Oklahoma Senate

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The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the lower house being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution. The Senators are elected to four year terms on alternating cycles. The odd Senatorial districts are elected in the same cycle of every Presidential election year. The even numbered Senatorial districts are elected during the Gubernatorial election year, which occurs the second year after the Presidential election.

The presiding officer of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, who is the President of the Senate. Since the 1960's, the President Pro Tempore has presided over daily work. Prior to that time, the President of the Senate took a leading role in the Senate, including appointing committees and members to those committees. The President of the Senate may cast a vote only in the instance of a tie vote and may not vote to create a tie.

The Senate meets at the Oklahoma State Capitol Building in Oklahoma City.

Contents 1 Qualifications 2 Membership 2.1 Representation 2.1.1 Old Method 2.1.2 New Method 2.2 Historic Tie 2.3 Current Composition 2.4 Leadership 2.5 Democratic Leadership, 2007-08 2.6 Republican Leadership, 2007-08 3 Members 4 Committees 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Qualifications

Oklahoma

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Oklahoma

Constitution

State government Governor - Brad Henry Lieutenant Governor - Jari Askins Secretary of State - M. Susan Savage State Auditor - Jeff McMahan Attorney General - Drew Edmondson State Treasurer - Scott Meacham State School Superintendent - Sandy Garrett Labor Commissioner - Lloyd Fields Insurance Commissioner - Kim Holland Corporation Commission State Cabinet Legislature Senate President of the Senate - Jari Askins President pro tempore - Mike Morgan Co-President pro tempore - Glenn Coffee House of Representatives Speaker - Lance Cargill Court System Supreme Court Court on the Judiciary Court of Impeachment Nominating Commission Political Parties Democratic Republican Minor parties Counties Federal government United States Senate James Inhofe (R) Tom Coburn (R) United States House John Sullivan (R) Dan Boren (D) Frank Lucas (R) Tom Cole (R) Mary Fallin (R) Politics of the United States

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In order to file for election to the Senate, candidates must be twenty-five years of age at the time of their election. 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. 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.

No member of the legislature can serve more than 12 years in the Oklahoma State Legislature. 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.

[edit] Membership

[edit] Representation

[edit] Old Method

Prior to a "one man, one vote" decisions of the United States Supreme Court in the 1960s and the court order which forced Oklahoma to equalize representation, Oklahoma was apportioned into forty-eight senatorial districts in the following manner: the nineteen most populous counties, as determined by the most recent Federal Decennial Census, were to constitute nineteen senatorial districts with one senator to be nominated and elected from each district. The fifty-eight less populous counties were to be joined into twenty-nine two-county districts with one senator to be nominated and elected from each of the two-county districts. In apportioning the Senate, the Oklahoma Constitution required that consideration be given to population, compactness, area, political units, historical precedents, economic and political interests, contiguous territory, and other major factors, to the extent feasible.

[edit] New Method

Currently, 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 forty-eight districts. This allows for some districts to be slightly smaller or larger than others. The Senate draws its own maps of its district lines, which are subject to the approval of both the House of Representatives and the Governor. Should the redistricting not occur in a timely manner, the lines are determined by a panel of five statewide elected officials.

[edit] Historic Tie

In the November 7, 2006, elections Republicans gained two seats in the Oklahoma State Senate, resulting in an unprecedented and historic 24-24 tie. With neither party holding a majority following the elections, Democratic and Republican leaders are currently in negotiations to share power in the 2007 legislative session.

Of note, Oklahoma voters have actually elected Republicans to 25 of the Senate's 48 districts - a majority of seats - but Republican Senator Nancy Riley's switch to the Democratic Party in the summer of 2006 reduced the number of Republican-held seats by one.

If Republicans gain at least one Senate seat in 2008, they will hold the chamber for the first time in state history.

[edit] Current Composition

Affiliation		Members
	Democratic Party	24
	Republican Party	24
Total		48

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[edit] Leadership

• President of the Senate (by virtue of being Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma): Jari Askins

[edit] Democratic Leadership, 2007-08

• President Pro Tempore: Mike Morgan
• Democratic Floor Leader: Charlie Laster
• Assistant Democratic Floor Leaders: Jeff Rabon and Jay Paul Gumm
• Democratic Whips: Susan Paddack, Charles Wyrick and Nancy Riley
• Democratic Caucus Chairman: Kenneth Corn

[edit] Republican Leadership, 2007-08

• Co-President Pro Tempore: Glenn Coffee
• Republican Floor Leader: Owen Laughlin
• Assistant Republican Floor Leaders: Randy Brogdon and Mike Mazzei
• Republican Whip: Kathleen Wilcoxson, Clark Jolley and Cliff Branan
• Republican Caucus Chairman: Todd Lamb

