Oklahoma House of Representatives: Difference between revisions

Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Type
Type	Lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature
Leadership
Speaker of the House	Chris Benge, R ; since January 28, 2008
Speaker pro tempore	Kris Steele, R ; since January 6, 2009
Structure
Seats	101
Political groups	Republican Party: 62; Democratic Party: 39
Meeting place
	Oklahoma State Capitol
Website
	http://www.okhouse.gov/

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 19:55, 10 December 2010

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.^[1] The upper house of the Oklahoma Legislature is the Oklahoma Senate.

Originally, each county in Oklahoma was represented in the House proportional to its population, but a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1964 forced the state to redistrict. Today, there are 101 House districts of equal population. Representatives serve two-year terms and each House member represents approximately 35,000 constituents. The presiding officer of the House is known as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The House 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.

Qualifications

In order to file for election to the House of Representatives, candidates must be 21 years of age at the time of their election.^[2] The candidate must also be a qualified elector in their respective counties or districts and shall reside in their respective counties or districts during their term of office.^[2] No person is eligible to serve as a member of the Legislature if they're an officer of the United States or State government. Also, any person who has been adjudged guilty of a felony is not eligible to election to the Legislature. If a member of the Legislature is expelled for corruption, they shall not be eligible to return to the Legislature.^[3]

No member of the legislature can serve more than 12 years in the Oklahoma State Legislature.^[4] Years in Legislative office need not be consecutive and years of service in both the Senate and the House of Representatives shall be added together and included in determining the total number of Legislative years in office. The years served by any member elected or appointed to serve less than a full Legislative term to fill a vacancy in office shall not be included in the 12-year limitation; but no member who has completed 12 years in office shall thereafter be eligible to serve a partial term.

Membership

Representation

Old Method

Representation in the House used to be determined by taking the total population of the state, according to the most recent Federal Decennial Census, and that number was divided by one hundred, with the quotient equaling one ratio. Counties having a population less than one full ratio were to be assigned 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.

New Method

After the Constitutionally mandated method was found to be unconstitutional, a new method was instituted. Now the House has the power to draw its own district lines. 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.

Composition

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Template:American politics/party colors/Republican\|	Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic\|
	Republican	Democratic		Vacant
End of previous legislature	62	39	101	0

Begin	69	32	101	0
Latest voting share	68.3%	31.7%

Leadership

Leadership in the Oklahoma House of Representatives begins with the Speaker of the House, who is elected by his fellow lawmakers. The speaker in turn appoints many of the remaining leadership positions, which are divided into three types.^[1]

Generally, members of each party elect a speaker pro tempore, majority floor leader, assistant floor leaders, whips, and caucus officers. These positions are considered floor leadership.

The speaker appoints the committee leadership, which includes committee chairs, vice chairs, subcommittee chairs, and subcommittee vice chairs.^[1] The majority floor leader selects an informal leadership team that aids in decision-making.^[1]

Majority Leadership

Speaker of the House: Chris Benge
Speaker Pro Tempore: Kris Steele
Majority Floor Leader: Tad Jones
First Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Ron Peters
Assistant Majority Floor Leaders: Lisa Billy, George Faught, Dennis Johnson, Charles Key, Todd Thomsen, Harold Wright
Majority Whip: Mike Jackson
Deputy Majority Whips: Marian Cooksey, Fred Jordan, Steve Martin, Randy McDaniel, Leslie Osborn, Mike Sanders, Colby Schwartz, Mike Thompson, Weldon Watson
Majority Caucus Vice Chairman: Skye McNeil
Majority Caucus Secretary: Marian Cooksey^[5]

Minority Leadership

Democratic Leader: Danny Morgan
Democratic Floor Leader: Mike Brown
Deputy Democratic Floor Leaders: Wes Hilliard, Jerry McPeak
Assistant Democratic Floor Leaders: Larry Glenn, Jeannie McDaniel, Wade Rousselot, Jabar Shumate
Democratic Whip: Ben Sherrer
Democratic Caucus Chairman: Chuck Hoskin
Democratic Caucus Secretary: Cory T. Williams ^[6]

Members

House Membership as of the 53rd Legislature:

