Politics of Oklahoma
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Politics of Oklahoma takes place in a framework of a presidential republic modeled after the United States, whereby the Governor of Oklahoma is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform two-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Governor. Legislative power is vested in both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Judicial power is vested in the Oklahoma Court System, which is independent of the executive and the legislative branches. The political system is laid out in the 1907 Oklahoma Constitution.
For information in the state, county, and local government of Oklahoma, see Government of Oklahoma.
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[edit] Political history
Until 1964, Oklahoma was considered a "swing state" in American politics, meaning, Oklahoma went back and forth between supporting the two major parties (Democrats and Republicans). The Republican candidate has carried Oklahoma in every Presidential election since 1968, mostly by large margins. However, Oklahoma voters would split their political allegiances (electing Democrats for local government, but Republicans for national office). In general, Oklahoma can be characterized as a politically conservative state (with a few exceptions).
[edit] Early Days
Oklahoma politics from statehood through World War I was dominated by the Democratic Party, with the Republican Party and the Socialist Party vying to challenge the Democratic Party's dominance. Major issues of concern during era included the fight over Jim Crow Laws (at first opposed by Republicans and Socialists, later only by the Socialists), the growing dominance of the Ku Klux Klan in government and society, and the civil rights struggles of the repressive World War I era. During this time period, Oklahoma was a three-party state in which Socialists were elected to the state legislature and local office, and also got the nation's highest vote count (per capita) for the party's candidate, Eugene V. Debs in 1916.
Following the practical destruction of the Socialist party in the aftermath of the Green Corn Rebellion and WWI repression, state politics became a two-party system which excluded Black voters.
[edit] New Deal coalition
At the U.S. Presidential level, Oklahoma's electoral college vote was a reliable part of Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" coalition (which began in the U.S. election of 1932). Oklahoma did support President Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, but then returned to supporting the Democrats in 1964 (Oklahoma split its electoral college vote in 1960).
During this same time period, Oklahoma's Governors, legislature, and delegation to Congress continued to be dominated by the Democratic party.
[edit] Southern strategy
During the presidential campaign in 1968, Oklahoma was targeted by the Republican party to be included in what was called the Southern Strategy. Beginning with the second Presidential campaign of Richard Nixon (who appealed to Oklahoma voters on the issue of law and order), Oklahoma gradually changed in its voting pattern in national elections to become an increasingly reliable Republican state for presidential tickets. President George W. Bush carried Oklahoma twice (by a wide margin), in 2000 and 2004, for example. In 2004, every Oklahoma county voted for President George W. Bush over Senator John Kerry.
Gradually, the success of the Republican Party began to translate into Congressional, legislative, and other local political races.
[edit] Oklahoma politics today
By the start of the 21st century, conservative Republicans are the rising force in Oklahoma, but Democrats are still a major factor in statewide politics. In 2006, the incumbent Democrat governor won re-election by 66% over a former Republican Congressman. Despite the landslide victory for the Democrats, the Republicans gained two seats in the State Senate, making a 24 Democrat, 24 Republican tie in the senate, and increased their lead in the house of 57-44.
[edit] Political institutions
As in the national government of the United States, power in Oklahoma is divided into three main branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
[edit] Executive
The capital of the state is Oklahoma City and the Governor of Oklahoma is Brad Henry, a Democrat. His first term began on January 13, 2003 and he was reelected in 2006. The current Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma is Democrat Jari Askins. Askins concurrently serves, by virtue of her office as Lieutenant Governor, as the President of the Oklahoma Senate. The offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor have four-year terms. The Governor is assisted by a Cabinet consisting of the assembled heads of the various executive departments called Secretaries. Of the Secretaries, the highest in rank is Secretary of State, currently M. Susan Savage, a Democrat, who is the only appointed executive office set out under the Oklahoma Constitution.
All other nine state wide executive offices are contested in elections, with all offices other than the Corporation Commissioners, who serve staggered six year terms, serving four year terms that run concurrent with that of the Governor.
- See also: Governor of Oklahoma and Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2006
[edit] Current executive branch
[edit] Legislative
The Oklahoma Legislature is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101 members, each serving a two-year term. The Senate has 48 members, each serving a four-year term. Members of both houses are elected from single member districts of equal population. The 101 Representatives serve two year terms and the 48 Senators serve staggered four year terms, such that only half of the senate districts have elections every two years.
The state has term limits for their legislature that restrict any one person to a total of twelve years service in both the House and Senate.
The Legislature convenes in regular session at noon each odd number year on the first Monday in February. However, in the odd numbered years following an election, the Legislature must meet on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January for the sole purpose of determining the outcome of the state wide-elections. The state constitution limits the Legislature to meeting 160 legislative days during each biennium. In addition, the Legislature may not meet in regular session after the last Friday in May of each year.
