Every ten years, they aid in drawing new boundaries for Oklahoma's electoral districts.

[2] Henry S. Johnston, the author of the initiative and referendum section of the Oklahoma Constitution, served as the first Senate President Pro Tempore.

Should the redistricting not occur in a timely manner, the lines are determined by a panel of five statewide elected officials.

[6] An initiative petition championed by Governor Henry Bellmon in 1989 created a requirement that the legislative sessions end by 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May.

By winning two more seats in the 2008 elections, the Republicans assumed control of the Oklahoma Senate for the first time in state history and held a 26–22 majority, thus ending the power sharing arrangement between the parties.

Unlike their counterparts in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, state senators are not restricted on introduction of bills and resolutions.

In apportioning the Senate, the Oklahoma Constitution required that consideration be given to population, compactness, area, political units, historical precedents, economic and political interests, contiguous territory and other major factors, to the extent feasible.

In 1964, the United States Supreme Court ruled this method violated the federal Constitution.

The Governor must sign these bills into law or a statewide panel is convened to draw the disputed lines.

The Oklahoma Senate serves a dual role as both a legislative body and as a judicial court.

Impeachment charges may only be brought against the governor, other statewide elected state officials and justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court for willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, habitual drunkenness, incompetency, or any offense involving moral turpitude committed while in office.

[13] The majority of Oklahoma legislators receive $35,000 (reduced in 2018) in annual pay while presiding officers earn a larger salary.

They also have access to benefits received by state employees, including health and life insurance as well as retirement savings plans.

The President Pro Tempore is the one who serves as leader of the Senate, managing legislative votes and is the head of the majority party.

The President Pro Tempore appoints the majority floor leader and the chair of the appropriations committee.