If any duly elected council member shall cease to reside in the ward from which he or she was elected, that person shall be disqualified to hold the office and a vacancy shall exist which shall be filled as prescribed by law.
AR Code § 14-43-311 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-311. Redistricting of wards

 (a)  (1)  (A) City councils in cities of the first class may redistrict the wards in their city when they determine that the people can best be served by adding wards, combining wards, or changing ward boundary lines to equalize the population in the various wards.  (B) The city council shall ensure that each ward has as nearly an equal population as would best serve the interest of the people of the city.    (2)  (A) Within ninety (90) days after redistricting, if one hundred (100) or more qualified electors in the city are dissatisfied with the redistricting of the city into wards, the electors may petition the circuit court.  (B) The court, after due hearing, may redistrict the city into such wards as the court shall deem best if the court finds that the redistricting action by the city council was arbitrary and capricious.      (b) At the next city election held, more than twenty (20) days after the approval of redistricted wards, there shall be elected from each of the new wards two (2) council members who shall organize the new city council at the first council meeting in January after their election.  (c)  (1)  (A) All council members elected in the city prior to redistricting of wards shall give up their positions to the new council members at the time for the organization of the new city council, as provided in subsection (b) of this section.  (B) From that date the terms of office of all previously elected council members shall cease and terminate.    (2)  (A) It shall be lawful to increase the number of wards or continue the same number of wards without affecting the terms of office of incumbent council members of the city.  (B)  (i) When the wards are reapportioned so as to increase the number of wards or readjust existing wards so that the wards contain nearly equal population, a council member who remains in his or her old ward, or part thereof, shall continue in office.  (ii) New council members shall be elected only for new wards actually formed out of the territory of old wards.        (d)  (1) All clerk's costs and other costs incurred in the proceedings authorized in this section shall be paid by the persons at whose instance the services were rendered.  (2)  (A) In case these proceedings result in the redistricting of the city into new wards, the compensation of those individuals making the redistricting shall be fixed by the circuit judge, certified to the city council, and paid out of the city treasury.  (B) This compensation shall not exceed the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) each.
AR Code § 14-43-313 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-313. City clerks and city attorneys generally

 The city clerks and the city attorneys in cities of the first class shall give the bond, perform the duties, and receive such salary as is prescribed by ordinance in each of these cities.
AR Code § 14-43-314 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 3 - Municipal Government|Chapter 43 - Government of Cities of the First Class|Subchapter 3 - Election of City Officials|§ 14-43-314. City attorney in mayor-council cities of 50,000 or more

 (a)  (1) The city attorney in any city of this state having a mayor-council form of government and having a population of fifty thousand (50,000) or more inhabitants shall be elected by the qualified electors of the city in the same manner as other municipal officials are elected.  (2) At the November 1978 general election and each four (4) years thereafter, the qualified electors of each city under this section shall elect a city attorney to take office on the next following January 1 to serve for a term of four (4) years.    (b) Any person elected as city attorney under the provisions of this section shall perform such duties, possess such qualifications, employ such staff, and be paid such salary and expenses as may be established by ordinance by the city council of the city.  (c)  (1) If no attorney residing in the city is elected as city attorney, the city council may select a resident attorney to fill the office for the remainder of the unfilled term.  (2)  (A) If no resident attorney of the city is willing to serve as city attorney or if no attorney resides within the limits of the city, the mayor and city council may contract with any licensed attorney of this state or the attorney's firm to serve as legal advisor, counselor, or prosecutor until a qualified city attorney is elected or appointed.  (B) The duties of a nonresident attorney under contract shall be prescribed by ordinance.