[edit] Current composition
| Year | Republican | Democrat |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 65.57% 959,792 | 34.43% 503,966 |
| 2000 | 60.31% 744,337 | 38.43% 474,276 |
| 1996 | 48.26% 582,315 | 40.45% 488,105 |
| 1992 | 42.65% 592,929 | 34.02% 473,066 |
| 1988 | 57.93% 678,367 | 41.28% 483,423 |
| 1984 | 68.61% 861,530 | 30.67% 385,080 |
| 1980 | 60.50% 695,570 | 34.97% 402,026 |
| 1976 | 49.96% 545,708 | 48.75% 532,442 |
| 1972 | 73.70% 759,025 | 24.00% 247,147 |
| 1968 | 47.68% 449,697 | 31.99% 301,658 |
| 1964 | 44.25% 412,665 | 55.75% 519,834 |
| 1960 | 59.02% 533,039 | 40.98% 370,111 |
In the 51st Legislature (2007–2009), the Republicans controls the House of Representatives (57 to 44) and the Senate is currently evenly divided (24 to 24) between the Democrats and Republicans. Lieutenant Governor Askins’s constitutional vote gives the Democrats a one vote majority but majority control is split between the two parties in accordance with an agreement.
The Oklahoma House of Representatives
| Affiliation | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican Party | 57 | |
| Democratic Party | 44 | |
| Seat Vacant | 0 | |
| Total | 101 | |
The Oklahoma Senate
| Affiliation | Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 24 | |
| Republican Party | 24 | |
| Seat Vacant | 0 | |
| Total | 48 | |
[edit] Current Leadership
The Oklahoma House of Representatives
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker of the House | Chris Benge | Republican | February, 2008 |
| Speaker pro Tempore | Gus Blackwell | Republican | February 3, 2007 |
| Majority Floor Leader | Greg Piatt | Republican | February 3, 2007 |
| Minority Floor Leader | Danny Morgan | Democrat | February 3, 2007 |
The Oklahoma Senate
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| President of the Senate | Jari Askins | Democrat | January 2, 2007 |
| President Pro Tempore | Mike Morgan | Democrat | 2005 |
| Co-President Pro Tempore | Glenn Coffee | Republican | January 2, 2007 |
| Republican Co-Floor Leader | Owen Laughlin | Republican | January 2, 2007 |
| Democrat Co-Floor Leader | Charlie Laster | Democrat | January 2, 2007 |
[edit] Judicial
The Oklahoma Court System has six levels. Most cases start in the district courts, which are courts of general jurisdiction. The lowest level courts are the Municipal Courts which exist to oversee the administration of justice within cities and have jurisdiction only over the violation of city ordinances. Appeals from Municipal Courts are heard by District Courts. There are 77 District Courts, with each having either a single or multiple District Judges with at least one Associate District Judge to administer justice. Appeals from the District Courts and challenges to certain governmental decisions are heard by either the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals for civil appeals or the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals for criminal appeals. The Court of Civil Appeals has twelve judges who sit in two-judge divisions and the Court of Criminal Appeals has five judges.
Two specialized courts within administrative agencies have been established, the Court of Tax Review hears disputes involving illegal taxes levied by county and city governments, and the Workers’ Compensation Court.
The nine-justice Oklahoma Supreme Court is the court of last resort for all civil appeals. The Court has appellate jurisdiction on all civil issues, the Court of Civil Appeals, the Court of Tax Review and the Worker's Compensation Court. The Court only has original jurisdiction when new first impression issues, or important issues of law, or matters of great public interest are at stake.
Within the Oklahoma court system there are two independent courts: the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary which monitors the actions of all judges and justices and the Oklahoma Court of Impeachment, which is the Oklahoma Senate sitting, which acts serves as the only court that can remove the highest levels of state government officials from their offices.
Federal court cases are heard in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma based in Muskogee, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma based in Tulsa, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma based in Oklahoma City. Appeals are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in Denver, Colorado.
[edit] Federal representation
Oklahoma's two U.S. Senators are elected at large:
- Senior Senator Jim Inhofe (Republican)
- Junior Senator Tom Coburn (Republican)
Oklahoma currently has five congressional districts. There were 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th districts but they have been eliminated.
U.S. House of Representatives:
- Oklahoma's 1st congressional district covers the northeastern corner of the state and it borders Kansas to the north — Rep. John Sullivan (Republican).
- Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district covers (approximately) the eastern one-fourth of the state, bordering Kansas to the north, Missouri and Arkansas to the east, and Texas along the Red River to the south — Rep. Dan Boren (Democrat).
- Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district covers all of western Oklahoma and borders New Mexico to the west, Colorado and Kansas to the north, and the Texas panhandle to the south — Rep. Frank Lucas (Republican).
- Oklahoma's 4th congressional district covers south-central Oklahoma and borders Texas along the Red River to the south — Rep. Tom Cole (Republican).
- Oklahoma's 5th congressional district covers central Oklahoma and borders all of the other congressional districts except District 1. — Rep. Mary Fallin (Republican).
[edit] Gallery of members of U.S. Senate
 Senior Senator Jim Inhofe |
 Junior Senator Tom Coburn |
[edit] Gallery of members of U.S. House of Representatives
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[edit] See also
- Split-ticket voting
- Oklahoma Democratic Party
- Oklahoma Republican Party
- Green Party of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Libertarian Party
- Oklahoma Congressional Districts
- United States Congressional Delegations from Oklahoma
- List of United States Senators from Oklahoma
- Governor of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Legislature
- List of politics by U.S. state
- Party switching in the United States
- Illegal Immigration - Oklahoma has recently passed a law to discourage illegal immigration
[edit] External links
- Brief on Oklahoma politics.
- Oklahoma Political Science Association Homepage.
- Oklahoma's two U.S. Senators
- Oklahoma Democratic Party
- Oklahoma Republican Party
- Republican State Senator Nancy Riley switches parties from Republican to Democrat
- Lawton Politics
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