Oklahoma House of Representatives

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Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type Lower house
Term limits 12 year cumulative total, in either or both chambers
History
New session started February 4, 2013
Leadership
Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon, (R)
Since January 8, 2013
Majority Floor Leader Pam Peterson, (R)
Since January 8, 2013
Minority Leader Scott Inman, (D)
Since January 4, 2011
Structure
Seats 101
Political groups      Republican Party (72)
     Democratic Party (29)
Length of term 2 years
Authority Article V, Oklahoma Constitution
Salary $38,400/year + per diem
Elections
Last election November 6, 2012
(101 seats)
Next election November 4, 2014
(101 seats)
Redistricting Legislative Control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Oklahoma State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Website
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma
Seal of Oklahoma.svg
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Oklahoma
For the current session, see 54th Oklahoma Legislature.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the state's budget. The upper house of the Oklahoma Legislature is the Oklahoma Senate.

Established by the 1907 Oklahoma Constitution, the powers of the Oklahoma House of Representatives have been modified over the years by constitutional amendments approved by voters, including limitations on the length of the legislative session and a requirement that they balance the annual budget for each fiscal year. Today, the Oklahoma House of Representatives is composed of 101 members, each representing a legislative district. District boundaries are redrawn every decade to ensure districts of equal population.

To serve in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, a person must be a citizen of Oklahoma 21 years of age or older. Elections are held every two years coincident with federal elections. Vacancies are filled by special election. The House meets from early February until the last Friday in May. After the 2012 election, more than two-thirds of the seats were held by Republicans. Members elect a Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the presiding officer and a Speaker Pro Tempore, who serves as the presiding officer in his absence. Members are organized into political party-based caucuses.

Contents

History

Early years

The Oklahoma House of Representatives was established alongside the Oklahoma Senate by the 1907 Oklahoma Constitution.1 It met in Guthrie until 1910.1 William H. Murray was the first Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the first legislature included Oklahoma's first black member, A. C. Hamlin.2 The staff of the first legislature was composed of less than 50 employees.2

The Oklahoma Democratic lawmakers of the early 1900s opposed integration and the first legislature passed legislation that came to be known as the grandfather clause, which made it nearly impossible for African-Americans to vote. Although Hamlin served only one term, he was able to successfully gain the support of his fellow lawmakers to fund a black school in his district and create more equal accomodations for black and white railroad passengers.3

In 1913, a House investigative committee forced the resignation of the state auditor and the impeachment and conviction of the state printer and insurance commissioner.2

Women earned the right to vote in Oklahoma in 1918 through a constitutional amendment approved by voters.4 In 1920, Bessie McColgin became the first woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. A Republican, McColgin and her female colleague in the Oklahoma Senate, focused on the passage of public health bills, but ultimately failed in many of their efforts.5

After eight Democratic-controlled legislatures, Republicans took the majority briefly from 1921-1923 with George B. Schwabe serving as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, before going onto serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.6 The Republican-dominated House brought impeachment charges against Lieutenant Governor Martin Trapp and narrowly failed to approve impeachment charges against both the state treasurer and Oklahoma Governor James Roberts. The Democratic-dominated Senate did not sustain the impeachment charges against Trapp.7

Governor Henry S. Johnston became the second governor to be impeached by legislators, with members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives voting eleven articles of impeachment against him, which ultimately led to his expulsion from office.8

1930s through 1950s

A severe drought beginning in 1932 in western Oklahoma and land consolidation and mechanization in eastern Oklahoma drove farmers out of the state and left others in economic distress.9 Legislatures of the 1930s battled with governors William H. Murray and Ernest W. Marland, specifically Murray's efforts to generate relief for farmers and Marland's proposals to create a state public works program, reform the tax code and create unemployment insurance.9 Lawmakers did, however, enact an old age pension system funded by a dedicated sales tax.9 The rejection of providing state matching funds for New Deal projects resulted in fewer projects.9 A conservative reaction developed in Oklahoma in the late 1930s and ultimately rejected further New Deal programs.9

The number of Republican Party seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives fell dramatically in the 1930s.10

1960s to Present

The legislative sessions held by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate changed due to two key legislative reforms in 1966 and 1989. Originally there was no limit to the length of the legislative session of the Oklahoma Legislature, but in 1966, voters approved 90-day legislative sessions. An initiative petition championed by Governor Henry Bellmon in 1989 further required the legislative sessions to end by 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May.2

