Oklahoma Legislature

Oklahoma Legislature
Name	Oklahoma Legislature
Legislature	Oklahoma State Legislature
House type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate, House of Representatives
Leader1 type	Senate President
Leader1	Greg Treat
Party1	(R)
Election1	2019
Leader2 type	House Speaker
Leader2	Charles McCall
Party2	(R)
Election2	2017
Members	149, 48 Senators, 101 Representatives
Political groups1	Senate, Majority (40), 40
Political groups2	House, Majority (81), 81
Last election1	November 8, 2022
Next election1	November 5, 2024
Last election2	November 8, 2022
Next election2	November 5, 2024
Meeting place	Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma City
Website	oklegislature.gov

Oklahoma Legislature. The legislative branch of the state government is a bicameral body, consisting of the Oklahoma Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives. It convenes within the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City and is responsible for enacting state laws, approving the budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch. Members are elected from districts across the state, with the Republican Party holding a significant majority in both chambers following the 2010 Oklahoma elections.

History

The legislature was established upon Oklahoma's admission to the United States on November 16, 1907, following the Oklahoma Enabling Act. The first session convened in Guthrie, the initial state capital, before permanently moving to Oklahoma City. Key historical figures include Henry S. Johnston, the first President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, and William H. Murray, the first Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The political landscape was dominated by the Democratic Party for much of the 20th century, a shift beginning with the election of Henry Bellmon as the state's first Republican governor in 1962. The Republican Revolution of the 1990s culminated in the GOP gaining control of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2004 and the Oklahoma Senate in 2008, establishing the current supermajority.

Structure and composition

The legislature comprises two chambers: the Oklahoma Senate with 48 members and the Oklahoma House of Representatives with 101 members. Senators serve staggered four-year terms, while Representatives serve two-year terms. All members are elected from single-member districts drawn following each United States Census. Leadership includes the President of the Oklahoma Senate, a position held by the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma until a 1966 constitutional amendment transferred the role to a senator, currently Greg Treat. The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, currently Charles McCall, presides over the lower chamber. Key committees that wield significant influence include the Appropriations and Budget Committee and the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget.

Powers and duties

The legislature's primary constitutional authority is to enact laws for the state, as outlined in the Oklahoma Constitution. It holds the "power of the purse," responsible for passing the annual state budget and all revenue-raising measures. It exercises oversight through committees that review the operations of agencies like the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The body also has the power to propose constitutional amendments, initiate impeachment proceedings against state officers, and confirm gubernatorial appointments to bodies such as the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Legislative process

A bill may be introduced in either chamber by a member. It is then referred to a relevant committee, such as the Public Safety Committee or the Education Committee, for hearing and potential amendment. If approved, the bill proceeds to the floor for debate and vote. Passage requires a majority vote in both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate. The Governor of Oklahoma then may sign it into law, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto it. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. The process is governed by rules set by each chamber's leadership and the Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure.

Current session and leadership

The First Session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature convened in February 2023. The Oklahoma Senate is led by President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, with Kay Floyd serving as Minority Leader. The Oklahoma House of Representatives is led by Speaker Charles McCall, with Cyndi Munson serving as Minority Leader. Key legislative priorities for the session often include tax policy, education funding for Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, and regulations for industries like oil and gas in Oklahoma.

Notable legislation

Throughout its history, the legislature has passed significant and often controversial acts. Early legislation included laws establishing Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. In 1910, it passed the Oklahoma Criminal Syndicalism Act, a law later used against the Industrial Workers of the World. More recently, the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007 (House Bill 1804) was a strict immigration enforcement law. The legislature has also passed multiple bills restricting abortion, including a 2016 law that led to the Supreme Court of the United States case Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. Other notable acts include the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act following State Question 788 and the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act, which created a tax credit for private school scholarships.

Category:Oklahoma Legislature Category:State legislatures of the United States