Oklahoma State Cabinet

The Oklahoma State Cabinet is part of the executive branch of the Government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma, consisting of the appointed heads of the Oklahoma state executive departments. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the State Cabinet has evolved into a major part of the State government.

History

When Governor of Oklahoma David Boren first took office, Oklahoma possessed no form of Cabinet system. Taking the example of other states, Governor Boren began holding semi-official and semi-regular meetings with various heads of state agencies whenever necessary. Under Boren’s successor, George Nigh, Oklahoma adopted an official Cabinet system: with the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986, the first formal Cabinet was assembled with structured meetings and reports.

The Executive Branch Reform Act first called for the creating of a Cabinet with no more than fifteen "cabinet areas" with were to consist of the various state agencies, committees, and boards with similar administrative objectives. These cabinet areas would not be agencies of the State and thus could not exercise the executive power of the State. They would only exist to better serve the Governor in crafting policy and information gathering. The original law mandated only one cabinet area: one containing the Department of Veteran Affairs. After that, the law allowed the Governor to create the other fourteen cabinet areas at his discretion until the Oklahoma Legislature formally created the cabinet areas. The heads of these executive cabinet area would be given the title of "Secretary" followed by the name of their cabinet area (or a shortened title there of).

The Governor, within 45 days of taking office, is allowed to create his own cabinet, with anywhere from no less than 10 but no more than 15 "cabinet areas". The Governor is allowed to create any cabinet area he desires and to place whichever agencies, bureaus, and commissions he wants under those cabinet areas. An example would be that under Governor Frank Keating Tourism and Commerce Departments each belong to separate cabinet areas, while under Governor Brad Henry the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism was the cabinet secretary for both departments. Regardless of the number of cabinet areas and their functions, at least one must be the Department of Veteran Affairs and must be charged with providing for Oklahoma's veterans.

All cabinet Secretaries are appointed by the Governor and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Potential appointees for Secretary positions may be appointed to serve as members of the Office of the Governor or may be selected from among the agency heads within the Secretary's cabinet area. Regardless of cabinet area, all Secretaries are responsible for advising the Governor of any policy changes or problems within their area, advising the entities they represent of any policy changes or problems as directed by the Governor, and for coordinating information gathering as request by the Legislature. Secretaries do not possess the power to direct or control any agency they represent outside of their ability to gather information. Only if a Secretary concurrently serve as head of an agency may the Secretary exercise the executive power of the State.

Following the Oklahoma Supreme Court case of "Keating v. Edmondson" in 2001, it was deemed illegal for a Governor to change the cabinet areas and their functions past the 45-day deadline unilaterally. In order to change a cabinet area after the first 45 days in office, the Governor must seek approval from the Oklahoma Legislature via legislation.

The current State Cabinet consists of fifteen Cabinet Secretaries, all of whom are appointed by the Governor and serve completely at his discretion. Though all of the Secretaries are confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate they may be removed from office at any time by the Governor.

Because the Secretary positions are semi-formal an are not legally classified as "officers of the State", Secretaries are allowed to hold another office within the State government. Examples include Scott Meacham, who is both the Secretary of Finances and Revenues and the State Treasurer of Oklahoma, and Sandy Garrett, who serves as both Secretary of Education and the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Current cabinet departments

The Oklahoma State Cabinet, under current Governor Brad Henry, consists of fourteen departments each headed by a Secretary. Only the Secretary of State of Oklahoma and Secretary of Education do not head a department. Instead, the Secretary of State is charged with the operations of the Office of Secretary of State as it is the only member of the Cabinet that was established by the Oklahoma Constitution, years before the institution of the Cabinet System.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture - mainly a regulatory agency, oversees departments that protect and educate consumers about Oklahoma’s agricultural and livestock productions. It includes the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism - charged with the creation and retention of jobs, the growth of investment, the development of communities, the increase of per capita income within the State, and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is also designated as the State Energy Office for Oklahoma, managing funds from the U.S. Department of Energy division of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Education - advises the governor on issues related to the Oklahoma Public School system, the state's libraries, and vocational education, and informs citizens on careers in education.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Energy – oversees the production and regulation of Oklahoma’s energy producers and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The Oklahoma Department of Energy was abolished in 1981, as referenced in Oklahoma Statutes, Title 74, Section 3361.1.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment - charged with the protection and enhancement of Oklahoma's environment and natural resources through preservation, conservation, restoration, education and enforcement in order to maintain and improve the environmental quality and natural beauty of the state and better the standard of living for all Oklahomans.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Health - charged with the protection and promotion of health of the citizens of Oklahoma, to prevent disease and injury and to assure conditions for good health, oversees both physical and mental health as well as substance abuse and health care.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services - the largest state department, oversees child care, disability services, foster care, adoption agencies, and other human services agencies, boards, and commissions

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Human Resources and Administration - responsible for providing comprehensive human resource services to all state agencies and employees, such as overseeing employee benefits and employment securities. It contains the Office of Personnel Management

*The Oklahoma Secretary of the Military – runs the day to day administration of the Oklahoma National Guard, including the organization, training, and preparation of the Guard.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security - provides safety and security for Oklahoma’s citizens through law enforcement and protection agencies, runs the State correction penitentiaries/ It includes the office of the Attorney General of Oklahoma, District Attorneys Council, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Technology - oversees all efforts to use science and technology to improve government to better serve the citizens of Oklahoma.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation - charged with providing a safe, economical, and effective transportation network for the people, commerce and communities of Oklahoma. It oversees the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and all Ports Authorities within the state.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Finance and Revenues - oversees the collection of taxes and administers the state treasury. It includes the State Treasurer of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector.

*The Oklahoma Secretary of Veteran Affairs - charged with ensuring all Oklahoma veterans and their families receive all possible benefits and providing health services and long-term skilled care in a residential environment to all qualified veterans residing in the state. This is the only permanent Cabinet Department.

Current cabinet members

As of July of 2006, two of the fifteen secretary positions are vacant. The current Oklahoma State Cabinet, serving under Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry, is as follows:

ee also

*Government of Oklahoma
*United States Cabinet
*List of Oklahoma state agencies