Today’s episode of the Arkansas Civic Minute is brought to you by Civic Arkansas, a Winthrop Rockefeller Institute program, and hosted by Little Rock Public Radio’s Politics and Government Reporter Josie Lenora.
City governments pass ordinances and set policies for their cities. Governors and state legislatures pass laws for the entire state. But most counties include large open spaces outside city limits. These spaces are governed by the Quorum Court.
Quorum Court members are elected every other year. Each member is called a “justice of the peace.” The chair of each court is called a "County Judge,” though they aren't technically real judges.
The court manages county business like creating taxes, approving salaries and budgets. For example, a county sheriff's salary and budget may need court approval. All 75 counties in Arkansas have a quorum court.
Support for the Arkansas Civic Minute is provided by Civic Arkansas, a Winthrop Rockefeller Institute program. As a nonprofit convenor, the Institute looks to strengthens civic health by putting people first, removing barriers to participation, and supporting community-led solutions for a more connected civic culture. More information at https://rockefellerinstitute.org/programs/civic-arkansas/.