[edit] Members

Name	District	Party
Jari Askins	President (as Lieutenant Governor)	D
Charles Wyrick	District 1	D
Sean Burrage	District 2	D
Jim Wilson	District 3	D
Kenneth Corn	District 4	D
Jeff Rabon	District 5	D
Jay Paul Gumm	District 6	D
Richard Lerblance	District 7	D
Roger Ballenger	District 8	D
Earl Garrison	District 9	D
Joe Sweeden	District 10	D
Judy Eason McIntyre	District 11	D
Brian Bingman	District 12	R
Susan Paddack	District 13	D
Johnnie Crutchfield	District 14	D
Jonathan Nichols	District 15	R
John Sparks	District 16	D
Charlie Laster	District 17	D
Mary Easley	District 18	D
Patrick Anderson	District 19	R
David Myers	District 20	R
Mike Morgan	District 21	D
Mike Johnson	District 22	R
Ron Justice	District 23	R
Anthony Sykes	District 24	R
Mike Mazzei	District 25	R
Tom Ivester	District 26	D
Owen Laughlin	District 27	R
Harry Coates	District 28	R
John Ford	District 29	R
Glenn Coffee	District 30	R
Don Barrington	District 31	R
Randy Bass	District 32	D
Tom Adelson	District 33	D
Randy Brogdon	District 34	R
James Williamson	District 35	R
Bill Brown	District 36	R
Nancy Riley	District 37	D
Mike Schulz	District 38	R
Brian Crain	District 39	R
Cliff Branan	District 40	R
Clark Jolley	District 41	R
Cliff Aldridge	District 42	R
Jim Reynolds	District 43	R
Debbe Leftwich	District 44	D
Kathleen Wilcoxson	District 45	R
Andrew Rice	District 46	D
Todd Lamb	District 47	R
Constance N. Johnson	District 48	D

[edit] Committees

The Oklahoma Senate has fiveteen standing committees and the Appropriations Committee. Only the Appropriations committee has subcommittess. There are no ex officio members of any committee or sub-committee per the Rules of the Senate, Chapter 1.

The Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee membership is limited to the Sub-Committee Co-Chairs and the Co-Floor Leaders. However, each Senator serves on one of the Sub-Committees.

• Appropriations Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield (D-Ardmore) and Sen. Mike Johnson (R-Kingfisher), Vice-Chairs Sen. Tom Adelson (D-Tulsa) and Sen. David Myers (R-Ponca City)
  • Education Subcomittee - Co-Chairs Sen. Clark Jolley (R-Edmond) and Sen. Susan Paddack (D-Ada)
    Members: Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City; Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee; Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant; John Sparks, D-Norman; Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City; and James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa.
  • Health and Social Services Subcommittee - Co-Chairs Sen. Tom Adelson (D-Tulsa) and Sen. Brian Crain (R-Tulsa).
    Members are Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow; Sean Burrage, D-Claremore; Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa; and Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah.
  • Human Services Subcommittee - Co-Chairs Sen. Patrick Anderson (R-Enid) and Sen. Nancy Riley (D-Tulsa).
    Members are Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa; and John Ford, R-Bartlesville.
  • Natural Resources and Regulatory Services Subcommittee - Co-Chairs Sen. Randy Bass (D-Lawton) and Sen. David Myers (R-Ponca City).
    Members are Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City; Ron Justice, R-Chickasha; Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City; Joe Sweeden, D-Pawhuska; Anthony Sykes, R-Moore and Charles Wyrick, D-Fairland.
  • General Government and Transportation Subcommittee - Co-Chairs Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) and Sen. Mary Easley (D-Tulsa).
    Members are Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee; Don Barrington, R-Lawton; Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa; Harry Coates, R-Seminole; Tom Ivester, D-Sayre and Constance N. Johnson, D-Oklahoma City.
  • Public Safety and Judiciary Subcommittee - Co-Chairs Sen. Ken Corn (D-Poteau) and Sen. Jonathan Nichols (R-Norman).
    Members are Todd Lamb, R-Edmond; Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City; Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne; Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo; Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City and Mike Schulz, R-Altus.

The standing committees of the Senate are:

• Agriculture Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Ron Justice (R-Chickasha) and Sen. Charles Wyrick (D-Fairland).
  Members are Don Barrington, R-Lawton; Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore; John Ford, R-Bartlesville; Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee; Tom Ivester, D-Sayre; Todd Lamb, R-Edmond; Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo; Mike Schulz, R-Altus; Anthony Sykes, R-Moore; and Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah.

