Oregon

Oregon shares a border with Washington, California and Nevada, and is one of only three contiguous states to have a coastline on the Pacific Ocean. Oregon was admitted as the 33rd state into the Union on February 14, 1859. Portland, Oregon is the 26th most populous US cities, which is the most populous city in the state, ahead of only the capital city of Salem. The state is one of the most geographically diverse in the US. It has active volcanoes, evergreen and mixed forests, and shrublands throughout. It is also home to the  Armillaria ostoyae, which is the largest living organism in the world.

The state’s economy is heavily driven by agriculture, hydroelectric, and fishing industries. Beaverton, OR is also home to Nike, and with Silicone Forest, the tech industry is also a leading economic driver in the state.  Oregon features many parks, waterfalls, and destinations including Crater Lake National Park, which are marked points of interest for tourists. Portland is a major tourist attraction, as is the Columbia River Gorge. Mount Hood, the Oregon Zoo, and the Nike Campus Tour in Beaverton, OR, are some of the most highly visited destinations in the state.

The state government of Oregon is organized much like the federal government, with a legislative, judicial and executive branch splitting political power.  The state, however, uses a system of commissions, where private citizens are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.  Those chosen to be on a commission have the power to hire and fire agency heads and must confirm any rule changes for those agencies. 

The legislative branch consists of a House of Representatives and a Senate, comprising the Oregon Legislative Assembly.  The Senate is 30 members who serve four-year terms, and a House of Representatives with 60 members serving two-year terms.  Each Senate District encompasses two House Districts, and there are no term limits on the legislature.  The Legislature is known as a “citizens’ assembly” as most of the legislators who serve have other jobs. 

The judicial branch of the Oregon government is called the Oregon Judicial Department.  There are four state run court systems, with two as primarily trial level courts and two as courts of appeal.  ON the local level, there are justice courts, municipal courts and county courts.

The state contributes 7 electoral votes during Presidential Elections.

The National Law Review covers state and federal news which affects the state of Oregon. Labor and employment law legislation, state and federal tax reform, data breach legislation and security, Medicaid/Medicare and healthcare related coverage, are among the content visitors will find online. The NLR website continually provides leading news stories, and the latest content, which affects the state, and the US as a whole.