Oklahoma House of Representatives

The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's budget. The upper house of the Oklahoma Legislature is the Oklahoma Senate.

Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma State Legislature
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
12-year cumulative total, in either or both chambers
History
New session started
2023
Leadership
Charles McCall (R)
since January 3, 2017
Speaker pro tempore
Kyle Hilbert (R)
since February 8, 2022
Majority Leader
Josh West (R)
since January 5, 2021
Minority Leader
Cyndi Munson (D)
since November 16, 2022
Structure
Seats101
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (81)

Minority

Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle V, Oklahoma Constitution
Salary$38,400/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(101 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(101 seats)
RedistrictingLegislative control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber
Oklahoma State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Website
Oklahoma House of Representatives

The Oklahoma Constitution established the powers of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1907. Voters further amended those powers through constitutional referendums. One referendum required legislators to balance the annual state budget. Others specified the length and dates of the legislative session. Today, there are 101 House members, each representing a legislative district. District boundaries are redrawn every decade to ensure districts of equal population. Members must be 21 years of age at the time of election and a qualified elector and a resident of the legislative district to serve in the House. The state holds district elections every two years coincident with federal elections and special elections to fill vacant seats. The House meets from early February until the last Friday in May. 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 the absence of the speaker. Members organize in political party-based caucuses to develop partisan policy agendas.

After the 2022 election, Republicans hold a supermajority of the House seats in the 59th Oklahoma Legislature.

History

Early years

The Oklahoma Constitution established both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate in 1907. It met in Guthrie until 1910.[1] William H. Murray was the first Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Less than 50 legislative employees aided lawmakers in the first year.[2]

A weakening of the Democratic coalition leading up to the 1908 election allowed Republicans to make gains in the Oklahoma House. Republicans gained an even third of the legislative seats.[3] The largest gains came in Holdenville, Okmulgee, and Guthrie, each of which had a sizable African-American population.[3]

The Oklahoma Democratic lawmakers of the early 1900s opposed integration. The first legislature passed legislation that made it almost impossible for African-Americans to vote.[3] The legislature's first African-American member, A. C. Hamlin, served only one term, though he did gain the support of his fellow lawmakers to fund an African-American school in his district and create more equal accommodations for black and white railroad passengers.[4]

The Democratic Party also pushed to make Oklahoma City the capital over Guthrie, a Republican and African-American voting stronghold.[3]

In 1913, a House investigative committee forced the resignation of the state auditor and impeached the state printer and insurance commissioner.[2] The legislature at the time included Democratic members who were angry at then Governor Lee Cruce over his veto of a redistricting plan that would have gerrymandered Congressional districts and his attempt to remove public institutions established by earlier legislatures.[5] Cruce escaped an impeachment trial by one vote of the House investigative committee.[5]

Women earned the right to vote in Oklahoma in 1918 through a constitutional amendment approved by voters.[6] In 1920, Bessie S. 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 failed in many of their efforts.[7]

After eight Democratic-controlled Legislatures, Republicans took the majority from 1921 to 1922 and elected George B. Schwabe as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.[8] 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.[9]

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted eleven articles of impeachment against Governor Henry S. Johnston, which led to his expulsion from office.[10]

1930s through 1950s

A severe drought beginning in 1932 in western Oklahoma combined with land consolidation and mechanization in eastern Oklahoma drove farmers out of the state and left others in economic distress.[11] Legislatures of the 1930s battled with governors William H. Murray and Ernest W. Marland, targeting 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.[11] Lawmakers did enact an old age pension system funded by a dedicated sales tax.[11] The rejection of providing state matching funds for New Deal projects resulted in fewer projects.[11] A conservative reaction developed in Oklahoma in the late 1930s and rejected further New Deal programs.[11]

In 1941, Governor Leon C. Phillips pushed the state legislature to send a constitutional amendment to voters to force the Oklahoma House of Representatives to approve a balanced budget each year.[12] Ever since voters approved the state question, the state legislature has been constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.

