Simone Lawson
The Oklahoma Constitution outlines the state's governance framework, including the powers, structure, and limitations of its government. For a proposal to become law, it must pass both legislative chambers and be signed by the governor. Bills that have been passed by the Oklahoma Legislature can be revoked or amended through several methods, including legislative amendments, gubernatorial vetoes, judicial review, and citizen-initiated referendums. The state constitution also provides for a constitutional convention question to appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, allowing voters to propose changes to the constitution. Additionally, the Oklahoma Constitution can be amended through legislative, citizen-initiated, or convention-referred processes, all of which require voter approval.
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What You'll Learn
Bills must pass both chambers to become law
For a bill to become a law in Oklahoma, it must pass both chambers of the Legislature and be signed by the Governor. The Oklahoma Legislature is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House has 101 members serving two-year terms, while the Senate has 48 members serving four-year terms.
A bill is introduced in one house of the Legislature, numbered, printed, given its first reading, and placed on the legislative calendar. Bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives. The bill then receives a second reading and is referred to a committee or committees for consideration. The committee considers the bill and reports one of the following: do pass, do pass as amended, do pass on the committee substitute, or do not pass. The bill is then sent to the second committee or ordered printed (with amendments) and placed on the calendar.
The bill is then placed on General Order for consideration by the whole House of Representatives or the whole Senate. This is the third reading and final action, which may result in the bill passing, passing as amended, or failing. If the bill passes, it is signed by the presiding officer and sent to the other house of the Legislature, where it goes through the same process. After the bill passes the second house, it is signed by that house's presiding officer and returned to the house of origin.
If amendments have been made in the second house, the originating house may either concur with these amendments or reject them. If the originating house rejects the amendments, the bill may be referred to a conference committee composed of members from both houses to reconcile the differences. The committee prepares a conference report, which each house may adopt or reject, but it cannot be amended. If the bill passes each house with different wording, a conference committee may also be called to work out the final language.
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Amendments require Governor's signature
In Oklahoma, the governor plays a crucial role in the legislative process, and their signature is often required for a bill to become law. However, it is important to distinguish between regular bills and constitutional amendments, as the processes for enacting them differ. While regular bills typically require the governor's signature, constitutional amendments can be proposed and enacted without the governor's approval.
When a bill is passed by both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature, it is sent to the governor for approval. The governor has three options: they can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action. If the governor chooses to sign the bill, it becomes law. If they veto it, the bill is sent back to the Legislature. By taking no action and letting the bill lie for five days during the legislative session, the governor allows it to become law without their signature. This process applies to regular bills and joint resolutions, which can become law with the governor's signature or be used to propose constitutional amendments without it.
Constitutional amendments in Oklahoma can be initiated through different methods, and they do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. According to the Oklahoma Constitution, an initiated constitutional amendment requires signatures equal to 15% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, along with a simple majority vote for voter approval. This process bypasses the need for the governor's signature, allowing citizens to propose and approve constitutional changes directly.
While the governor's signature holds significant weight in the enactment of regular bills, it is not a requirement for constitutional amendments. This distinction is essential in understanding the legislative process in Oklahoma and the mechanisms through which laws and constitutional provisions are amended.
The Oklahoma Legislature follows a comprehensive procedure to ensure careful consideration of bills and amendments. Amendments may be proposed and adopted in either chamber of the Legislature, and they are subject to the same rules as bills. If amendments are made in the second house, the originating house may concur or reject them. If rejected, a conference committee composed of members from both houses is formed to reconcile differences. This process ensures that any changes to a bill are thoroughly reviewed and agreed upon by representatives from both chambers.
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Bills can be amended before passage
In Oklahoma, a drafted bill is introduced in one house of the legislature, numbered, printed, given a first reading, and placed on the legislative calendar. The bill then receives a second reading and is referred to a committee for consideration. The committee considers the bill and reports one of the following: do pass, do pass as amended, do pass on the committee substitute, or do not pass. If the committee recommends that the bill "do pass as amended", the bill is ordered to be printed with amendments and placed on the calendar. The bill is then placed on general order for consideration by the whole House of Representatives or the whole Senate.
After the bill is considered by the first house, it is engrossed, incorporating all changes made thus far. The bill then receives a third reading and final action may take place. Action may be shown as passed, passed as amended, or failed. If the bill passes as amended, the presiding officer of the House or Senate signs the engrossed bill, and it is sent to the other house of the Legislature.