After numerous failed attempts to raise legislative pay, a successful state question in 1968 created the Board of Legislative Compensation, which set legislative compensation at 8,400 that year.2

When Oklahoma's open meeting and open records laws were enacted in 1977, the Oklahoma House of Representatives was made exempt.11

After the 2004 Presidential Election, Republicans gained control of the House for the first time since 1921.12 In 2010, Republicans gained a large majority of 70 seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.13

Powers and legislative process

The Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate are jointly responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the state's budget.1 Every ten years, legislators are responsible for designating new district boundaries for state electoral districts including Congressional districts. The governor must sign these bills into law or a statewide panel is convened to draw the disputed lines.14

Bills are developed and filed prior to the legislative session. Bill sponsors submit requests for bill drafting to the professional staff of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, who ensure bills have proper legal language and meet with constitutional requirements. The bills are filed with the chief clerk's office by a designated filing deadline.15 Since 1999, members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives are limited to a maximum of eight bills that will receive a hearing.15

A proposal may be introduced as a bill, a joint resolution, a concurrent resolution, or a simple resolution. Joint resolutions are the normal method used to propose a constitutional amendment. Concurrent resolutions (passed by both houses) and simple resolutions (passed by only one house) do not have the force of law. Instead, they serve to express the opinion of approving house of houses, or to regulate procedure. Article 5 Section 33A of the Oklahoma Constitution requires all bills for raising revenue to originate in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Oklahoma State Capitol

The Oklahoma House of Representatives meets in regular session in the west wing of the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, from early February to the last Friday in May. Special sessions may be called by the Governor of Oklahoma, or by supermajority vote of the Legislature.

Bills are given a First Reading, where they are filed by title and published in the House Journal to make the public aware of them. They then undergo a Second Reading, after which they are assigned to committee.15 The committee system is designed to screen out legislation that is, in the committee's judgment, unnecessary or not ready for passage.15

Committees either stop the progress of a bill or approve it for consideration by the House Calendar Committee, which votes on whether or not to make it available on the floor of the House. When a bill is called up on the floor, either the principal author or a member of his choice will be recognized for the explanation of the bill. After a number of other potential procedures, a motion can be called to advance the bill and a vote is taken.15

Fifty-one votes are required for bill passage on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Lawmakers also vote on whether or not to make the bill effective upon signature of the governor, which requires a two-thirds majority.15 Action on the floor is recorded in the House Journal.15

Once approved on Third Reading, which is the name for this stage of the floor process, approved bills are sent to the Oklahoma Senate.15 If amended, bills will return to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for a Fourth Reading, but can go directly to the governor after Senate passage.15

Unlike most state entities, the Oklahoma House of Representatives is not subject to the state's open meeting and open records laws due to provisions to exempt the state legislature in the 1977-enacted laws.16

Composition

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 67 31 98 3
Begin 72 29 101 0
Percentage 71.3% 28.7%

Organization

Leadership in the Oklahoma House of Representatives begins with the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, who are elected by their fellow lawmakers.1 The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives appoints a majority floor leader and a majority whip.

Members of each party elect assistant floor leaders, assistant whips, and caucus officers. Additionally, the minority party elects a Minority leader.

The speaker appoints committee leadership positions, which include committee and subcommittee chairs and vice chairs.1 The majority floor leader selects an informal leadership team.1

As of 2013, The Oklahoma House of Representatives has the 20 committees.17

Professional services for members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives are provided by a non-partisan staff of the chamber in addition to the Oklahoma Legislative Service Bureau. Individual members are also assisted by partisan staff members, and those in leadership positions have additional partisan staff.2

Membership

A.C. Hamlin, the first black member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
See also: Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and List of current members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives

Terms and qualifications

In order to file for election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, one must be 21 years of age at the time of their election and a qualified elector and resident of their legislative district.18 Officers of the United States or state government and individuals who have been adudged guilty of a felony are not eligible to election to the Oklahoma Legislature. If a member of the Oklahoma Legislature is expelled for corruption, they are not eligible to return to legislative office.19

State representatives serve two-year terms. No member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives can serve more than 12 years in the Oklahoma Legislature.20

Salaries and benefits

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives receive $38,400 in annual pay, while legislative leaders earn a larger salary.21 The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives receives $56,332 in annual pay and the Speaker Pro Tempore, Minority leader and appropriations chair receive $50,764 in annual pay.21 Pay is set a nine-member state board appointed by the governor, Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate.21

