- Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet
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Oklahoma
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The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of the State government.
Cabinet officers are appointed by the Governor, subject confirmation by the Oklahoma Senate. Once confirmed, all members of the Cabinet receive the title "Secretary" and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Cabinet is responsible for advising the Governor on the operations and policies of the State government.
The current Cabinet is serving under Governor Mary Fallin.
Contents
History
When Governor of Oklahoma David Boren first took office, Oklahoma possessed no form of Cabinet system. Taking the example of other states, Governor Boren began holding semi-official and semi-regular meetings with various heads of state agencies whenever necessary. Under Boren’s successor, George Nigh, following the recommendation of the Nigh Commission, Oklahoma adopted an official Cabinet system with the enactment of Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986.
In 2009, the Oklahoma Legislature amended the Executive Branch Reform Act to mandate the establishment of the Secretary of Information Technology.
Cabinet Areas
The Executive Branch Reform Act first called for the creating of a Cabinet with no more than fifteen "cabinet areas" with were to consist of the various state agencies, committees, and boards with similar administrative objectives. These cabinet areas would not be agencies of the State and thus could not exercise the executive power of the State. They would only exist to better serve the Governor in crafting policy and information gathering. The original law mandated only one cabinet area: one containing the Department of Veteran Affairs. The law has since been amended to mandate the creation of Information Technology cabinet area. After that, the law allowed the Governor to create the other fourteen cabinet areas at his discretion until the Oklahoma Legislature formally created the cabinet areas. The heads of these executive cabinet area would be given the title of "Secretary" followed by the name of their cabinet area (or a shortened title thereof).
The Governor, within 45 days of taking office, is allowed to create his own cabinet, with anywhere from no less than 10 but no more than 15 "cabinet areas". The Governor is allowed to create any cabinet area he desires and to place whichever agencies, bureaus, and commissions he wants under those cabinet areas. For example, under Governor Frank Keating, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce each belonged to separate cabinet areas, while under Governor Brad Henry the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism was the cabinet secretary for both departments. Alternatively, under Governor Keating, the Secretary of Health and Human Services oversaw the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services while Governor Henry split the posts into a separate Secretary of Health to oversee the Health Department and a separate Secretary of Human Services to oversee the Human Services Department.
Regardless of the number of cabinet areas and their functions, at least one must be the Secretary of Veteran Affairs and must be charged with providing for Oklahoma's veterans and one must be the Secretary of Information Technology and must be charged with overseeing state use of information technology and telecommunications.
Following the Oklahoma Supreme Court case of Keating v. Edmondson in 2001, it was deemed illegal for a Governor to change the cabinet areas and their functions past the 45-day deadline unilaterally. In order to change a cabinet area after the first 45 days in office, the Governor must seek approval from the Oklahoma Legislature via legislation.
Cabinet Secretaries
Appointment
All Cabinet Secretaries are appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Oklahoma Senate. Potential appointees for Secretary positions may be appointed to serve as members of the Office of the Governor or may be selected from among the agency heads within the Secretary's cabinet area. If the Senate is not in session when the Governor nominates an individual, then the Cabinet Secretary serves on an unconfirmed basis until the next session of the Senate. Each Cabinet Secretary is appointed for a four year term but may be removed at any time by the Governor. The only exception to this rule is Oklahoma Secretary of State, who serves a fixed four year term.
Cabinet Secretary positions are semi-formal an are not legally classified as "officers of the State". As such, Cabinet Secretaries are allowed to hold another office within the State government. An example would be Scott Meacham, who served as both the Secretary of Finances and Revenue and the State Treasurer of Oklahoma under Governor Brad Henry.
Powers and Duties
Regardless of cabinet area, all Cabinet Secretaries are responsible for advising the Governor of any policy changes or problems within their area, advising the entities they represent of any policy changes or problems as directed by the Governor, and for coordinating information gathering as request by the Legislature.
Cabinet Secretaries do not possess the power to direct or control any agency they represent outside of their ability to gather information. They have no authority to direct or control any agency within their Cabinet Area except their own direct staff. They also doe not have the authority to hire or fire personnel in their Cabinet Area except those on their own direct staff. The compenent agencies are directed and controlled by their respective department heads. The Cabinet Secretaries may only direct a compenent agency when previously authorization by the Governor through executive order or if a Secretary serves concurrently as the head of that agency.
Each Cabinet Secretary is subject to the direction and control of the Governor. All agencies assigned to each Cabinet Secretary exercise their powers and duties in accordnace with the general policy established by the Cabinet Secretary acting on behalf of the Governor. Each Cabinet Secretary has the power to resolve administrative, jurisdictional, operational, program, or policy conflicts between agencies or officials assigned to them, oversees and directs the formulation of program budgets for their assigned agencies, is responsible for holding their assigned agency heads accountable for their actions, and directs the development of goals, objectives, policies and plans for their assigned agencies.