• Business and Labor Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Harry Coates (R-Seminole) and Sen. Debbe Leftwich (D-Oklahoma City).
  Members are Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa; Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso; Sean Burrage, D-Claremore; Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher; David Myers, R-Ponca City; and Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City.

• Criminal Jurisprudence Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Anthony Sykes (R-Moore) and Sen. Connie Johnson (D-Oklahoma City).
  Members are Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow; Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau; Ron Justice, R-Chickasha; Todd Lamb, R-Edmond; Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City; Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne; Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa; Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City; Joe Sweeden, D-Pawhuska; Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City and Charles Wyrick, D-Fairland.

• Education Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre (D-Tulsa) and Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson (R-Oklahoma City).
  Members are Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City; Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau; Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant; Clark Jolley, R-Edmond; Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne; Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa; Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman; Susan Paddack, D-Ada; Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City; Nancy Riley, D-Tulsa; John Sparks, D-Norman; and James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa.

• Energy and Environment Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa) and Sen. Jay Paul Gumm (D-Durant).
  Members are Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City; Sean Burrage, D-Claremore; Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso; Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore; Mary Easley, D-Tulsa; Tom Ivester, D-Sayre; Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher; Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne; Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman; David Myers, R-Ponca City; Susan Paddack, D-Ada and James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa.

• Finance Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Jim Wilson (D-Tahlequah) and Sen. Mike Mazzei (R-Bixby).
  Members are Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City; Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau; Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant; Tom Ivester, D-Sayre; Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher; Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman; Susan Paddack, D-Ada; Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City; John Sparks, D-Norman; Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City.

• General Government Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Cliff Aldridge (R-Midwest City) and Sen. Joe Sweeden (D-Pawhuska).
  Members are Patrick Anderson, R-Enid; Randy Bass, D-Lawton; Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee; Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa; Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow; Brian Crain, R-Tulsa; Mary Easley, D-Tulsa; and Constance N. Johnson, D-Oklahoma City.

• Health and Human Resources Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Andrew Rice (D-Oklahoma City) and Sen. Todd Lamb (R-Oklahoma City).
  Members are Patrick Anderson, R-Enid; Brian Crain, R-Tulsa; Constance N. Johnson, D-Oklahoma City; Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City; Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City and Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah.

• Judiciary Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. James Williamson (R-Tulsa) and Sen. Richard Lerblance (D-Harshorne).
  Members are Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa; Randy Bass, D-Lawton; Brian Crain, R-Tulsa; Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa; Todd Lamb, R-Edmond; and Anthony Sykes, R-Moore.

• Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Roger Ballenger (D-Okmulgee) and Sen. Don Barrington (R-Lawton).
  Members are Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa; Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow; Sean Burrage, D-Claremore; Mary Easley, D-Tulsa; Constance N. Johnson, D-Oklahoma City; Clark Jolley, R-Edmond; Mike Schulz, R-Altus; and Joe Sweeden, D-Pawhuska.

• Retirement and Insurance Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Bill Brown (R-Tulsa) and Sen. John Sparks (D-Norman).
  Members are Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa; Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City; Randy Bass, D-Lawton; Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau; Clark Jolley, R-Edmond; Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa; Nancy Riley, D-Tulsa and Anthony Sykes, R-Moore.

• Rules Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Sean Burrage (D-Claremore) and Sen. Mike Schulz (R-Altus).
  Members are Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City; Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa; John Ford, R-Bartlesville; Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee; James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa; and Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah.

• Tourism and Wildlife Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. John Ford (R-Bartlesville) and Sen. Earl Garrison (D-Muskogee).
  Members are Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee; Don Barrington, R-Lawton; Harry Coates, R-Seminole; Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa; Ron Justice, R-Chickasha; Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo; Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City; Mike Schulz, R-Altus; Joe Sweeden, D-Pawhuska and Charles Wyrick, D-Fairland.

• Transportation Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Jeff Rabon (D-Hugo) and Sen. Cliff Branan (R-Oklahoma City).
  Members are Patrick Anderson, R-Enid; Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso; Harry Coates, R-Seminole; Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore; John Ford, R-Bartlesville; Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee; Ron Justice, R-Chickasha; Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City; David Myers, R-Ponca City; Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City; Nancy Riley, D-Tulsa; and Charles Wyrick, D-Fairland.

• Veterans and Military Affairs Committee - Co-Chairs Sen. Jim Reynolds (R-Oklahoma City) and Sen. Tom Ivester (D-Sayre).
  Members are Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City; Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee; Don Barrington, R-Lawton; Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa; Harry Coates, R-Seminole; Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant; Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo and John Sparks, D-Norman.

[edit] See also

• Oklahoma Legislature
• Oklahoma House of Representatives

[edit] External links

• Oklahoma Senate homepage

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