Researching
The Oklahoma Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1907 and became effective on November 16, 1907. It is composed of 30 numbered articles. Like other constitutions, it delineates the structure and form of government, and provides a method of amending the constitution. Copies of the constitution can be found online but it is also published in unannotated and annotated codes.
Researching the constitution is similar to researching statutes. Researchers should start their research in an annotated code. If they know the article and section, they can browse to it using a table of contents. Like statutory titles, articles are a subject collection of the constitution's content. If the specific section is not known, researchers can use keywords to search for the section. Once located, the section should be read, adjacent sections reviewed, and annotations consulted. Typically, researchers are searching for the meaning and implementation of a particular provision. As such, researchers should locate and read any cases that interpret that provision.
Often, researchers are interested in the historical context and development of the constitution. For this task, researchers should locate any books written about the constitution and its history as a initial starting point.
Resources
- Oklahoma ConstiutionOfficial, unannotated version provided without fee from Westlaw
- Search OK Statutes & ConstitutionProvided by the Oklahoma Legislature
Books about the Oklahoma Constitution
- The 46th Star: A History of Oklahoma's Constitutional Convention and Early Statehood byCall Number: F 700 .H87 1980
- The constitution and Enabling act of the state of Oklahoma : annotated, with references to the constitution, statutes and decision of other states and the United StatesCall Number: Donald Pray Law Library Microforms Area ( KFO 1601 1907 .A29 O5 )
The Oklahoma State Constitution by
In 1907, William Jennings Bryan described the proposed constitution for Oklahoma as "The best constitution in the United States today." An enduring characteristic of Oklahoma's constitution has been it's faith in direct democracy and its root in Progressive Era politics.The Oklahoma State Constitution traces the historical formation and constitutional development of the state of Oklahoma. In it, Danny Adkison and Lisa McNair Palmer provide article-by-article commentary and analysis on the intent, politics, social and economic pressures, and the legal decisionsthat shaped and enhanced the Oklahoma constitution since it was adopted in 1907.This unparalleled commentary provides a broad understanding of state constitutional law within the context of Oklahoma's constitutional evolution. A bibliographic essay and list of cases offer significant sources for further study. Previously published by Greenwood, this title has been brought backin to circulation by Oxford University Press with new verve. Re-printed with standardization of content organization in order to facilitate research across the series. This title, as with all titles in the series, is set to join the dynamic revision cycle of The Oxford Commentaries on the StateConstitutions of the United States.The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States is an important new series that reflects a renewed international interest in constitutional history and provides expert insight into each of the 50 state constitutions. Each volume in this innovative series contains a historicaloverview of the state's constitutional development, a section-by-section analysis of its current constitution, and a comprehensive guide to further research.Under the expert editorship of Professor G. Alan Tarr, Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University, this series provides essential reference tools for understanding state constitutional law. Books in the series can be purchased individually or as part of a completeset, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.
ISBN: 9780199778850Publication Date: 2011-04-18