The number of Republican Party seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives plummeted in the 1930s.[13]

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. In 1966, Oklahomans voted to institute 90-day annual sessions.[14] 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 earlier attempts to raise legislative pay failed, voters approved a state question in 1968 to create a board to set legislative compensation. It set compensation at $8,400 that year.[2]

State legislators enacted Oklahoma's open meeting and open records laws in 1977, but made the Oklahoma House of Representatives exempt.[15]

A shift in the behavior of Oklahoma voters occurred, beginning in the 1960s. Registered Democrats began to more often vote Republican at the federal level and later at state level. As partisan debate became more polarizing, southern states including Oklahoma abandoned old voting patterns of supporting the Democratic party.[16] After the 2004 Presidential Election, Republicans gained control of the House for the first time since 1921.[17] In 2010, Republicans gained a large majority of 70 seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.[18] Following the 2018 general election, Republicans gained the largest majority in state history with 76 of the 101 seats. This also includes the largest ever freshman class, with 46 new representatives.[19]

Powers and legislative process

The Oklahoma House and the Oklahoma Senate are 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, along with Congressional districts. The governor must sign these bills into law, or a statewide panel convenes to draw the disputed lines.[20]

Legislators, with staff support, develop and file bills prior to the legislative session. Bill sponsors submit requests for bill drafting to the professional staff of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The staff ensure bills have proper legal language and meet constitutional requirements. The bills are filed electronically with the Clerk of the House's office by a designated filing deadline. Since 1999, members of the Oklahoma House are limited to a maximum of eight bills that will receive a hearing.[21]

A proposal may be introduced as a bill, a joint resolution, a concurrent resolution, or a simple resolution.[22] Legislators use joint resolutions 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 33 of the Oklahoma Constitution requires bills for raising revenue to originate in the Oklahoma House.

Oklahoma State Capitol
House of Representatives' Chamber

The Oklahoma House meets in regular session in the west wing of the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, from the first Monday in February to the last Friday in May. Special sessions may be called by the governor, or by a written call signed by two-thirds of the members of each chamber of the Legislature.

Bills receive a First Reading when they are published in the House Journal. They then undergo a Second Reading upon assignment to committee. The committee system is designed to screen out legislation that is, in the committee's judgment, unnecessary or not ready for passage.[21]

Committees either stop the progress of a bill or approve it for consideration on the floor of the House. When a bill is called up on the floor, either the principal author or a designated member will be recognized for the explanation of the bill. Typically, after questions from other members, the bill is advanced to Third Reading and a vote is taken on final passage.[21]

Fifty-one votes are required for bill passage on the floor of the Oklahoma House. Lawmakers also vote on whether or not to make the bill effective upon signature of the governor, which requires a two-thirds majority. Action on the floor is recorded in the House Journal.[21]

Once approved on Third Reading, which is the name for this stage of the floor process, approved bills are sent to the Oklahoma Senate. If amended, bills will return to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for an acceptance of the Senate amendment(s) or to work out the differences in a conference committee, but can go directly to the governor after Senate passage.[21]

The Oklahoma House 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.[15]

Party composition

81 20
Republican Democratic
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
54th Legislature 72 29 101 0
55th Legislature 71 30 101 0
Begin 56th Legislature 75 26 101 0
End 56th Legislature 72 27 99 2
Begin 57th Legislature 76 25 101 0
December 6, 2018[23] 77 24 101 0
Begin 58th Legislature 82 19 101 0
January 21, 2022[24] 82 18 100 1
Begin 59th Legislature 81 20 101 0
September 1, 2023[25] 80 20 100 1
Latest voting share 80% 20%

