Omar Bennett
The Oklahoma Constitution has been amended more than 150 times since its ratification, with the document never having been completely rewritten. Oklahoma's constitution is one of the nation's longest, with about 50,000 words, and has been made longer by the frequent use of the amending process. Oklahoma's constitution provides three mechanisms for amendment: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times the Oklahoma State Constitution has been amended | More than 150 |
| First amendment | Approved in the same election in which it was ratified |
| Oklahoma Constitution amendment methods | 1. Amendments by the Oklahoma Legislature; 2. Constitutional convention; 3. Citizen-initiated process |
| Oklahoma Legislature amendment requirements | Majority vote of both houses and approval by majority of voters at the next general election; the Legislature can by 2/3 vote place the amendment on a special election |
| Constitutional convention requirements | Majority voter approval before the convention is held |
| Citizen-initiated process requirements | 15% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election |
| Voter approval requirements | Simple majority vote (50% plus 1) |
| Frequency of constitutional convention question on ballot | Every 20 years |
| Last time a constitutional convention question was on the ballot | 1970 |
| Number of times the Oklahoma Constitution had been amended by 1990 | 140 |
| Number of words in the Oklahoma Constitution | 50,000 |
| Number of rights in the Bill of Rights Article | 33 |
| Suffrage | Restricted to males until 1918 |
| Governor term length | Four years (amended in 1966 to allow governors to be elected to two successive terms) |
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What You'll Learn
Amendments by the Oklahoma Legislature
The Oklahoma Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Oklahoma requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. More than 150 constitutional amendments have been approved by Oklahoma voters.
Another example of an amendment is the Governors Consecutive Terms Amendment of 1966, which amended the constitution to allow a governor to be elected for two successive terms. The constitution was also amended in 1918 to give women the right to vote, two years before the U.S. Constitution was amended to include this right.
The Oklahoma Constitution is one of the nation's longest, with about fifty thousand words. The relatively frequent use of the amending process has contributed to its length. The last time a constitutional convention was held in Oklahoma was in 1970, and since then, the legislature has refused to follow the constitutional provision requiring a convention every 20 years.
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Constitutional convention
The Oklahoma Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Oklahoma requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
The state constitutional convention is a process by which a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is put to a vote. This question is to appear automatically on the state's ballot every 20 years, according to Section 2 of Article XXIV of the Oklahoma Constitution. Oklahoma is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question. However, the last time this question was voted on was in 1970, and since then, the Oklahoma legislature has refused to follow through on this provision.
The constitutional convention has played a significant role in the history of Oklahoma's statehood. The movement to secure statehood for Indian Territory, which consisted of the land that now forms the State of Oklahoma, began in 1902 with a convention in Eufaula. Representatives of the "Five Civilized Tribes" met again in 1903 to organize a constitutional convention, known as the Sequoyah Constitutional Convention, which took place in Muskogee on August 21, 1905. General Pleasant Porter, the Principal Chief of the Creek Nation, was selected as president of the convention. The convention drafted a constitution, drew up a plan for the government, created a map of counties, and elected delegates to petition for statehood.
The influence of the Progressive Movement can also be seen in the Oklahoma Constitution. Numerous restrictions were placed on the executive branch, including a four-year term for the governor and a prohibition on being elected twice successively (amended in 1966 to allow two successive terms). The constitution also provided for the election of judges and stipulated that juries of fewer than twelve members could be used in some cases.
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Citizen-initiated amendments
The Oklahoma Constitution allows for amendments through three methods: citizen-initiated processes, legislative processes, and state constitutional conventions. Citizen-initiated amendments, also known as initiated constitutional amendments, are a type of ballot measure that allows citizens to directly propose and vote on changes to the state's constitution. Oklahoma is one of eighteen states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
The process for citizen-initiated amendments in Oklahoma begins with gathering a sufficient number of signatures. In Oklahoma, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 15% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Once the required number of signatures is verified, the proposed amendment is placed on the ballot for a statewide vote.
For an initiated constitutional amendment to be approved in Oklahoma, it requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) of the voters. This is the same threshold required for legislative-referred constitutional amendments, where the Oklahoma State Legislature proposes the amendment. The citizen-initiated process empowers citizens to bypass the legislature and directly propose amendments to their fellow voters.
Oklahoma has a long history of amending its constitution, with over 150 amendments approved by voters since its inception. While the exact number of citizen-initiated amendments is not readily available, the combination of legislative and citizen-initiated processes has contributed to the frequent modifications of the Oklahoma Constitution. The state's constitution has been described as a "living document," reflecting the values and priorities of Oklahomans through the years.
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Oklahoma's constitution length
The Oklahoma Constitution is one of the longest in the country, with about fifty thousand words. It has been amended more than 150 times since its ratification, with the first amendment being approved in the same election in which it was ratified. The constitution provides three mechanisms for amendments: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
The process for amending the Oklahoma Constitution has been used relatively frequently, resulting in significant changes to the document. One notable amendment is the requirement for the legislature to balance the state's budget, which was added in 1941. Another important amendment is the Governors Consecutive Terms Amendment, approved in 1966, which allows a governor to be elected for two successive terms.
The Oklahoma Constitution also includes a unique court system, with two courts of last resort, and establishes the power of Oklahoma courts to exercise judicial review. The constitution outlines the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, recognising the importance of the separation of powers.
The constitution has also been amended to include provisions for social security, Medicaid expansion, and the establishment of a Department of Wildlife Conservation. Additionally, it includes articles devoted to corporations, revenue and taxation, education, and banks and banking. The right for women to vote was added in 1918, two years before the US Constitution was amended to include this right.
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Amendments and significant changes
The Oklahoma Constitution permits three methods of amendment: amendments by the Oklahoma Legislature, a constitutional convention, and a citizen-initiated process. A simple majority vote (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments. More than 150 constitutional amendments have been approved by Oklahoma voters.
The Oklahoma Constitution has been amended to make significant changes, including:
- A 1941 amendment requiring the legislature to balance the state's budget.
- A 1966 amendment, the Governors Consecutive Terms Amendment, allowing a governor to be elected for two successive terms.
- An amendment giving women the right to vote in 1918, two years before the U.S. Constitution was amended to include this right.
The constitution also includes provisions for the separation of powers, with the legislative, executive, and judicial departments recognised in Article IV. Article Seven describes the court system, which is unique in that it establishes two courts of last resort. Article Eight outlines impeachment procedures for state-elected officials, including Supreme Court Justices.
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Frequently asked questions
More than 150 times.
The constitution was first amended in 1918 to give women the right to vote, 2 years before the U.S. Constitution was amended to include this right.
Oklahoma is one of 14 states that automatically puts the question of whether to hold a state constitutional convention on the ballot every 20 years. The last time this question was put to a vote was in 1970.
The Oklahoma Constitution provides three mechanisms for amendment: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Amendments require a simple majority vote (50% + 1) for voter approval.
