The Fifteenth Oklahoma Legislature was a meeting of the legislative branch of the

government of Oklahoma The government of the U.S. State of Oklahoma, established by the Oklahoma Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the federal government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and ...

, composed of the

Oklahoma Senate 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.Oklahoma House of Representatives The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's b ...

. The state legislature met from January 8 to April 30, 1935, during the term of Governor

E.W. Marland Ernest Whitworth Marland, known as E. W. Marland (May 8, 1874 – October 3, 1941), was an American lawyer, oil businessman in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, and politician who was a U.S. representative and Oklahoma governor. He served in the United ...

.A Century to Remember

Oklahoma House of Representatives
(accessed June 28, 2013) Marland influenced the selection of Leon C. Phillips for Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Phillips had been an opponent of Governor

William H. Murray William Henry Davis "Alfalfa Bill" Murray (November 21, 1869 – October 15, 1956) was an American educator, lawyer, and politician who became active in Oklahoma before statehood as legal adviser to Governor Douglas H. Johnston of the Chic ...

's proposals. Phillips also opposed many of Marland's proposals.

Dates of session

*Regular session: January 8-April 30, 1935 Previous: 14th Legislature • Next: 16th Legislature

Major events

*Three state questions related to old age pensions were presented to voters in September 1935.Old Age Security Act

Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
. (accessed July 17, 2013) Only State Question 214, which authorized pensions, social security, and a welfare commission, were approved by voters. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled State Question 214 was illegal in February 1936. *On July 7, 1936, State Question 225, which established a welfare program, and State Question 226, which created assistance for the aged, blind, crippled children, and dependent children, were approved by voters. *In August 1936 the Oklahoma Department of Public Welfare was established, which administered the old age assistance program and other welfare programs.

Party composition

Senate

House of Representatives

Leadership

Senate

Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma The lieutenant governor of Oklahoma is the second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma. As first in the gubernatorial line of succession, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor of Oklahoma upon the death, resi ...

, James E. Berry served as the President of the Senate, serving as the presiding officer in ceremonial instances.

President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate The President ''pro tempore'' of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking state senator. The Oklahoma Constitution designates the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma as the highest-r ...

Claud Briggs served as the member-elected leader of the state senate.

House of Representatives

The

Oklahoma Democratic Party The Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it is one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics. The party dominated local politics in Oklahoma ...

held 112 of the 120 seats in the

Oklahoma House of Representatives The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's b ...

in 1935, allowing them to select the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Leon C. Phillips served in the role in 1935 and Merton Munson served as Speaker Pro Tempore.

Members

Senate

*Table based on state almanac.

House of Representatives

*Table based on government database.Historic Members
, Okhouse.gov. (accessed July 9, 2013)

References

External links

Oklahoma LegislatureOklahoma House of RepresentativesOklahoma Senate
{{Oklahoma Legislatures Oklahoma legislative sessions 1935 in Oklahoma 1936 in Oklahoma 1935 U.S. legislative sessions 1936 U.S. legislative sessions