Name	District	Party	City	First elected
Rusty Farley	1	Rep	Haworth	2010
John R. Bennett	2	Rep		2010
James Lockhart	3	Dem		2010
Mike Brown	4	Dem	Tahlequah	2004
Doug Cox	5	Rep	Grove	2004
Chuck Hoskin	6	Dem	Vinita	2006
Larry Glenn	7	Dem	Miami	2004
Ben Sherrer	8	Dem	Pryor	2004
Marty Quinn	9	Rep	Claremore	2010
Steve Martin	10	Rep	Bartlesville	2004
Earl Sears	11	Rep	Bartlesville	2006
Wade Rousselot	12	Dem	Okay	2004
Jerry McPeak	13	Dem	Warner	2004
George Faught	14	Rep	Muskogee	2006
Ed Cannaday	15	Dem	Porum	2006
Jerry Shoemake	16	Dem	Morris	2004
Brian Renegar	17	Dem	McAlester	2006
Donnie Condit	18	Dem	McAlester	2010
R. C. Pruett	19	Dem	Antlers	2004
Paul D. Roan	20	Dem	Tishomingo	2000
Dustin Roberts	21	Rep	Durant	2010
Wes Hilliard	22	Dem	Sulphur	2004
Sue Tibbs	23	Rep	Tulsa	2000
Steve Kouplen	24	Dem	Holdenville	2008
Todd Thomsen	25	Rep	Ada	2006
Kris Steele	26	Rep	Shawnee	2000
Josh Cockroft	27	Rep		2010
Tom Newell	28	Rep		2010
Skye McNiel	29	Rep	Bristow	2006
Mark McCullough	30	Rep	Sapulpa	2006
Jason Murphey	31	Rep	Guthrie	2006
Danny Morgan	32	Dem	Prague	2002
Lee Denney	33	Rep	Cushing	2004
Cory T. Williams	34	Dem	Stillwater	2008
Dennis Casey	35	Rep		2010
Sean Roberts	36	Rep		2010
Steve Vaughn	37	Rep		2010
Dale DeWitt	38	Rep	Braman	2002
Marian Cooksey	39	Rep	Edmond	2004
Mike Jackson	40	Rep	Enid	2004
John Enns	41	Rep	Waukomis	2006
Lisa J. Billy	42	Rep	Purcell	2004
Colby Schwartz	43	Rep	Yukon	2006
Emily Virgin	44	Dem	Norman	2010
Aaron Stiles	45	Rep	Norman	2010
Scott Martin	46	Rep	Norman	2006
Leslie Osborn	47	Rep	Mustang	2008
Pat Ownbey	48	Rep	Ardmore	2008
Tommy C. Hardin	49	Rep		2010
Dennis Johnson	50	Rep	Kingfisher	2006
Corey Holland	51	Rep	Marlow	2008
Charles Ortega	52	Rep	Altus	2008
Randy Terrill	53	Rep	Moore	2004
Paul Wesselhoft	54	Rep	Moore	2006
Todd Russ	55	Rep	Cordell	2009
Phil Richardson	56	Rep	Minco	2004
Harold Wright	57	Rep	Weatherford	2008
Jeff Hickman	58	Rep	Dacoma	2004
Mike Sanders	59	Rep	Kingfisher	2008
Purcy Walker	60	Dem	Elk City	2000
Gus Blackwell	61	Rep	Goodwell	2002
T. W. Shannon	62	Rep	Lawton	2006
Don Armes	63	Rep	Faxon	2002
Ann Coody	64	Rep	Lawtwon	2004
Joe Dorman	65	Dem	Rush Springs	2002
Jadine Nollan	66	Rep	Sand Springs	2010
Pam Peterson	67	Rep	Tulsa	2004
Glen Mulready	68	Rep	Tulsa	2010
Fred Jordan	69	Rep	Jenks	2006
Ron Peters	70	Rep	Tulsa	2000
Daniel Sullivan	71	Rep	Tulsa	2004
Seneca Scott	72	Dem	Tulsa	2008
Jabar Shumate	73	Dem	Tulsa	2004
David Derby	74	Rep	Owasso	2006
Dan Kirby	75	Rep	Tulsa	2008
David Brumbaugh	76	Rep		2010
Eric Proctor	77	Dem	Tulsa	2006
Jeannie McDaniel	78	Dem	Tulsa	2004
Weldon Watson	79	Rep	Tulsa	2006
Mike Ritze	80	Rep	Tulsa	2008
Randy Grau	81	Rep	Edmond	2010
Guy Liebmann	82	Rep	Oklahoma City	2004
Randy McDaniel	83	Rep	Oklahoma City	2006
Sally Kern	84	Rep	Oklahoma City	2004
David Dank	85	Rep	Oklahoma City	2006
William T. Fourkiller	86	Dem	Stillwell	2010
Jason Nelson	87	Rep	Oklahoma City	2008
Al McAffrey	88	Dem	Oklahoma City	2006
Rebecca Hamilton	89	Dem	Oklahoma City	2002
Charles Key	90	Rep	Oklahoma City	2000
Mike Reynolds	91	Rep	Oklahoma City	2002
Richard Morrissette	92	Dem	Oklahoma City	2002
Mike Christian	93	Rep	Oklahoma City	2008
Scott Inman	94	Dem	Oklahoma City	2006
Charlie Joyner	95	Rep	Midwest City	2006
Lewis H. Moore	96	Rep	Edmond	2008
Mike Shelton	97	Dem	Oklahoma City	2004
John Trebilcock	98	Rep	Tulsa	2002
Anastasia Pittman	99	Dem	Oklahoma City	2006
Elise Hall	100	Rep	Midwest City	2010
Gary Banz	101	Rep	Midwest City	2004

