Oklahoma State Constitution Research Paper

Comparing Oklahoma State Constitution to the U.S. Constitution
Cole Murphey
 
 Both of the documents limit the government's power from infringing individual rights. State constitutions are generally more in-depth than the Un.S. Constitution. Not to say that there are not similarities between what is contained in the state constitutions and the federal Constitution. For instance, Oklahoma constitution and the U.S. Constitution both include a preamble that lists general rights afforded to the people of Oklahoma and, the United States. Both constitutions contain articles specifying the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Oklahoma constitution has 29 articles compared to 7 in the U.S. Constitution. Within these articles
Constitution’s Bill of Rights and the Oklahoma State Constitution’s Bill of rights are similar in their view on Political Power. Like the U.S. Bill of Rights, Oklahomas are specifically guaranteed freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and petition. For example, in article II of the Oklahoman Bill of Rights, “All persons have the inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and the enjoyment of games on their own industry” This is reflective of the article three of the U.S. Bill of Rights which declares that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Another point of comparison, protections are guaranteed for due process for citizens accused of crimes in both bills of rights. As in Oklahoma rights are protected against discrimination and are promised equal protection under the law. In article 2 section II-7 of the Oklahoma Bill of Rights it states, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. ” This reiterates article 7 of U.S. Bill of Rights which states, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury…nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law….” Oklahoma like many states adopted inalienable rights from the U.S. foundational documents, which proliferated the model of democracy for their