State legislators can seek reimbursement for expenses related to meals, lodging, and travel related to their duties at any point during the year. They have access to benefits received by state employees, including health and life insurance and retirement savings plans.21

Current makeup

As of December 2012, more than a two-thirds majority of seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives are held by members of the Republican Party, with 72 Republicans and 29 Democrats.22

Representation

After the original method spelled out in the state constitution was found to violate the federal constitution, a new method was instituted that continues to be used today. The Oklahoma House of Representatives is authorized to draw new district boundaries once every 10 years. Under the holding of Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964) all districts must be apportioned within a five percent margin of the average target size district as determined by the U.S. Census population figures divided by the one hundred and one districts. This allows for some districts to be slightly smaller or larger than others. The House draws its own maps of its district lines, which are subject to the approval of both the Senate and the Governor. Should the redistricting not occur in the time limits prescribed by law, the lines are determined by a panel of five statewide elected officials.

Leadership

As of 2013, T.W. Shannon, of Lawton, Oklahoma, is serving his first term as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Mike Jackson, of Enid, Oklahoma, is the Speaker Pro Tempore. Pam Peterson serves as the Majority Floor Leader and Todd Thomsen is the Majority Whip. Fred Jordan and Dennis Johnson are designated as Majority Leaders and serve the purpose of managing communications between an increasingly large caucus in both the Oklahoma Senate and House.23

As of 2013, Scott Inman serves as minority leader, Ben Sherrer serves as minority floor leader and Chuck Hoskin is the minority whip.23

Scott Martin serves as the chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Notable past members

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Farmer, Rick, "Legislature," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed June 23, 2010).
  2. ^ a b c d e f "A Century to Remember", Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed April 24, 2013)
  3. ^ Bruce, Michael L. "Hamlin, Albert Comstock (1881-1912)", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. (accessed April 17, 2013)
  4. ^ Reese, Linda W. Women, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 9, 2013)
  5. ^ Pappas, Christine. McColgin, Amelia Elizabeth Simison (1875-1972, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture] (accessed May 9, 2013)
  6. ^ Hannemann, Carolyn G. Schwabe, George Blaine (1886-1952), Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. (accessed April 29, 2013)
  7. ^ O'Dell, Larry. Robertson, James Brooks Ayers (1871-1938), Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 11, 2013)
  8. ^ Burke, Bob. Johnston, Henry Simpson, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 9, 2013)
  9. ^ a b c d e Bryant Jr., Keith L. New Deal, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 9, 2013)
  10. ^ Gaddie, Ronald Keith. Republican Party, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 9, 2013)
  11. ^ Dean, Bryan. Oklahoma legislators consider making themselves subject to openness laws, Oklahoman, March 11, 2012. (accessed April 16, 2013)
  12. ^ McNutt, Michael. "Republicans select speaker designate" http://newsok.com/republicans-select-speaker-designate/article/2969390, The Oklahoman November 10, 2006.
  13. ^ McNutt, Michael. "Oklahoma's legislative leaders pledge to work with Democrats", The Oklahoman, November 7, 2010.
  14. ^ Redistricting, Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed May 14, 2013)
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Course of Bills", Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed April 19, 2013)
  16. ^ Dean, Bryan. Oklahoma legislators consider making themselves subject to openness laws, Oklahoman, March 11, 2012. (accessed April 16, 2013)
  17. ^ House Committees, Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed January 2, 2013).
  18. ^ Article V, Section 17: Age - Qualified electors - Residents, Constitution of the State of Oklahoma at Oklahoma Legal Research System, University of Oklahoma College of Law (accessed May 3, 2010).
  19. ^ Section V-19: Expelled member ineligible - Punishment not to bar indictment, Constitution of the State of Oklahoma at Oklahoma Legal Research System, University of Oklahoma College of Law (accessed May 3, 2010).
  20. ^ Section V-17A: Limitation of time served in the Legislature, Constitution of the State of Oklahoma at Oklahoma Legal Research System, University of Oklahoma College of Law (accessed May 3, 2010).
  21. ^ a b c d 2013 Legislative Manual, Oklahoma House of Representatives, p. 24. (accessed May 16, 2013)
  22. ^ "Membership". Oklahoma House of Representatives. Retrieved April 12, 2013. 
  23. ^ a b "Leadership". Oklahoma House of Representatives. Retrieved April 12, 2013. 

External links

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United States Congress
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Other legislatures
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Coordinates: 35°29′32″N 97°30′12″W / 35.49222°N 97.50333°W / 35.49222; -97.50333