Current members

Oklahoma House of Representatives districts after the November 6, 2018 elections.
DistrictRepresentativePartyResidence First elected
1 Eddy Dempsey Republican Valliant 2020
2 Jim Olsen Republican Sallisaw 2018
3 Rick West Republican Heavener 2020
4 Bob Ed Culver Jr. Republican Tahlequah 2020
5 Josh West Republican Grove 2016
6 Rusty Cornwell Republican Vinita 2018
7 Steve Bashore Republican Miami 2020
8 Tom Gann Republican Inola 2016
9 Mark Lepak Republican Claremore 2014
10 Judd Strom Republican Copan 2018
11 John Kane Republican Bartlesville 2022
12 Kevin McDugle Republican Broken Arrow 2016
13 Neil Hays Republican Checotah 2022
14 Chris Sneed Republican Fort Gibson 2018
15 Randy Randleman Republican Eufaula 2018
16 Scott Fetgatter Republican Okmulgee 2016
17 Jim Grego Republican McAlester 2018
18 David Smith Republican McAlester 2018
19 Justin Humphrey Republican Lane 2016
20 Sherrie Conley Republican Newcastle 2018
21 Cody Maynard Republican Durant 2022
22 Charles McCall Republican Atoka 2013
23 Terry O'Donnell Republican Catoosa 2013
24 Chris Banning Republican Bixby 2022
25 Ronny Johns Republican Ada 2018
26 Dell Kerbs Republican Shawnee 2016
27 Danny Sterling Republican Wanette 2018
28 Danny Williams Republican Seminole 2020
29 Kyle Hilbert Republican Depew 2016
30 Mark Lawson Republican Sapulpa 2016
31 Collin Duel Republican Guthrie 2022
32 Kevin Wallace Republican Wellston 2014
33 John Talley Republican Cushing 2018
34 Trish Ranson Democratic Stillwater 2018
35 Ty Burns Republican Morrison 2018
36 John George Republican Newalla 2022
37 Ken Luttrell Republican Ponca City 2018
38 John Pfeiffer Republican Orlando 2014
39 Vacant[26]
40 Chad Caldwell Republican Enid 2014
41 Denise Crosswhite Hader Republican Enid 2018
42 Cynthia Roe Republican Purcell 2018
43 Jay Steagall Republican Yukon 2018
44 Jared Deck Democratic Norman 2022
45 Annie Menz Democratic Norman 2022
46 Jacob Rosecrants Democratic Norman 2017
47 Brian Hill Republican Mustang 2018
48 Tammy Townley Republican Ardmore 2018
49 Josh Cantrell Republican Kingston 2022
50 Marcus McEntire Republican Duncan 2016
51 Brad Boles Republican Marlow 2018
52 Gerrid Kendrix Republican Altus 2020
53 Mark McBride Republican Moore 2013
54 Kevin West Republican Moore 2016
55 Nick Archer Republican Elk City 2022
56 Dick Lowe Republican Amber 2013
57 Anthony Moore Republican Weatherford 2020
58 Carl Newton Republican Woodward 2016
59 Mike Dobrinski Republican Kingfisher 2020
60 Rhonda Baker Republican Yukon 2016
61 Kenton Patzkowsky Republican Balko 2018
62 Daniel Pae Republican Lawton 2018
63 Trey Caldwell Republican Lawton 2018
64 Rande Worthen Republican Lawton 2016
65 Toni Hasenbeck Republican Elgin 2018
66 Clay Staires Republican Skiatook 2022
67 Jeff Boatman Republican Tulsa 2018
68 Lonnie Sims Republican Tulsa 2018
69 Mark Tedford Republican Tulsa 2022
70 Suzanne Schreiber Democratic Tulsa 2022
71 Amanda Swope Democratic Tulsa 2022
72 Monroe Nichols Democratic Tulsa 2016
73 Regina Goodwin Democratic Tulsa 2015
74 Mark Vancuren Republican Owasso 2018
75 T. J. Marti Republican Tulsa 2018
76 Ross Ford Republican Broken Arrow 2017
77 John Waldron Democratic Tulsa 2018
78 Meloyde Blancett Democratic Tulsa 2016
79 Melissa Provenzano Democratic Tulsa 2018
80 Stan May Republican Broken Arrow 2018
81 Mike Osburn Republican Edmond 2016
82 Nicole Miller Republican Oklahoma City 2018
83 Eric Roberts Republican Oklahoma City 2020
84 Tammy West Republican Bethany 2016
85 Cyndi Munson Democratic Oklahoma City 2015
86 David Hardin Republican Stilwell 2018
87 Ellyn Hefner Democratic Oklahoma City 2022
88 Mauree Turner Democratic Oklahoma City 2020
89 Arturo Alonso-Sandoval Democratic Oklahoma City 2022
90 Jon Echols Republican Oklahoma City 2013
91 Chris Kannady Republican Oklahoma City 2014
92 Forrest Bennett Democratic Oklahoma City 2016
93 Mickey Dollens Democratic Oklahoma City 2016
94 Andy Fugate Democratic Oklahoma City 2018
95 Max Wolfley Republican Oklahoma City 2020
96 Preston Stinson Republican Edmond 2020
97 Jason Lowe Democratic Oklahoma City 2016
98 Dean Davis Republican Broken Arrow 2018
99 Ajay Pittman Democratic Oklahoma City 2018
100 Marilyn Stark Republican Oklahoma City 2018
101 Robert Manger Republican Choctaw 2018

