Attorney Licensing in Oklahoma
Attorney Licensing in OklahomaAuthor Mike DavisAbstract This paper evaluates Oklahoma's attorney licensing requirements and concludes that the public interest justification is not sufficient to necessitate such licensing, nor does licensing mitigate the risks...
A Primer for Understanding Oklahoma’s School Funding System – 2nd Edition
A Primer for Understanding Oklahoma’s School Funding System - 2nd EditionAuthor Byron Schlomach Abstract This paper is an extensive revision of a paper published in 2015 that explains Oklahoma’s school formula funding system. It has been rewritten to provide a more...
Better Late Than Never: Enacting Eminent Domain Reform in Oklahoma
Better Late Than Never: Enacting Eminent DomainReform in OklahomaAuthor Brad GalbraithAbstract This paper analyzes eminent domain in the U.S. It notes that the Supreme Court has eroded the meaning of public use in the Takings Clause, but left the door open for states...
Independent, Principled
State Policy
If Licensing Worked, Wouldn’t Lawyers Be Liked?
Being an attorney, even one who doesn’t actively practice, requires thick skin. It’s best to embrace the litany of lawyer jokes, like this one. Why don’t sharks eat lawyers? Professional...
Covid Policies Are about Power; It’s a Joke to Pretend Otherwise
On Monday, Merriam Webster chose “vaccine” as their word of the year for 2021. According to their website, the word of the year is determined by what words are searched on the Merriam Webster...
Federal American Recovery Plan Act: Brewster’s Billions
"It is a popular delusion that the government wastes vast amounts of money through inefficiency and sloth. Enormous effort and elaborate planning are required to waste this much money." ...
Our Story
The 1889 Institute is named for the first land run in Oklahoma. On April 22, 1889, pioneers gathered at a starting line and raced to claim tracts of land from the U.S. government for the price of staying on the
land for five years. The land run typifies the American ideal of opportunity – readily available to anyone with the personal initiative to take it, but without expecting equal results. Regardless of status, education, or station, no participant in a land run had an official advantage. In this way, the land run illustrates 1889 Institute’s commitment to fighting privilege granted by government, and expanding opportunity where government has intruded excessively.
Who We Are
The 1889 Institute is an independent group of scholars dedicated to making Oklahoma the best it can be. We are not affiliated with a political party, do not receive any money from any government entity, and do not engage in grassroots advocacy.
What We Do
The 1889 Institute analyzes and develops state public policy for the state of Oklahoma based on principles of limited and responsible government, free enterprise, and a robust civil society. We disseminate analyses and recommendations to policymakers and the general public.