Oklahoma State Question 751, English as Official State Language Amendment (2010)

Oklahoma State Question 751
Election date November 2, 2010
Topic English language policy
Status Approved
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Oklahoma State Question 751 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Oklahoma on November 2, 2010. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this constitutional amendment to: declare English the "common and unifying language of the State of Oklahoma;" require that all official state actions in Oklahoma be conducted in English, with exceptions for federal law requirements and Native American languages; and prohibit lawsuits under the state constitution against state agencies or local governments for not offering services in other languages.

A "no" vote opposed this constitutional amendment to declare English the "common and unifying language of the State of Oklahoma" and require that all official state actions in Oklahoma be conducted in English, with exceptions.

Election results

Oklahoma State Question 751
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		740,918	75.54%
No		239,904	24.46%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for State Question 751 was as follows:

“

This measure amends the State Constitution. It adds a new Article to the Constitution. That Article deals with the State’s official actions. It dictates the language to be used in taking official State action. It requires that official State actions be in English. Native American languages could also be used. When Federal law requires, other languages could also be used. These language requirements apply to the State’s “official actions.” The term “official actions” is not defined. The Legislature could pass laws determining the application of the language requirements.The Legislature would also pass laws implementing and enforcing the language requirements.  No lawsuit based on State law could be brought on the basis of a State agency’s failure to use a language other than English. Nor could such a lawsuit be brought against political subdivisions of the State.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Constitutional changes

See also: Article XXX, Oklahoma Constitution

The ballot measure added Article XXX to the Oklahoma Constitution. The following underlined language was added:

As English is the common and unifying language of the State of Oklahoma, all official actions of the state shall be conducted in the English language, except as required by federal law. No person shall have a cause of action against an agency or political subdivision of this state for failure to provide any official government actions in any language other than English. Nothing in this Article shall be construed to diminish or impair the use, study, development, or encouragement of any Native American language in any context or for any purpose. The Legislature shall have the power to implement, enforce and determine the proper application of this Article by appropriate legislation.

Background

See also: History of English as official language ballot measures and laws

The following is a list of state ballot measures to designate English as an official state language:

State official language ballot measures
State	Year	Measure	Origin	Language(s)	Yes	No	Outcome
Nebraska	1920	Amendment 3: English as Official State Language	Convention	English	83.63%	16.37%	a
Hawaii	1978	Amendment 31: Preamble, Official Languages, and Motto Measure	Convention	English and Hawaiian	69.72%	30.28%	a
California	1986	Proposition 63: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	73.25%	26.75%	a
Arizona	1988	Proposition 106: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	50.50%	49.50%	a
Colorado	1988	Amendment 1: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	61.15%	38.85%	a
Florida	1988	Amendment 11: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	83.87%	16.13%	a
Alabama	1990	Amendment 1: English as Official State Language	Legislature	English	88.52%	11.48%	a
Alaska	1998	Measure 6: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	68.60%	31.40%	a
Utah	2000	Initiative A: English as Official State Language	Initiative	English	67.18%	32.82%	a
Arizona	2006	Proposition 103: English as Official State Language	Legislature	English	74.00%	26.00%	a
Missouri	2008	Amendment 1: English as Official State Language	Legislature	English	86.31%	13.69%	a
Oklahoma	2010	State Question 751: English as Official State Language	Legislature	English	75.54%	24.46%	a
Idaho	2026	HJR 6: English as Official State Language Amendment	Legislature	English	TBD	TBD	TBD

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Oklahoma Constitution

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Oklahoma State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Oklahoma State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

2010 Measures

• 2010 Measures
• English language policy on the ballot
• 2010 legislative sessions

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma ballot measures
• Oklahoma ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Oklahoma State Questions