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Oklahoma Senate

NameOklahoma State Senate
LegislatureOklahoma State Legislature
Coa PicSeal of Oklahoma.svg
House TypeUpper house
Session RoomSenate chamber.jpg
Term Limits12 year cumulative total, in either or both chambers
New SessionFebruary 7, 2011
Leader1 TypePresident Pro Tem
Leader1Brian Bingman
Party1(R)
Election1January 4, 2011
Leader2 TypeMajority Leader
Leader2Mike Shultz
Party2(R)
Election2January 4, 2011
Leader3 TypeMinority Leader
Leader3Andrew Rice
Party3(D)
Election3January 4, 2011
Term Length4 years
AuthorityArticle V, Oklahoma Constitution
Salary$38,400/year + per diem
Members48
Political Groups1Republican Party (32)
Democratic Party (16)
Last Election1November 2, 2010
(24 seats)
Next Election1November 6, 2012
(24 seats)
Meeting PlaceState Senate Chamber
Oklahoma State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution.

The senators are elected to four year terms on alternating cycles. The odd senatorial districts are elected in the same cycle of every presidential election year (even-numbered years evenly divisible by four, e.g., 2008, 2012); the even numbered senatorial districts are elected during the gubernatorial election year (even-numbered years not evenly divisible by four, e.g., 2006, 2010).

The presiding officer of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, who is the President of the Senate. Since the 1960s, the President pro tempore of the Senate has presided over daily work. Prior to that time, the President of the Senate took a leading role in the Senate, including appointing committees and members to those committees. The President of the Senate may cast a vote only in the instance of a tie vote and may not vote to create a tie.


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