The bill goes through the same process in the other house. If amendments are made, the originating house may concur with these amendments or reject them. If the originating house rejects the amendments, the bill may be referred to a conference committee composed of members from both houses to reconcile the existing differences. The committee prepares a conference report, and each house may adopt or reject the report; the conference committee report cannot be amended.
In summary, bills can be amended before passage in Oklahoma by the initial committee considering the bill, by the first house of the Legislature, or by the second house of the Legislature. Amendments can be reconciled by a conference committee if the originating house rejects the amendments made by the second house.
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Bills can be reintroduced in a new session
In Oklahoma, bills that do not pass during the first regular session of a Legislature can be reconsidered during the second regular session of the same Legislature. However, it is also possible to tweak a previously considered bill, give it a new bill number, and reintroduce it in a subsequent session. No bill may become law after the final adjournment of the Legislature (Sine Die), unless signed by the Governor within 15 days after adjournment.
The Oklahoma Legislature's annual regular session is held from February through May. During each session, the Legislature considers thousands of bills, some of which are relevant to specific areas such as OMMA (Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority). Bills that are approved by both the House and the Senate are sent to the Governor for consideration. If the Governor signs the bill or declines to veto it, it becomes state law. On the other hand, if the Governor vetoes a bill, it does not become state law unless the Legislature overrides the veto.
The process of reintroducing a bill in a new session allows for further discussion and consideration of the proposed legislation. It provides an opportunity to address concerns or make improvements to the bill before it is passed into law. By reconsidering a bill in a subsequent session, legislators can benefit from additional time to gather input from stakeholders, conduct further research, and make informed decisions.
When a bill is reintroduced in a new session, it undergoes the same legislative process as any other bill. It starts with being introduced in one house of the legislature, where it receives a first and second reading before being referred to committees for consideration. The committees may suggest amendments or pass the bill as is. The bill then proceeds to the other house of the legislature, where it is considered and voted on. If the bill passes both houses, it is sent to the Governor for final approval or veto.
While reintroducing a bill in a new session offers flexibility and a chance to refine the legislation, it is important to note that it also delays the implementation of the proposed measures. The delay can impact the timeliness of addressing the issue at hand and may require additional advocacy efforts to maintain momentum and support for the bill.
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Conference committees resolve wording differences
In Oklahoma, a bill is introduced in one house of the legislature, numbered, printed, given a first reading, and placed on the legislative calendar. After receiving a second reading, it is referred to a committee (or committees) for consideration. The committee then reports its findings, which could be to either pass, pass with amendments, pass with a committee substitute, or not pass the bill. If the bill passes, it is then sent to the second committee or ordered to be printed with amendments and placed on the calendar.
Once the bill has been placed on the General Order, it is considered by the whole House of Representatives or the whole Senate. Following this, the bill undergoes a third reading and final action, which could be passed, passed as amended, or failed. If the bill is passed, it is signed by the presiding officer and sent to the other house of the Legislature, where it goes through the same process.
If amendments are made in the second house, the originating house may either concur with or reject these amendments. If the originating house rejects the amendments, the bill is referred to a conference committee composed of members from both houses. This conference committee is tasked with resolving any differences between the two versions of the bill and preparing a conference report (CCR).
The conference committee report cannot be amended, and each house may choose to adopt or reject it. This process ensures that a single, cohesive version of the bill is agreed upon by both legislative houses.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill can be revoked by failing at the final action stage, which can include the failure of the motion "Do Pass" or "Do Pass as Amended". Bills can also be revoked by a vote taken on Third Reading or Fourth Reading if they fail to receive the required number of votes for passage.
If a bill passes each house of the Legislature with different wording, a conference committee may be called to work out the final language. If amendments are rejected, the bill may be referred to a conference committee to reconcile differences, and the committee will prepare a report for both houses to adopt or reject.
A bill must pass both legislative chambers and be signed by the governor to become a law. The bill must first be introduced, numbered, printed, given a first reading, and placed on the legislative calendar. It then receives a second reading and is referred to a committee. The committee considers the bill and reports on whether it should pass, pass with amendments, or not pass. The bill is then placed on General Order for consideration by the whole House or Senate. After a third reading and final action, the bill is sent to the other house, where it goes through the same process. If amendments are made, the originating house may concur or reject them. If the bill passes, it is signed by the presiding officer and returned to the house in which it originated.
According to Section 2 of Article XXIV of the Oklahoma Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years. However, the last time this question was voted on was in 1970.