Notable past members

Organization

Leadership in the state House begins two leaders elected by their fellow lawmakers - the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Speaker Pro Tempore.[1] Party caucuses play a major role in this process by nominating candidates for key leadership positions.[27]

The speaker appoints a majority floor leader and a majority whip. The majority floor leader sets the floor calendar during session.[28] The duties of the majority whip are to assist the floor leader, ensure member attendance, count votes, and communicate the majority position on issues.[28]

The speaker also names assistant floor leaders, assistant whips, and caucus officers. Additionally, the minority party caucus elects a minority leader. The minority leader develops caucus positions, negotiates with the majority party caucus, and directs minority caucus activities on the chamber floor.[28]

The speaker appoints committee and subcommittee chairs and vice chairs.[1] The majority floor leader selects an informal team that assists with management of legislation on the House Floor.[1]

As of November 2018, The Oklahoma House of Representatives has 22 committees and 10 subcommittees.[29]

A non-partisan staff provides professional services for members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives 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] Committees are staffed primarily by research, fiscal and legal staff. The current Clerk of the House is Jan B. Harrison.[30]

Membership

A.C. Hamlin, the first black member 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.[31] Officers of the United States or state government and individuals who have been adjudged 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.[32]

State representatives serve a two-year term and are limited to six terms or 12 years. No member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives can serve more than 12 years in the Oklahoma Legislature. A term-limited member can not run for election to the Senate as both Representative terms and Senate terms are added together in determining the total number of Legislative years in office.[33]

Salaries and benefits

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives receive $38,400 in annual pay.[34] The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives receives $56,332 in annual pay. The Speaker Pro Tempore, minority leader and appropriations chair receive $50,764 in annual pay.[34] Pay is set by a nine-member state board appointed by the governor, Speaker, and President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate.[34]

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, including health and life insurance and retirement savings plans.[34]

Current makeup

As of November 2018, members of the Republican Party hold a supermajority in the House, or three-fourths seats. There are 77 Republicans and 24 Democrats.[35]

Representation

Originally, the House was apportioned according to a method spelled out in the state constitution, in which each county formed a legislative district. Representation was determined by taking the total population of the state, according to the most recent federal census, and that number was divided by one hundred, with the quotient equaling one ratio. Counties having a population less than one full ratio received one Representative; every county containing an entire ratio but less than two ratios was to be assigned two Representatives; every county containing a population of two entire ratios but less than three ratios was to be assigned three Representatives; and every county containing a population of three entire ratios but less than four ratios was to be assigned four Representatives. After the first four Representatives, a county was to qualify for additional representation on the basis of two whole ratios of population for each additional Representative.

