Today's Oklahoma constitution is not the same as the constitution that voters, Congress, and the president approved in 1907. If you had the chance to be one of the writers of the Oklahoma constitution, what would you have wanted to include? Which of the measures in the constitution would you have liked to leave out? Explain your answers.

Answer 1

If I had the opportunity to be one of the writers of the Oklahoma Constitution in 1907, I would have focused on inclusivity, protection of individual rights, and the promotion of a balanced government structure. Here are some key elements I would have wanted to include and others I might have chosen to omit:

What to Include

1. Stronger Protection of Individual Rights: I would advocate for clearer protections for civil liberties, including freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as explicit anti-discrimination clauses to protect the rights of marginalized groups, which were not comprehensively addressed at the time.

2. Environmental Protections: Recognizing the importance of natural resources and the state’s agricultural backbone, I would incorporate measures for sustainability and conservation of Oklahoma's diverse ecosystems, laying the groundwork for environmental protections.

3. Education Rights: Ensuring access to quality, equitable education for all children, with provisions for funding public schools and guarantees that education is free from discrimination based on race, socioeconomic status, or disability.

4. Direct Democracy Mechanisms: I would include provisions for initiatives and referendums, allowing citizens to have a direct voice in the legislative process. This would empower voters and promote civic engagement.

5. Right to Unionize: I would explicitly include the right of workers to collectively bargain and organize, recognizing labor rights as an essential component of democracy.

What to Leave Out

1. Racial Discriminatory Policies: I would actively oppose and seek to eliminate any provisions that supported segregation or discrimination. Unfortunately, some constitutional measures inherent to the original document reflected the racial attitudes of the time.

2. Prohibition on Alcohol: Prohibition policies often lead to unintended consequences, including crime and the undermining of personal freedoms. I would prefer to leave out provisions that enforced moral regulations over personal choices on issues such as alcohol consumption.

3. Centralized Power: I would propose limiting the extent of powers granted to certain offices, ensuring a more balanced distribution of power among the branches of government. This would help prevent abuse and encourage checks and balances.

4. Strict Voter Qualification Requirements: Many voter qualifications at the time were designed to disenfranchise specific groups. I would strive for a more inclusive voting system that allows all citizens to participate in the democratic process without unnecessary barriers.

5. Rigid Amendment Process: The original constitution had a complex and sometimes obstructive process for amendments. I would aim for a more flexible and accessible process to ensure the constitution could adapt to changing societal needs.

By focusing on rights and inclusivity while eliminating outdated or discriminatory measures, the Oklahoma Constitution could have better served its citizens and fostered a more equitable and dynamic civic environment.