Oklahoma
Oklahoma is located in the south-central region of the US. Known as the “Sooner State,” Oklahoma became the 46th state to be admitted into the Union on October 16, 1907. Oklahoma City is the state capital and largest city in the state.
Oklahoma is a major agriculture state, it is a leading oil and gas producer in the US, and the local economy relies heavily on aviation, biotechnology, energy, and telecommunications industries. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are the prime economic-drivers in the state, with more than ⅔ of its economy being produced in the area, and a majority of the state’s population residing in the metropolitan area.
The Oklahoma State Government is modeled after the United States federal government, with the political power split between three branches: legislative, executive and the judicial branch. The state government is based in Oklahoma City, where most state offices are.
The executive branch is led by the governor. There are over 300 state departments that comprise the executive branch, and there are an additional eleven officials that are elected to fill state-wide offices.
The legislative branch is called the Oklahoma Legislature and includes the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives. Members of the legislature may serve a maximum of 12 years in either the House of the Senate.
The judicial branch consists of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals as the system’s highest courts. This is a split court of last resort system, which is unique to Oklahoma and Texas. The Oklahoma Supreme Court handles civil cases, while the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals handles criminal cases and appeals.
Oklahoma has two courts of limited jurisdiction—the Workers Compensation Court and the Court on Tax Review. The Workers’ Compensation Court has judges, selected by the governor, who serve a six-year term, and the court hears cases on worker’s compensation claims. The Court on Tax Review, hears disputes on county and city government taxes that are potentially illegal. The Court is set up through the Oklahoma judiciary when cases arise.
The state contributes 7 electoral votes to Presidential elections.
The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University are the leading public education schools in the state.
The National Law Review covers news, stories, legislation, and relevant news as it relates to the US and citizens of the state online. Visitors can read about the latest legislation, government agency news, court rulings/litigation, labor and employment law, insurance claims, bankruptcy disputes, and other general news. The National Law Review provides visitors the most up to date content, and relevant news from the state of Oklahoma.