Oklahoma Service in Government and Military Amendment, State Question 769 (2014)

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State Question 769
Flag of Oklahoma.png
TypeAmendment
OriginOklahoma Legislature
TopicAdministration of government on the ballot
StatusApproved Approveda
2014 measures
Seal of Oklahoma.svg.png
November 4
State Question 769 Approveda
State Question 770 Approveda
State Question 771 Approveda
Polls


The Oklahoma Service in Government and Military Amendment, State Question 769 was on the November 4, 2014 ballot in Oklahoma as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, where it was approved. The measure guaranteed that government officials can also serve as officers and members of the National Guard, Officers Reserve Corps, Oklahoma State Guard or any other active militia or military force organized under state law.[1]

Thus, the amendment was designed to exempt officers and members of the forces mentioned from restrictions on serving in more than one paying public position.[1] The measure was known in the Oklahoma Legislature as Senate Joint Resolution No. 33.[2]

Election results

Below are the official, certified election results:

Oklahoma Question 769
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 540,988 69.5%
No237,96630.5%

Election results via: Oklahoma State Election Board

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot question was as follows:[3]

“
BALLOT TITLE FOR STATE QUESTION NO. 769

This measure amends Article 2, Section 12 of the Oklahoma Constitution. That Section currently imposes limits on an individual simultaneously holding certain government offices. The amendment would permit those serving in state offices of trust or profit to also hold certain military positions. Holders of an Oklahoma office of trust or profit who currently can not simultaneously hold certain military positions, include:

  • Legislators;
  • State Judges;
  • District Attorneys;
  • Statewide elected officials, such as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and Treasurer;
  • Members of State Boards, Agencies and Commissions, and
  • Many County Officers.

The measure creates a state constitutional right permitting holders of Oklahoma offices of trust or profit to also serve and be called to active duty or active service in the following military positions:

1. An Officer or Enlisted Member of

  • The National Guard,
  • The National Guard Reserve,
  • The Oklahoma State Guard, or
  • Any other active militia or military force organized under State law;

2. An Officer of the Officers Reserve Corps of the United States; or

3. An Enlisted Member of the Organized Reserves of the United States.

The measure empowers the Legislature to enact laws to implement the amended Section.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES _____________

AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO _____________ [4]

”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article II, Oklahoma Constitution

The measure amended Section 12 of Article II of the Constitution of Oklahoma:[1]

This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Section 12. No member of Congress from this State, or person holding any office of trust or profit under the laws of any other State, or of the United States, shall hold any office of trust or profit under the laws of this State; provided, neither the provisions of this section nor any other provision of this Constitution or state law shall be construed to prohibit the following officeholders from holding at the same time any other office of trust or profit:
1. Officers and enlisted members of the National Guard;
2. Officers and enlisted members of the National Guard Reserve;
3. Officers of the Officers Reserve Corps of the United States;
4. Enlisted members of the Organized Reserves of the United States; and
5. Officers and enlisted members of the Oklahoma State Guard and any other active militia or military force organized under state law.

The Legislature shall have the power to enact laws to further implement the provisions of this section.[4]

Background

State Question 769 addressed the issue of dual-office holding:[5]

“ Dual-office holding refers to the situation when one person holds two government offices or positions. The dual-office holding can be as the result of election, appointment or by volunteering. Dual-office holding is limited in order to avoid conflict of interest, to minimize the potential for inappropriate cross-influence and to provide checks and balances of power. However, dual-office holding is allowed under certain exceptional circumstances as codified in the Oklahoma State Statutes, Title 51, Chapter 1, Section 6. [...] State Question 769 calls for amending that section of the Oklahoma constitution to allow “offices of trust or profit” to also simultaneously serve and thus potentially be called to active duty or active services in military positions. References to the effects of dual-office holding are also addressed in state ethics commission rules.[4] ”
—Vote411.org

Support

SJR 33 "Yes" votes

The following members of the Oklahoma Legislature voted in favor of placing this measure on the ballot.[6]

Note: A yes vote on SJR 33 merely referred the question to voters and did not necessarily mean these legislators approved of the stipulations laid out in State Question 769.

House

Senate

SJR 33 was unanimously approved in the Oklahoma Senate, with a vote of 44 to 0.[2]

Arguments

According to the voter's guide published by Vote411.org:[5]

“ Proponents say:

1. The exemptions listed are for military services that is normally of limited duration.

2. The Question is designed to address a specific situation, and will act as a correction to an overly broad limitation set by the state constitution.

3. If State Question 769 is defeated, it could become very difficult for men and women serving in the military to enter civilian public service. The military often imposes a period of reserve duty on men and women who are leaving full-time service. Our veterans already have great difficulty finding meaningful civilian work, and the lack of this exemption could make the public sector off-limits to them for several years.[4]

”
—Vote411.org

Opposition

SJR 33 "No" votes

The following members of the Oklahoma Legislature voted against placing this measure on the ballot.[6]

Note: A no vote on SJR 33 meant that a legislator did not want to refer the question to voters and did not necessarily mean these legislators disapproved of the stipulations laid out in State Question 769.

House

Senate

SJR 33 was unanimously approved in the Oklahoma Senate, with a vote of 44 to 0.[2]

Arguments

According to the voter's guide published by Vote411.org[5]

“ Opponents say:

1. If passed State Question 769 could result in conflicts of interest due to two office positions being held by the same person.

2. State Question 769, if passed, could result in the compromise of the separation of powers between the two offices/positions.

3. An “empty chair” representation situation could result, leaving a district without representation or the services of an elected official. For example, if a legislative representative who is a member of the National Guard is called up, his/her constituents would not be represented in his/her absence.[4]

”
—Vote411.org

Media editorial positions

See also: Endorsements of Oklahoma ballot measures, 2014

Support

  • The Tulsa World said,
“ We endorse all three state questions on the statewide ballot.

SQ 769 would allow elected officials to keep their positions if they are called into active military service.[4]

”
—Tulsa World[7]

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Oklahoma Constitution

A simple majority vote was required in both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature in order to place the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. On March 12, 2013, the Oklahoma Senate unanimously passed SJR 33. On April 24, 2014, the House passed the bill with a vote of 82 to five.[2]

Senate vote

March 12, 2013, Senate vote

Oklahoma SJR 33 Senate vote
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 44 100.00%
No00%

House vote

April 24, 2014, House vote

Oklahoma SJR 33 House vote
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 82 97.70%
No52.30%

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Oklahoma Legislature, "Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution No. 33," accessed April 25, 2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 OpenStates.org, "SJR 33: Oklahoma Senate Joint Resolution," accessed October 18, 2014
  3. ↑ Oklahoma Secretary of State, "State Question Number 769," May 29, 2014
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Vote411.org, "VOTE 411 VOTER GUIDE," accessed October 18, 2014
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 OpenStates.org, "House Vote on SJR 33 (Apr 24, 2014)," accessed October 18, 2014
  7. ↑ Tulsa World, "Tulsa World Endorsements: A recap of Tulsa World editorial endorsements in Tuesday's election," November 2, 2014
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