Oklahoma Politics, Volume 1 (October 1992)

Vestal, Theodore M. “Representation on the Oklahoma Democratic Party’s Central Committee: One Person/One Vote?”, pp. 1-16.

In the 1980s the Democratic party went through a series of reforms that restricted autonomy of state parties and democratized delegate selection for presidential nomination conventions.  Between 1985 and 1988 rural and urban factions of the Democratic party of Oklahoma struggled over the question of one person/one vote in representation in the State Central Committee (SCC).  The matter was resolved only when the Democratic 
National Committee threatened to bar a delegation form Oklahoma at the 1988 national convention unless the SCC was apportioned in accordance with the national party’s constitution.  The SCC was reconstituted on more democratic lines, and the state party, operating under a new a constitution, has enjoyed a more united leadership.  The struggle to reapportion the Democratic party of Oklahoma looms as the most important episode in the organization’s fifty year history.

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Holloway, Harry, with Frank S. Meyers “The Oklahoma County Commissioner Scandal: Review, Reform, and the County Lobby”, pp. 17-34.

This article reviews the findings of an extended study of Oklahoma’s county commissioner scandal (Okscam).  A basic finding is that institutional weaknesses allowed county commissioners to operate with a combination of resources and discretion that invited abuse.  Second, reforms definitely improved the system but left in place much of 
the traditional system of county road building, a system one observer described as “road districtis”.  Third, the growing strength of the county lobby in support of county government poses a potential long term threat to the persistence of the reforms enacted in reaction to Okscam.

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Van Ness, Joseph T. “Strategic Oklahoma Politicians: Analysis of the Oklahoma House of Representatives”, pp. 35-48.

In this study, Oklahoma House of Representatives races from 1974-1988 are examined to the conclusion that attorneys and previous officeholders are the two best employment categories from which to stage successful challenges to an incumbent or election to an open seat.  Additionally, although open seats are more easily obtained than when an incumbent is present, parity can be approached by a minority party over time by adhering to the suggested electability model.  If the public mood is changing in the 90s, the implications of the model could become even more significant.

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McCoy, Melanie “The Impact of Oklahoma Indian Tribes on the Political Agenda of the U.S. Government”, pp. 49-66.

This study of the effect of Oklahoma Indian tribes on the political agenda of the U.S. government attempted to answer two research questions: whether the unique legal and political status of Indian tribes provide them with special access to, and influence on, the agenda-setting and policymaking of the national government and whether Oklahoma 
Indian tribes are able to advance a political agenda they define.  The results of this study support the conclusion that the special status of the tribes does give them special access to, and influence on, national policies only after they are established by other political actors.  Therefore, Indian tribes are not able to advance a political agenda they define. 
The national Indian policy agenda is set by other political actors.

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Kirksey, Jason F., and David E. Wright III “Black Women in State Legislatures: The View from Oklahoma”, pp. 67-80.

Over the past 20 years the number of black women elected to public office has increased dramatically.  However, beyond the act of holding office comes the ability to directly affect change in public policy.  In order to bring about policy change, elected officials have to become an integral part of the policy-making process.  This article examines the level of incorporation conducted with members of the legislative process.  The results show that black women appear to have become effective members of the Oklahoma Legislature.

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