The Sixteenth 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 November 24, 1936, to May 11, 1937, 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 19, 2013) The

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

dominated both chambers. There were no Republican state senators in 1937 and only three state representatives. As

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. Allen G. Nichols served as

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 ...

and J. T. Daniel served as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Dates of session

*Special session: November 24, 1936 – January 4, 1937 *Regular session: January 4-May 11, 1937 Previous: 15th Legislature • Next: 17th Legislature

Party composition

Senate

House of Representatives

Leadership

Senate

There were no

Republicans Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

in the state senate in 1937. As

, James E. Berry served as the President of the Senate, giving him a tie-breaking vote and the authority to serve as the presiding officer. Allen G. Nichols served as

, the chamber's chief leader and organizer.2005 Oklahoma Almanac
Oklahoma Department of Libraries. (accessed July 1, 2013)

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 114 of the 117 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 1937, allowing them to select the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. J. T. Daniel of

Waurika, Oklahoma Waurika is the county seat of Jefferson County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,064 at the 2010 census, a 4.36 percent decrease from 2,158 at the 2000 census. An article from 1985 in ''The Oklahoman'' claimed that Waurika promoted ...

, was elected by his fellow state representatives to serve as Speaker and J. Kenneth Hogue of Carnegie, Oklahoma, was elected to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore.

James C. Nance James Clark "Jim" Nance (August 27, 1893 – September 3, 1984) was a leader for 40 years in the Oklahoma Legislature in the U.S. state of Oklahoma and was community newspaper chain publisher 66 years. Nance served as Speaker of the Oklahoma ...

of Purcell, Oklahoma, served as Majority Floor Leader.

Members

Senate

*Table based on state almanac.

House of Representatives

*Table based on government database.Historic Members
Okhouse.gov (accessed July 1, 2013). 2013-06-29.

References

External links

Oklahoma LegislatureOklahoma House of RepresentativesOklahoma Senate
{{Oklahoma Legislatures Oklahoma legislative sessions 1937 in Oklahoma 1938 in Oklahoma 1937 U.S. legislative sessions 1938 U.S. legislative sessions