In 1964, the United States Supreme Court ruled that this method violated the federal constitution, as it resulted in districts having wildly different populations. State lawmakers implemented a new method that continues to be used today. The Oklahoma House of Representatives must draw new district boundaries within 90 days of the latest Federal Decennial Census. Under the holding of Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964) 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 certain districts to be slightly smaller or larger than others. The Oklahoma House of Representatives draws its own maps of its district lines, which are subject to the approval of both the state 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

Office Officer Party Since
Speaker of the House Charles McCall Rep 2017

[36]

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See also

References

  1. Farmer, Rick, "Legislature", Archived 2015-01-17 at the Wayback Machine" Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived May 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (accessed June 23, 2010).
  2. "A Century to Remember" Archived 2012-09-10 at the Wayback Machine, Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed April 24, 2013)
  3. Scales, James R. and Danny Goble (1982). Oklahoma Politics: A History, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, p. 41-58.
  4. Bruce, Michael L. "Hamlin, Albert Comstock (1881-1912)", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society. (accessed April 17, 2013)
  5. Gibson, Arrell Morgan (1972). Harlow's Oklahoma History, Sixth Ed. Harlow Publishing Corporation, Norman. OCLC 3404748
  6. Reese, Linda W. Women, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 9, 2013)
  7. Pappas, Christine. McColgin, Amelia Elizabeth Simison (1875-1972 Archived 2014-12-07 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 9, 2013)
  8. Hannemann, Carolyn G. Schwabe, George Blaine (1886-1952) Archived 2012-11-19 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. (accessed April 29, 2013)
  9. O'Dell, Larry. Robertson, James Brooks Ayers (1871-1938) Archived 2013-10-05 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived April 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 11, 2013)
  10. Burke, Bob. Johnston, Henry Simpson Archived 2013-07-05 at WebCite, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived April 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 9, 2013)
  11. Bryant Jr., Keith L. New Deal, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived April 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 9, 2013)
  12. Hudson, Geneva Johnston (AuthorHouse, 2005). Statesman or Rogue: Elected to Serve. ISBN 1-4208-2503-8
  13. Gaddie, Ronald Keith. Republican Party Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived April 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 9, 2013)
  14. Kirkpatrick, Samuel A. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1978). The Legislative Process in Oklahoma, p. 8. ISBN 0-8061-1421-5
  15. Dean, Bryan. Oklahoma legislators consider making themselves subject to openness laws, Oklahoman, March 11, 2012. (accessed March 28, 2022)
  16. Kirkpatrick, Samuel A., David R. Morgan and Thomas G. Kielhorn (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977. The Oklahoma Voter. ISBN 0-8061-1391-X
  17. McNutt, Michael. "Republicans select speaker designate" http://newsok.com/republicans-select-speaker-designate/article/2969390, The Oklahoman November 10, 2006.
  18. McNutt, Michael. "Oklahoma's legislative leaders pledge to work with Democrats", The Oklahoman, November 7, 2010.
  19. "Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2018". Ballotpedia.
  20. Redistricting, Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed May 14, 2013)
  21. "Course of Bills", Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed April 19, 2013)
  22. Kirkpatrick, Samuel A. (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1978). The Legislative Process in Oklahoma, p. 109-111. ISBN 0-8061-1421-5
  23. "Oklahoma state representative changes party affiliation". kfor.com. December 6, 2018.
  24. "Oklahoma House Rep resigns over inappropriate actions". 20 January 2022.
  25. "Oklahoma Rep. Ryan Martinez to resign from office following plea". 19 August 2023.
  26. Ryan Martinez resigned after pleading guilty to a 2022 DUI.
  27. "Legislative Organization", Inside the Legislative Process, National Conference of State Legislatures. (accessed January 3, 2014)
  28. "Legislative Organization: Legislative Leaders", Inside the Legislative Process, National Conference of State Legislatures. (accessed January 3, 2014)
  29. http://www.okhouse.gov/Media/News_Story.aspx?NewsID=5174 , (accessed January 17, 2017).
  30. "Legislative Committee Structure and Staffing Patterns", Southern Legislative Conference. (accessed January 3, 2014)
  31. 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).
  32. 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).
  33. 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).
  34. 2013 Legislative Manual, Oklahoma House of Representatives, p. 24. (accessed May 16, 2013)
  35. "Membership". Oklahoma House of Representatives. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  36. "House Leadership". Retrieved 12 April 2021.

35°29′32″N 97°30′12″W

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.