Committees

On Dec. 4, 2008, Speaker of the House Chris Benge announced the following 18 standing committees and seven budget subcommittees:^[7]

Administrative Rules and Agency Oversight
Agriculture and Rural Development
Common Education
Business and Economic Development
Energy and Utility Regulation
General Government
Government Modernization
Higher Education and Career Tech
Human Services
International Relations and Tourism
Judiciary
Public Health
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Rules
Transportation
Veterans and Military Affairs
Wildlife
Appropriations and Budget
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Education
- Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Health and Social Services
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Revenue and Taxation

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Farmer, Rick, "Legislature," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed June 23, 2010).
^ ^a ^b 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).
^ 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).
^ 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).
^ Oklahoma House Majority Leadership, Oklahoma House of Representatives
^ House Minority Leadership
^ Standing Committees and Subcommittees, Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed February 9, 2010).

External links

Oklahoma House homepage

[farmer-1] Farmer, Rick, "Legislature," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed June 23, 2010).

[okarticlev-2] 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).

[expulsion-3] 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).

[termlimits-4] 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).

[5] Oklahoma House Majority Leadership, Oklahoma House of Representatives

[6] House Minority Leadership

[7] Standing Committees and Subcommittees, Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed February 9, 2010).

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 |Ben Sherrer || 8 || Dem  || [[Pryor, Oklahoma|Pryor]] || 2004
 |- {{Party shading/Republican}}
-|Marty Quinn || 9 || Rep || [[Clearmore, Oklahoma|Clearmore]] || 2010
+|Marty Quinn || 9 || Rep || [[Claremore, Oklahoma|Claremore]] || 2010
 |- {{Party shading/Republican}}
 |Steve Martin || 10 || Rep  || [[Bartlesville, Oklahoma|Bartlesville]] || 2004

