Opinion ID: 2633129
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: power of the legislature

Text: ¶ 22 We further conclude that the Legislature properly exercised its authority to clarify, once it was necessary, the jurisdiction of the multicounty grand jury. The authority of the Legislature extends to all rightful subjects of legislation not withdrawn by the Constitution or in conflict therewith. In re House Bill No. 145, 1951 OK 288, ¶ 0, 205 Okla. 364, 237 P.2d 624, 625 (syl. no. 2 by the Court). The position Petitioners propose would reverse the proper analysis. We do not examine the Constitution to decide whether the Legislature is permitted to act. Tate v. Logan, 1961 OK 136, ¶ 19, 362 P.2d 670, 674-75. Rather, we examine the Constitution to decide whether the Legislature is prohibited from acting. Id. Constitutional limitations on the Legislature are strictly construed and any doubt is resolved in favor of the Legislature's power to act. Id. The Legislature has the power to change a statute enacting a constitutional provision to clarify an interpretation even if it waits many years to do so and the failure to act by previous Legislatures because of a contrary construction or understanding of the right does not impair a future Legislature's right to act. Id. ¶ 26, 362 P.2d at 675. ¶ 23 Petitioners argue, however, that this Court has declared article 2, section 18 self-executing such that the Legislature cannot enact legislation to extend or alter its effect. See Bezdicek, 2002 OK CR 28, ¶ 5, 53 P.3d at 918. This assertion results from an overly broad reading of this Court's statement in Powers, where we concluded only that article 2, sections 18 and 19 secured inviolate the right to trial by jury, [and] the number, unanimity, and impartiality of jurors. 1992 OK 142, ¶ 3, 839 P.2d at 656. [T]hese two constitutional provisions [are] self executing and mandatory in these respects.  Id. (emphasis added). In addition, this Court held that the constitutional language giving a multicounty grand jury the power to inquire into and return indictments for all kinds of crimes was self-executing and could not be limited by statute. Id. However, the fact that portions of a constitutional provision are self-executing does not mean that the entire provision is self-executing. See House Bill, 1951 OK 288, ¶ 0, 237 P.2d at 625 (syl. no. 1 by the Court). Indeed, article 2, section 18 was amended again in 1995 to direct the Legislature to enact legislation to prevent corruption in the grand jury process. ¶ 24 Further, even though it has no power to abridge or extend a provision of the Constitution when the same is self-executing, the Legislature is not completely prevented from acting on a self-executing constitutional provision, Kiowa County Excise Bd. v. St. Louis-S.F. Ry., 1956 OK 157, ¶ 18, 301 P.2d 677, 681. The Legislature retains the power to enact statutes to better protect the rights granted, provide a more specific and convenient remedy for carrying out the constitutional language, or supply particulars where the constitutional language is not as complete as may be desirable. Hooker, 1908 OK 244, ¶ 0, 22 Okla. 712, 98 P. at 965 (syl. nos. 4-5 by the Court). The Legislature is limited only in that it may not curtail or place undue burdens on the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Id. ¶ 25 A careful reading of article 2, section 18 demonstrates that it cannot be treated as entirely self-executing. For example, section 18 provides that the Attorney General can file an application to convene a grand jury, but does not specify to whom or to what body that application should be made. The legislatively-authorized explanation of the proposed 1971 amendment to section 18 indicated that the Attorney General would make application to a district judge, but that provision was not actually included in the language of the amendment. In 1987, the Legislature remedied that omission by declaring that the Attorney General should apply to the Supreme Court. Okla. Stat. tit. 22, § 351(A) (Supp.2007). ¶ 26 Similarly, the Legislature acted within its authority when it clarified the constitutional language by providing that a multicounty grand jury should have jurisdiction to investigate criminal activities, whether those activities occurred in a single county or multiple counties. In passing and amending the Multicounty Grand Jury Act to address the jurisdiction of the multicounty grand jury, the Legislature properly exercised its authority to clarify the constitutional language and provide specific procedures to carry out the rights contained in article 2, section 18 of the Constitution. [8] Kiowa County, 1956 OK 157, 301 P.2d 677; Hooker, 1908 OK 244, 22 Okla. 712, 98 P. 964.