Cabinet Positions
Current cabinet members
As of February 2011, all fourteen Cabinet Secretary positions are filed. The current Cabinet, serving under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin, is as follows:
Historic composition
Current members of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet Cabinet Secretary of State John Kennedy (1991-1994) • Glo Henley (1994-1995)Secretary of Administration UnknownSecretary of Agriculture Gary Sherrer (1991–1995)Secretary of Commerce Greg Main (1991-1995)Secretary of Energy Charles Nesbitt (1991–1995)Secretary of the Environment UnknownSecretary of Finance and Revenue UnknownSecretary of Health and Human Services Ben Demps (1991-1995)Secretary of Human Resources James Thomas (1991) • Oscar B. Jackson Jr. (1991–1995)Secretary of the Military UnknownSecretary of Safety and Security Bob Fitzpatrick (1991-1992) • Dave McBride (1992-1995)Secretary of Tourism and Recreation UnknownSecretary of Transportation Delmas Ford (1991–1995)Secretary of Veterans Affairs John Willis (1991-1995)Cabinet of Governor of Oklahoma Frank Keating (1995–2003) Cabinet Secretary of Administration Tom Brennan (1995-1997) • Pam Warren (1997–2003)
Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Howard (1995–2003)Secretary of Commerce Dean Werries (1995–1997) • Ron Rosenfeld (1997-1998) • Howard Barnett, Jr. (1998-1999) • Russell M. Perry (1999-2000) • Vacant (2000-2003)Secretary of Education Floyd Coppedege (1995–2003)Secretary of Energy Carl Michael Smith (1995–2002) • Robert J. Sullivan, Jr. (2002-2003)Secretary of the Environment Gary Sherrer (1995–1997) • Brian C. Griffin (1997-2003)Secretary of Finance and Revenue Tom Daxon (1995–2003)Secretary of Health and Human Services Ken Lackey (1995–1997) • Jerry Regier (1997-2002) • Howard Hendrick (2002-2003)Secretary of Human Resources Oscar B. Jackson Jr. (1995–2003)Secretary of the Military Stephen Cortright (1995–2003)Secretary of Safety and Security Bob Ricks (1995–2003)Secretary of Science and Technology W. Arthur Porter (1999–2003)Secretary of Tourism and Recreation Edward H. Cook (1995–1999) • Jane Anne Jayroe (1999-2003)Secretary of Transportation Neal McCaleb (1995–2001) • Herschal Crow (2001-2003)Secretary of Veterans Affairs Norman Lamb (1995–2003)Cabinet of Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry (2003-2011) Cabinet Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach (2003-2011)
Secretary of Commerce and Tourism Kathy Taylor (2003–2006) • Natalie Shirley (2006-2011)Secretary of Education Vacant (2003-2011)Secretary of Energy David Fleischaker (2003-2008) • Bobby Wegener (2008-2011)Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert (2003–2008) • J.D. Strong (2008-2011)Secretary of Finance and Revenue Scott Meacham (2003–2011)Secretary of Health Tom Adelson (2003–2004) • Terry Cline (2004-2007) • Mike Crutcher (2007-2009)• Terri L. White (2009-2011)Secretary of Human Resources and Administration Oscar B. Jackson Jr. (2003–2011)Secretary of Human Services Howard Hendrick (2003–2011)Secretary of the Military Harry M. Wyatt III (2003–2009) • Myles Deering (2009-2011)Secretary of Safety and Security Bob Ricks (2003–2004) • Kevin L. Ward (2004-2011)Secretary of Science and Technology Joseph W. Alexander (2004–2011)Secretary of Transportation Phil Tomlinson (2003–2009) • Gary Ridley (2009-2011)Secretary of Veterans Affairs Norman Lamb (2003-2011)Cabinet Secretary of State Glenn Coffee (2011-present)
Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese (2011-present)Secretary of Commerce and Tourism Dave Lopez (2011-present)Secretary of Education Phyllis Hudecki (2011-present)Secretary of Energy Mike Ming (2011-present)Secretary of the Environment Gary Sherrer (2011-present)Secretary of Finance and Revenue Preston Doerflinger (2011-present)Secretary of Health and Human Services Terry Cline (2011-present)Secretary of Human Resources and Administration Oscar B. Jackson Jr. (2011-present)Secretary of the Military Myles Deering (2011-present)Secretary of Safety and Security Michael C. Thompson (2011-present)Secretary of Science and Technology Stephen W. S. McKeever (2011-present)Secretary of Transportation Gary Ridley (2011-present)Secretary of Veterans Affairs Rita Aragon (2011-present)See also
Notes
External links
Constitutional executive offices of Oklahoma State agriculture agencies of Oklahoma State economic development agencies of Oklahoma Governor of Oklahoma
Commissioner of Labor
Secretary of Commerce and Tourism • Secretary of Science and Technology
Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development • Capital Investment Board • Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology • Department of Commerce • Department of Labor • Department of Tourism and Recreation • Development Finance Authority • Employment Security Commission • Housing Finance Agency • Historical Society • Scenic Rivers CommissionState education agencies of Oklahoma Governor of Oklahoma
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Anatomical Board • Arts Council • Board of Private Vocational Schools • Commission for Teacher Preparation • Department of Career and Technology Education • Department of Education • Department of Libraries • Educational Television Authority • Medical Technology and Research Authority • School for Science and Mathematics • Student Loan Authority • State Regents for Higher EducationState environmental agencies of Oklahoma State public health agencies of Oklahoma State law enforcement agencies of Oklahoma Governor of Oklahoma
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ABLE Commission • Bureau of Narcotics • Council on Firefighter Training • Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training • Department of Corrections • Department of Emergency Management • Department of Public Safety • District Attorneys Council • Highway Patrol • Highway Safety Office • Indigent Defense System Board • Office of the Attorney General • Office of the Chief Medical Examiner • Office of Homeland Security • State Board of Pharmacy • State Bureau of Investigation • Pardon and Parole Board • State Fire MashalState transportation agencies of Oklahoma Categories:- Oklahoma State Cabinet
- Executive branch of Oklahoma government
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