Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature

Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature
FounderGeorge Nigh
Established1969
GovernorJacob Schonfield
SloganLabor Omnia Vincit
Location
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Websitewww.okoil.org

The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (O.I.L.) is a collegiate political education organization located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Founded in 1969, the organization conducts mock legislative sessions biannually.

History

The founding of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate legislature is attributed to a group of Oklahoma college students and then Lt Governor George Nigh in 1969. Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature's first inaugural session was held in the spring of 1969.[1][2] Nigh is accredited to being the founder of the Oklahoma intercollegiate legislature.[3]

In 2008, Oklahoma House Concurrent Resolution 1072 was passed in both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate. HCR 1072 officially commended the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature for its contributions to the State of Oklahoma.[4]

Structure and activities

Students in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature conduct a biannual legislative session at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The full bicameral legislature is simulated, with the legislative process being core to the simulation.[5][6] Each session lasts for 3-5 days with participants drafting their own legislation to be debated and voted upon.[7] Some of the proposed mock legislation is sent to state legislators and officials for consideration to become actual legislation.[8][4] Since the organization's inception in 1969, the organization has added a Press Corp competition, moot court competition and lobbying competition.[9][10]

The organization is spilt into three branches. The legislature, which is composed of mock versions of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate. The Executive branch leads the statewide organization. The Judicial branch oversees the Moot Competition.[5]

The Governor serves as the chief executive officer of the organization. The membership body elects the governor during the spring session for a 1 year term. The Governor has the power to veto any legislation passed by both chambers of legislature. In 1991, the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature elected the first female governor in the organization's history.[11]

Notable members

Many of the organization's former members have later served in elected office, became practicing attorneys or worked in government executive positions at the state and federal level.[4][12][13][14]

Notable events

On a Thursday in February 1983, Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature delegates lobbied against a bill that would raise the legal age to drink beer with 3.2% alcohol content to 21.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature to honor Nigh". The Washington Times. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  2. ^ "Daily O'Collegian, 1972-11-04". cdm17279.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  3. ^ "Former Governor of Oklahoma, George Nigh, dies at 98". www.fox23.com. July 30, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c O.K. Legis. Assemb. H.C.R 1074. Reg. Sess. (2008)
  5. ^ a b Aldridge, Jane. "Collegians' mock legislature sinks ERA, backs GI draft". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  6. ^ "Archives Catalog". 5143.sydneyplus.com. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  7. ^ Gilmore, Gypsy H. "Student Legislators in Power This Weekend". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Hutchison, Mark A. "Rush Springs Dances Past 16-Year Ban". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  9. ^ Knerr, Charles R.; Sommerman, Andrew S.; Rogers, Suzy K. (2001). "Undergraduate Appellate Simulation in American Colleges". Journal of Legal Studies Education. 19 (1): 27–62. doi:10.1111/j.1744-1722.2001.tb00259.x. ISSN 1744-1722.
  10. ^ "OSU students lead the way at Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature - Oklahoma State University". news.okstate.edu. September 15, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e Killackey, Jim. "Woman Leads Intercollegiate Group". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  12. ^ Lenoir, Brandon W. "Oklahoma State University professor: Exercise a great example of younger generation taking the lead". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  13. ^ "Achievers Under 40 profile: Michelle Tilley Johnson". The Journal Record. 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  14. ^ Galchen, Rivka (2018-05-28). "The Teachers' Strike and the Democratic Revival in Oklahoma". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  15. ^ Goeas, Ed (2022). A Question of RESPECT: Bringing Us Together in a Deeply Divided Nation. Celinda Lake. La Vergne: Morgan James Publishing. ISBN 978-1-63698-041-6.
  16. ^ mchamberlin (January 8, 2019). "TU alumna and U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn heads to Washington". The University of Tulsa. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  17. ^ "NSU Alumna Named Obama Senior Policy Advisor". www.nsuok.edu. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
  18. ^ Pitts, William (30 June 2003). "Commentary: Business people can make great legislators". The Journal Record. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  19. ^ "OCCC selects Hall of Fame inductees". Journal Record. 11 November 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  20. ^ "Joe Dorman - Oklahoma State University". cas.okstate.edu. September 16, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  21. ^ Savage, Tres (October 27, 2016). "HD 92: Forrest Bennett 'passionate about poverty'". NonDoc. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  22. ^ "12:10 to the Top: Hurchel E. "Trey" Caldwell III". Southwest Ledger. July 25, 2020.
  23. ^ "Imprints: The Official Alumni Magazine for Northeastern State University, Fall Issue" (PDF). Northeastern State University Foundation. 2020.
  24. ^ "NSU student reigns as new Miss Cherokee". Cherokee Advocate. 30 September 1987. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Students oppose drinking age bill". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
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