Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
| Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives | |
|---|---|
| Appointer | Elected by the Oklahoma House of Representatives |
| Term length | 2 years |
| Inaugural holder | William H. Murray |
| Formation |
Oklahoma Constitution 1907 |
| Succession | 3rd |
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The speaker exercises administrative and procedural functions, but remains a representative of his legislative district. The current Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is Charles A. McCall, Republican from Atoka, Oklahoma.
The position was created in 1907 by the Oklahoma Constitution. Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives vote for the speaker in the first legislative session following an election. Although there is no constitutional requirement to elect a speaker from the majority party, in practice, the speaker has never been a member of the minority party.
The speaker is third in line of succession to the Governorship of Oklahoma, behind the lieutenant governor and the President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate.
The speaker holds a variety of powers as the presiding officer of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Before any member may speak, he must seek the presiding officer's recognition. The presiding officer may call on members as he pleases, and may therefore control the flow of debate. The presiding officer decides questions of order during debate, seats the chamber, calls members to order for violating rules, and approves claims for supplies and services. He or she is responsible for maintaining decorum and enforces the rules. On the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the presiding officer is always addressed as "Mister Speaker".
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