v t e Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
59th Legislature (2023–2025) Speaker of the House Charles McCall (R) Speaker pro tempore Kyle Hilbert (R) Majority Leader Tammy West (R) Minority Leader Cyndi Munson (D)
▌Eddy Dempsey (R) ▌Jim Olsen (R) ▌Rick West (R) ▌Bob Ed Culver Jr. (R) ▌Josh West (R) ▌Rusty Cornwell (R) ▌Steve Bashore (R) ▌Tom Gann (R) ▌Mark Lepak (R) ▌Judd Strom (R) ▌John Kane (R) ▌Kevin McDugle (R) ▌Neil Hays (R) ▌Chris Sneed (R) ▌Randy Randleman (R) ▌Scott Fetgatter (R) ▌Jim Grego (R) ▌David Smith (R) ▌Justin Humphrey (R) ▌Sherrie Conley (R) ▌Cody Maynard (R) ▌Charles McCall (R) ▌Terry O'Donnell (R) ▌Chris Banning (R) ▌Ronny Johns (R) ▌Dell Kerbs (R) ▌Danny Sterling (R) ▌Danny Williams (R) ▌Kyle Hilbert (R) ▌Mark Lawson (R) ▌Collin Duel (R) ▌Kevin Wallace (R) ▌John Talley (R) ▌Trish Ranson (D) ▌Ty Burns (R) ▌John George (R) ▌Ken Luttrell (R) ▌John Pfeiffer (R) ▌Erick Harris (R) ▌Chad Caldwell (R) ▌Denise Crosswhite Hader (R) ▌Cynthia Roe (R) ▌Jay Steagall (R) ▌Jared Deck (D) ▌Annie Menz (D) ▌Jacob Rosecrants (D) ▌Brian Hill (R) ▌Tammy Townley (R) ▌Josh Cantrell (R) ▌Marcus McEntire (R) ▌Brad Boles (R) ▌Gerrid Kendrix (R) ▌Mark McBride (R) ▌Kevin West (R) ▌Nick Archer (R) ▌Dick Lowe (R) ▌Anthony Moore (R) ▌Carl Newton (R) ▌Mike Dobrinski (R) ▌Rhonda Baker (R) ▌Kenton Patzkowsky (R) ▌Daniel Pae (R) ▌Trey Caldwell (R) ▌Rande Worthen (R) ▌Toni Hasenbeck (R) ▌Clay Staires (R) ▌Jeff Boatman (R) ▌Lonnie Sims (R) ▌Mark Tedford (R) ▌Suzanne Schreiber (D) ▌Amanda Swope (D) ▌Monroe Nichols (D) ▌Regina Goodwin (D) ▌Mark Vancuren (R) ▌T. J. Marti (R) ▌Ross Ford (R) ▌John Waldron (D) ▌Meloyde Blancett (D) ▌Melissa Provenzano (D) ▌Stan May (R) ▌Mike Osburn (R) ▌Nicole Miller (R) ▌Eric Roberts (R) ▌Tammy West (R) ▌Cyndi Munson (D) ▌Dave Hardin (R) ▌Ellyn Hefner (D) ▌Mauree Turner (D) ▌Arturo Alonso (D) ▌Jon Echols (R) ▌Chris Kannady (R) ▌Forrest Bennett (D) ▌Mickey Dollens (D) ▌Andy Fugate (D) ▌Max Wolfley (R) ▌Preston Stinson (R) ▌Jason Lowe (D) ▌Dean Davis (R) ▌Ajay Pittman (D) ▌Marilyn Stark (R) ▌Robert Manger (R)
▌Republican (81) ▌Democratic (20) Oklahoma Legislature Oklahoma House of Representatives Oklahoma Senate

v t e Legislatures of the United States
United States Congress	United States House of Representatives United States Senate
State legislatures	Alabama (H, S) Alaska (H, S) Arizona (H, S) Arkansas (H, S) California (A, S) Colorado (H, S) Connecticut (H, S) Delaware (H, S) Florida (H, S) Georgia (H, S) Hawaii (H, S) Idaho (H, S) Illinois (H, S) Indiana (H, S) Iowa (H, S) Kansas (H, S) Kentucky (H, S) Louisiana (H, S) Maine (H, S) Maryland (H, S) Massachusetts (H, S) Michigan (H, S) Minnesota (H, S) Mississippi (H, S) Missouri (H, S) Montana (H, S) Nebraska Nevada (A, S) New Hampshire (H, S) New Jersey (GA, S) New Mexico (H, S) New York (A, S) North Carolina (H, S) North Dakota (H, S) Ohio (H, S) Oklahoma (H, S) Oregon (H, S) Pennsylvania (H, S) Rhode Island (H, S) South Carolina (H, S) South Dakota (H, S) Tennessee (H, S) Texas (H, S) Utah (H, S) Vermont (H, S) Virginia (H, S) Washington (H, S) West Virginia (H, S) Wisconsin (A, S) Wyoming (H, S)
Other legislatures	District of Columbia American Samoa (H, S) Guam Northern Mariana Islands (H, S) Puerto Rico (H, S) U.S. Virgin Islands
Legislative elections	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
List of U.S. state legislators Lists of past U.S. state legislatures