The Oklahoma Constitution charges the Ethics Commission with promulgating and enforcing rules of ethical conduct (1) for campaigns for state office, (2) for campaigns for state questions and (3) for state officers and employees.
The Constitution provides a partnership between the Commission and the Governor and Legislature in promulgating rules. The Commission submits proposed rules to the Governor and the Legislature each year. If the rules are not formally rejected by a process specified in the Constitution, they become effective at the end of the regular legislative session at which they were considered.
The Commission enforces its rules either by prosecuting civil lawsuits in District Court or by entering into settlement agreements.
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission was created by a vote of the people at the runoff primary election on September 18, 1990. The Commission’s first meeting was in July of 1991.
The Commission is composed of five members, one each appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Attorney General. They serve staggered five-year terms, are limited to two terms and represent each of the state’s five Congressional districts. No more than three members may be from the same political party.