Editing Fayetteville, Arkansas (section)

==Government==
[[File:Mayor Lioneld Jordan at FPL.jpg|thumb|upright|Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan addresses a crowd at the Fayetteville Public Library]]

===Mayor–city council===
Fayetteville operates within the [[Mayor–council government|mayor–city council]] form of government. The mayor is elected by a citywide election to serve as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the city by presiding over all city functions, policies, rules and laws. Once elected, the mayor also allocates duties to city employees. The Fayetteville mayoral election in coincidence with the election of the president of the United States. Mayors serve four-year terms and can serve unlimited terms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fayetteville, Arkansas Mayor |url=http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/mayor/index.cfm |publisher=City of Fayetteville |access-date=July 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726124149/http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/mayor/index.cfm |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> The city council is the [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] legislative of the city, consisting of eight aldermen. Also included in the council's duties is balancing the city's budget and passing ordinances. The body also controls the representatives of specialized city commissions underneath their jurisdiction. Two aldermen are elected from each of the city's four wards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fayetteville, Arkansas City Council |url=http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/city_council/index.cfm |publisher=City of Fayetteville |access-date=July 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904235423/http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/city_council/index.cfm |archive-date=September 4, 2011 }}</ref>

===Citizen boards, commissions, and committees===
Citizen input is welcomed through the use of various specialized groups. Although some positions are appointed by the mayor, many are held by volunteers. Requirements to serve include being a resident of Fayetteville and submitting an application in order to gain access to any of Fayetteville's 28 city boards. The boards have appointed positions ranging from ones on the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission to the Fayetteville Arts Council and the [[Fayetteville Public Library]] Board of Trustees to the Historic District Commission and the Tree and Landscape Advisory Committee.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fayetteville, Arkansas City Clerk: Boards, Commissions and Committees |url=http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/city_clerk/boards_and_commissions/index.cfm |publisher=City of Fayetteville |access-date=July 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727021207/http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/city_clerk/boards_and_commissions/index.cfm |archive-date=July 27, 2011 }}</ref>

===Judicial system===
[[File:Washington County Courthouse, Fayetteville, Arkansas.jpg|thumb|Washington County bought the First South Centre in 1994, and it became the Washington County Courthouse, replacing the [[Washington County Courthouse (Arkansas)|previous structure]], which was built in 1905.]]
The Fayetteville District Court is located at 176 S Church Avenue in downtown Fayetteville, and is presided over by the district judge, who is elected in a citywide election. The court handles criminal, civil, small claims, and traffic matters within the city limits. Beyond city court, Fayetteville is under the jurisdiction of the Fayetteville Department of Washington County District Court. The Washington County District Court was a local district court, meaning it is presided over by part-time judges who may privately practice law.<ref>{{cite web |title= Judicial Directory |url= https://courts.arkansas.gov/sites/default/files/Judicial%20Directory.pdf |pages= 10–21 |date= November 4, 2015 |access-date= December 6, 2015 |publisher= State of Arkansas |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151204100444/https://courts.arkansas.gov/sites/default/files/Judicial%20Directory.pdf |archive-date= December 4, 2015 }}</ref> The court became a state district court and is presided over by a full-time judge as of 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arkansas District Court |url=http://www.arlegalservices.org/system/files/FS-Arkansas%20District%20Courts.pdf |date=December 2013 |publisher=Arkansas Legal Services Partnership |access-date=December 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222074942/http://www.arlegalservices.org/system/files/FS-Arkansas%20District%20Courts.pdf |archive-date=December 22, 2015 }}</ref> Superseding that jurisdiction is the [[Arkansas Circuit Courts|4th Judicial Circuit Court]], which covers Washington and Madison counties. The circuit court has seven circuit judges.<ref>{{cite web |title= Fourth Judicial Circuit of Arkansas |work= Amended Administrative Plan |date= January 1, 2015 |url= https://courts.arkansas.gov/system/files/Fourth%20Circuit_0.pdf |access-date= December 6, 2015 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150515100950/https://courts.arkansas.gov/system/files/Fourth%20Circuit_0.pdf |archive-date= May 15, 2015 }}</ref>

===Politics===
The current mayor of Fayetteville is Molly Rawn.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/526/Mayor | title=City of Fayetteville, Arkansas }}</ref> Rawn was elected in 2024, defeating longtime incumbent mayor Lioneld Jordan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4029tv.com/article/molly-rawn-fayetteville-mayor/63087424 | title=Molly Rawn defeats Lioneld Jordan in Fayetteville mayor's race | date=December 5, 2024 }}</ref>

The state representatives who serve districts containing portions of Fayetteville are Rep. [[Nicole Clowney]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Arkansas House Of Representatives {{!}} Nicole Clowney |url=https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/Detail?member=Clowney&ddBienniumSession=2019%2F2020F |website=www.arkansashouse.org |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029172349/https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/Detail?member=Clowney&ddBienniumSession=2019%2F2020F |url-status=live }}</ref> Rep. [[David Whitaker (politician)|David Whitaker]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Arkansas House Of Representatives {{!}} David Whitaker |url=https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/85 |website=www.arkansashouse.org |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423191622/https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/85 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Rep. [[Denise Garner]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Arkansas House Of Representatives {{!}} Denise Garner |url=https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/84 |website=www.arkansashouse.org |access-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414201217/https://www.arkansashouse.org/district/84 |url-status=live }}</ref> The state senators who serve districts containing portions of Fayetteville are Sen. [[Greg Leding]] and Sen. [[Lance Eads]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Member Profile {{!}} Greg Leding|url=https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/Detail?member=G.+Leding&ddBienniumSession=2019%2F2020F|website=www.arkleg.state.ar.us|access-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Member Profile {{!}} Lance Eads|url=https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/Detail?member=L.+Eads&ddBienniumSession=2019%2F2020F|website=www.arkleg.state.ar.us|access-date=March 17, 2020|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810122030/https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/Detail?member=L.%20Eads&ddBienniumSession=2019%2F2020F|url-status=live}}</ref>