President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate

The President "pro tempore" of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Senate and the highest-ranking senator. The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma is the President of the Senate "ex officio", and thus is the highest-ranking member of the Senate; during her absence, the President "pro tempore" presides over the Senate.

The President "pro tempore" is elected by the Senate; unlike the custom of the United States Senate, where the most senior senator in the majority party serves as President "pro tempore", the Oklahoma Senate has rarely had the most senior senator serve as President "pro tempore". Since the Lieutenant Governor hasn't regularly presided or appointed committees since the 1960s, the duty of management and political power falls to the President "pro tempore". The office of President "pro tempore" was created in 1907 by Oklahoma Constitution and the President "pro tempore" is selected by the Senate. While not a Constitutional requirement, every President "pro tempore" through the 2007-08 tied legislature has been a member of the Majority Party.

The President "pro tempore" is second in line of succession to the Governorship of Oklahoma, behind the Lieutenant Governor. The President’s counterpart in the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House.

The Co-President "pro tempore"

As a result of 2006 elections, the Senate is split evenly 24-24 between the Democrats and the Republicans.A power sharing agreement has been reached that creates a second office within the Senate of "Co-President "pro tempore"." Under this agreement, the President "pro tempore" of the Senate will be Mike Morgan, a Democrat from Stillwater, who has held the office since March of 2005 and Senator Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City) will serve as the Co-President "pro tempore". Co-President Coffee will switch places with President Morgan for one month (July, 2007) to symbolize the parity between the two parties. While Coffee will assume the office of President "pro tempore" in July, Morgan will serve as the Co-President "pro tempore". Both will preside over the Senate every other day and under the agreement reached between the Senate caucuses, Morgan will have appointment authority only as long as Coffee assents to the appointment, effectively making them both fully vested with the duties and rights of President "pro tempore". The Oklahoma Constitution specifically states that only one Senator shall be elected as President "pro tempore", which prohibited both men from having the title of "President "pro tempore"." Under the agreement, should the Governor and Lt. Governor both be absent from the state, Morgan would serve as the Acting Governor except for the one month of July, 2007.

History

Following the statehood of Oklahoma in 1907, the first President "pro tempore" was elected. Since all candidates for "pro tempore" had no prior service in the Senate, there were no prominent former Senate leaders to select from. With the Democrats controlling the Senate, the popular State Senator Henry S. Johnston of Perry was selected to serve as the first President "pro tempore". Sworn into office on November 16, 1907, (the same day Oklahoma was admitted to the Union) Johnston served as the President "pro tempore" from 1907 to 1909.

For its first 60 years, no one person ever held the office for more than one term consecuatively. State Senator Tom Anglin of Holdenville was the first to hold the office a second time: first from 1923-1925 and a second time from 1943-1945. Clem McSpadden was the first President "pro tempore" to serve two consecutive terms, from 1965 to 1969. As in the House, once one person held the chamber’s highest office, the trend continued.

From 1965 to 2006, ten Presidents have been selected to serve over the 41 year period, a period which would allow for the election of 22 Presidents. Of those ten Presidents, only James E. Hamilton of Poteau and Cal Hobson of Lexington served only one full single term. Hamilton sought the U.S. Senate nomination in 1980, unsuccessfully, and eventually returned to politics as a State Representative, where he chaired the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Hobson won reelection to the office of Pro Tem, but resigned shortly thereafter during the legislative session in 2005 due to personal issues. Hobson in 2006 sought unsuccessfully to be the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor.

Four Presidents "pro tempore" have served two consecutive terms and two have served three consecutive terms. Currently, Stratton Taylor of Claremore holds the record of four consecutive terms. Senator Taylor held the office for eight years, 1995 to 2003, serving as the President "pro tempore" under the entire administration of Governor Frank Keating.

Powers

The President "pro tempore" holds a variety of powers in addition to the role as presiding officer of the Senate. The President "pro tempore" assigns other members to assume the chair in his absence (which is very common). The President "pro tempore" rarely presides except for ceremonial duties and to preside over major policy initiatives. Before any member may speak, he must seek the presiding officer's recognition. The presiding officer may call on members as he pleases, and may therefore control the flow of debate. The presiding officer decides all questions of orders during debate, seats in the camber, calls members to order for violating rules, and approves all claims for supplies and services. He is responsible for maintaining decorum in the Senate, and enforces the rules. On the floor of the Senate, the presiding officer is always addressed as "Mister President" (even if the President himself is not the individual presiding). The President's powers and duties extend beyond presiding in the chamber. In particular, he has great influence over the committee process. The President appoints all members of committees and assigns all bills to whichever committee he wishes to allow consideration.

As a member of the Senate, the President "pro tempore" is entitled to participate in debate and to vote. The President "pro tempore" is rarely found on the floor other than to cast a vote. The duties of the office require him to spend most of his time off the floor. Unlike the Speaker of the House, the President "pro tempore" must actually come to the floor of the Senate to announce his vote, where the Speaker is able to activate an electronic voting device from within his office for convenience.

Other Duties

The Legislature may be called into special session by a written call, with specifically set out in the call, with a signed call by two-thirds of the members of the Senate and two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives. After the number of Senators and Representatives is met, the call is filed with the President "pro tempore" of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives who must issue a joint order for the convening of the special session.

According to Section 16 of Article Six of the Oklahoma Constitution, the President "pro tempore" is second in line to succeed to the Governorship in the event of a vacancy in the office. First in line is the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, then the President "pro tempore", followed by the Speaker of the House. No President "pro tempore" has become the Governor through succession.

List of Presidents "pro tempore"

The complete (as of 2007) list of Presidents "pro tempore" is below. Note: All locations are in Oklahoma.