The Oklahoma State Constitution

by Adkison, Danny M.; Palmer, Lisa McNair

• ISBN13: 9780199778850
• ISBN10: 019977885X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-04-18
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

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 Constitutiontraces 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 decisions that 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. The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United Statesis 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 historical overview 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 complete set, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.

Author Biography

Danny M. Adkison is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Oklahoma State University.

Lisa McNair Palmer is a freelance writer, seminar speaker, and attorney in private practice.