Government

Idaho's State CapitolIdaho's State Capitol is in Boise, the capital since 1865.

Idaho is governed under its original constitution of 1889. The legislature consists of a Senate of 35 members and a House of Representatives of 70 members, all elected for two-year terms. The legislature meets annually. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction are elected for four years. Idaho has the initiative, referendum, and recall.

The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, a court of appeals, district courts, and various lower courts. There are 44 counties in the state. Idaho is represented in Congress by two senators and two representatives.

Governors of Idaho
NamePartyTerm
George L. Shoup Republican1890
N. B. Willey Republican1891-1893
William J. McConnell Republican1893-1897
Frank Steunenberg Democratic1897-1901
Frank W. Hunt Democratic1901-1903
John T. Morrison Republican1903-1905
Frank R. Gooding Republican1905-1909
James H. Brady Republican1909-1911
James H. Hawley Democratic1911-1913
John M. Haines Republican1913-1915
Moses Alexander Democratic1915-1919
D. W. Davis Republican1919-1923
Charles C. Moore Republican1923-1927
H. C. Baldridge Republican1927-1931
C. Ben Ross Democratic1931-1937
Barzilla W. Clark Democratic1937-1939
C. A. Bottolfsen Republican1939-1941
Chase A. Clark Democratic1941-1943
C. A. Bottolfsen Republican1943-1945
Charles C. Gossett Democratic1945
Arnold Williams Democratic1945-1947
C. A. Robins Republican1947-1951
Len B. Jordan Republican1951-1955
Robert E. Smylie Republican1955-1967
Don Samuelson Republican1967-1971
Cecil D. Andrus Democratic1971-1977
John V. Evans Democratic1977-1987
Cecil D. Andrus Democratic1987-1995
Phil Batt Republican1995-1999
Dirk Kempthorne Republican1999-2006
Jim Risch Republican2006-2007
C. L. “Butch” Otter Republican2007-