Levels of Government in Oklahoma

School Boards of Education

A district’s school board oversees the district's finances and holds the district superintendent accountable. The school board approves the school calendar, contracts, the annual budget, raises for administration, and more.

Visit the Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education website and view a board district map.

City Government

The City of Tulsa government is responsible for governance of Tulsa proper’s nine districts (see a map here). Other Tulsa metro-area suburbs and cities have their own city governments. Tulsa is structured as a strong mayor system in which the mayor is the city’s chief executive, and the nine-member city council is the legislative body. City government oversees the city budget, emergency services, the airport, planning and zoning, municipal laws, city operations, and more.

Positions include:

• Mayor – Elected, four-year term, three-term limit

• City Auditor – Elected, two-year term, no limit

• City Councilor – Elected, two-year term, no limit

• Authorities, Boards, and Commissions – Appointed
  

County Government

County officials govern all of Tulsa County, including county-seat Tulsa and all other cities within its boundaries (see a map here). The three-person board of commissioners serves as the legislative body. Its responsibilities include the county budget, oversight of county programs and facilities, maintenance of county highways, calling bond elections, and more.

• County Commissioner – Elected, four-year term, no limit

• County Assessor – Elected, four-year term, no limit

• County Clerk – Elected, four-year term, no limit

• County Court Clerk – Elected, four-year term, no limit

• District Attorney – Elected, four-year term, no limit

• Sheriff – Elected, four-year term, no limit

• Treasurer – Elected, four-year term, no limit
  

State Government

Based in Oklahoma City, state government is the highest level of local governance in Oklahoma. Modeled after the federal government, the Governor serves as the chief of the executive branch. The Oklahoma Legislature includes both a senate and house chamber made up of representatives from across the state. The Oklahoma Supreme Court and Criminal Court of Appeals make up the judicial branch and are the state’s highest courts.

See a Tulsa County house district map

See a Tulsa County senate district map

• Governor – Elected, four-year term with a two-term limit

• Lieutenant Governor – Elected, four-year term with a two-term limit

• State Senator – Elected, four-year term with a three-term limit (total of 12 years between both the house and senate chambers)

• State Representative – Elected, two-year term with a six-term limit (total of 12 years between both the house and senate chambers)

• Commissioner of Labor – Elected, four-year term with a two-term limit

• State Auditor and Inspector – Elected, four-year term with a two-term limit

• State Treasurer – Elected, four-year term with a two-term limit

• Attorney General – Elected, four-year term with a two-term limit

• Corporation Commissioner – Elected, six-year term with a two-term limit

• State Superintendent – Elected, four-year term with a two-term limit

• Commissioner of Insurance – Elected, four-year term with a two-term limit