Government

Oregon is governed under its original constitution (adopted in 1857, effective in 1859), which has been amended many times. Oregon became one of the first states to adopt the initiative and referendum (1902) and the primary election (1904). It was the first to adopt the recall (1908). These and other political reform measures were called the Oregon System.

The Legislative Assembly consists of a Senate of 30 members elected for four-year terms and a House of Representatives of 60 elected for two-year terms. The legislature meets in odd-numbered years.

Elected officials of the executive branch are the governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and labor commissioner. All are elected for four-year terms. There is no lieutenant governor. If the governorship becomes vacant, it goes to the secretary of state.

The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court of seven justices, a court of appeals, a tax court, circuit courts, and various lesser courts. County courts are mainly administrative agencies, but some of them have certain judicial functions.

Oregon is divided into 36 counties. The state is represented in Congress by two senators and five representatives.