Oklahoma Politics, Volume 13 (November 2004)

 

 

Hardt, Jan.  "Show Me the Money:  Campaign Finance in the 2000 and 2002 Oklahoma Elections," pp. 1-46

 

This article examines Oklahoma campaign finance for both the 2000 and 2002 elections using both data readily available from the Oklahoma Ethics Commission on the candidates, but also data that was gathered on the political action committees who contributed to the candidates.  These two sources of information reveal that incumbents do better than challengers and that many races became more competitive in Oklahoma as seats became open as a result of term limits.  Particularly noteworthy was the substantial decline of the Democratic Party in 2002 compared to 2000 in raising funds

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Avery, Michael K. and Peters, Ronald M.  "Oklahoma's Statutory Constitution," pp. 47-66.

 

The Oklahoma Constitution retains its original and historic character as a combination of constitutional and statutory provisions.  This article traces the Constitution's evolution through the use of the initiative and referendum processes and sets that evolution in the context of the state's political culture.  It concludes by considering efforts to reform the constitution and the reasons why they have failed.  IN brief, the article finds that Oklahomans have not recognized the importance of the distinction between fundamental and statutory law.  Constitutional reform has been stymied by a variety of political forces that prefer an accessible constitution and fragmented governmental authority to the efficiencies that might result from a streamlined constitutional order.

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Davis, James A., Byrraju, Ravi Shankar, and Sekhar, Metla V. Sai.  "Two 'Parties" Among Registered Oklahoma Democrats:  The Clark, Edwards, and Kerry Constituencies," pp. 67-101.

 

This research is based ona sample of 807 registered Democrats who voted in the 2004 presidential primary.  It seeks to answer the question of why Oklahoma was unique in the "third round" of the nomination process in putting two candidates ahead of national front runner Senator John Kerry.  The data suggest one reason is that many registered Democrats do not identify with the Democratic Party in Oklahoma.  Instead, they identify themselves as independents through strong Republicans despite still being registered as Democrats.

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Clapper, Thomas H. "Book Review of Breach of Trust:  How Washington Turns Outsideres into Insiders by Tom A. Coburn," pp. 105-108.

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Taylor, C. A.  "Book Review of Born to Run:  Origins of the Political Career by Ronald Keith Gaddie," pp. 109-112.

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Gorden, Bill.  "Book Review of The Cherokee Cases:  Two Landmark Federal Decisions in the Fight for Sovereignty by Jill Norgren," pp. 113=116.

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Clark, Blue.  "Book Review of Cash, Color and Colonialism:  The Politics of Tribal Acknowledgment by Renee Ann Cramer," pp. 117-120.

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Hick, Kenneth. "Book Review of Diminished Democracy:  From Membership to Management in American Civic Life by Theda Skocpol," pp. 121-124.

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