Your Government
Congressman Wu believes that your government can and should work for you. By understanding the agencies and parameters of the federal, state, and local governments, Oregonians can continue to make a difference in their communities and across the First District.
There are a number of resources available to every Oregonian that help our District access and benefit from the various levels of government.
Historical Documents
The United States rests on an historic Declaration of Independence that affirmed we as a people live in a nation of free will among equals. Our Constitution and the Bill of Rights frame the core principles of America's past, present, and future.
Federal Government
Our federal government is organized into Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches. The President serves as the head of the Executive branch, which encompasses a number of federal agencies and a cabinet. Congress, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, oversees the Legislative branch. Our Judicial branch, headed by the U.S. Supreme Court, oversees our court system.
Our federal agencies include:
- CIA
- FBI
- Federal Communications Commission
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Federal Election Commission
- Federal Reserve Board
- Federal Trade Commission
- National Archives
- National Endowment for the Arts
- National Security Agency
- Peace Corps
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- Smithsonian Institution
- U.S. Postal Service
The Executive cabinet includes:
- Department of Justice
- Department of Education
- Environmental Protection Agency
- State Department
- Agriculture Department
- Defense Department
- Treasury Department
- Commerce Department
- Energy Department
- Department of Health & Human Services
- Housing & Urban Development
- Department of the Interior
- Department of Labor
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Veterans Affairs
Oregon
The State of Oregon, founded in 1859, is the 33rd state in the union. Based 45 miles south of downtown Portland in our capital, Salem, Oregon's state government consists of a state legislature, a court system, and state agencies, boards, and commissions.
There are 240 incorporated cities throughout the state of Oregon, each with the power to decide city public policy. In addition, there are 36 county and regional governments, which serve as regionalized authorities in Oregon's governmental structure. The state of Oregon has the highest degree of county "home rule" powers in the United States.