Campaigns and Elections

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Campaigns and Elections

• The Lay of the Land - Oklahoma

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Liberalism

• Referring to a states tendency to expand welfare
  benefits, regulate business, adopt progressive
  state income taxes, and generally use the
  resources of government to achieve social change.

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Conservatism

• Referring to a states tendency to limit welfare
  benefits, deregulate business, keep taxes low,
  and generally place less reliance on government
  and more reliance on individuals and the
  marketplace to achieve social goals.

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Governing the Sooner State

• Who Are We?
• Political Culture
• Moralistic
• Traditionalistic
• Individualistic
• Character

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Governing the Sooner State
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Governing the Sooner State
Oklahoma Voter Registration

• Year Dem. Rep. Ind.
• 1960 82 17 1
• 1970 77 22 1
• 1980 75 23 2
• 1990 65 32 3
• 2000 57 35 9
• ? 2024 38 41 21

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Governing the Sooner State
Oklahoma State Senate

• Dem. Rep.
• Nov. 2000 62 38
• 1999 69 31
• 1989 69 31
• 1979 81 19
• 1969 79 21

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Governing the Sooner State
Oklahoma House of Representatives

• Dem. Rep.
• Nov. 2000 52 48
• 1999 60 40
• 1989 68 32
• 1979 75 25
• 1969 77 23

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Governing the Sooner State

• Our Future

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Two Oklahomas ?

• Individualistic/Traditionalistic Southern
  Culture/Midwestern Oklahoma Territory/Indian
  Territory
• Urban/Rural
• Democrat/Republican
• continued distrust/trust-progress

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One Oklahoma ?

• Increasingly homogenous
• have common bonds that are stronger than our
  differences

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Democracy in the States

• History

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Democracy cont.

• Initiative - A device by which a specific number
  or percentage of the voters may petition to have
  a constitutional amendment or law placed on the
  ballot for adoption or rejection by the
  electorate.

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Democracy cont.

• Referendum - proposed laws or constitutional
  amendments submitted to the voters for their
  direct approval or rejection.

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Democracy cont.

• Recall - An election to allow voters to decide
  whether or not to remove an elected official
  before his or her term expires.

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Democracy cont.

• Direct Democracy - Popular participation in
  government through direct voter initiation of
  policy (usually by petition) and voter approval
  or rejection of policy decisions by popular vote.

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Use of Initiative/Referendum

• 1970s 183 statewide votes
• 1980s 253
• 1990s 383
• Biggest users - California and Oregon

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Oklahoma

• Initiative petition
• Legislative referendum
• Referendum petition

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Direct Democracy vs. Representative Democracy?
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Governing the Sooner State

• Our Constitution
• U.S. Constitution
• Other States
• Progressive Movement

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Governing the Sooner State

• Our Legislature
• Organization and Powers
• Oklahoma House of Representatives
• Oklahoma Senate

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Governing the Sooner State

• Our Governor
• Organization and Powers

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Governing the Sooner State

• Our Judicial System
• Organization and Powers

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Governing the Sooner State

• Our Place
• National
• Local

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Governing the Sooner State
How We Participate

• 1941-1962
• 1962-1979
• 1980-2000

• 1907-1918
• 1918-1930
• 1930-1942