Opinion ID: 1364850
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Application of the Single-Subject Mandate Should Be Consistent Throughout the Oklahoma Constitution

Text: Legislative bills as well as initiative measures are bound by a similar single-subject mandate. [48] It is my counsel that the court adopt a uniform method, using both the germaneness and functionality tests when examining the single-subject rule under either Art. 5, § 56 or Art. 24, § 1. [49] It is only logical that the court should adopt but one single-subject rule that would be uniformly applicable to legislative and people-generated lawmaking alike. [50] In addition, I espouse that a uniform fairly debatable standard be adopted in order to keep the court from politically entangling itself in both legislative and initiative measures. In Rupe this court cautioned against declaring legislative acts void for noncompliance with the single-subject command. [51] In In re Initiative Petition No. 349, [52] I counseled the court to refrain from invalidating as-yet-unenacted [initiative] measures in the political process in order to distance the court from matters of policy. The fairly debatable approach would let the people and the elected lawmakers legislate in a more reasonable way.