Contexte politique et social

Governmental Structure (Federal)

The US is a federal republic. The federal (central) government consists of an executive branch headed by the President, a bicameral legislative branch (the Senate and the House of Representatives, jointly referred to as Congress) and a judicial branch (headed by the Supreme Court).

The United States is comprised of 50 States, each with its own legislature, executive and judiciary branches responsible for implementing and enforcing a wide range of laws-under the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution. Each state exercises considerable independence in a variety of legal domains.

Governmental Structure (State)

Each state has a governor (the head of the state in the executive branch).
A bicameral legislature, and a state judiciary, consisting of a State Supreme Court, Appellate Courts, Supreme Courts, and Municipal Courts.

The two parties which dominate the politics in the United States, at both the federal and state level, are:

The Republican Party and the Democratic Party.  

The US Government's Official Web Portal

Washington State Political Structure

Governor : Christine Gregoire - Democratic Party

Currently, in Washington State, the Democratic Party holds the majority in the Senate with 26 of 49 seats, and in the House of Representatives with 56 of 98 seats (2004-2006).

In the United States Congress in Washington DC, Washington State is represented by 2 Democratic Senators (Each state has two senators) and by 6 Democratic and 3 Republican members of the House of Representatives (numbers vary by the population of each state.)
Accessed at the Washington official Government Web site.

Oregon State Political Structure

Governor : Ted Kulongosky - Democratic Party

In the State of Oregon, the Democratic have the majority in the Senate with 18 seats against 12 Republican seats. But the Republicans hold majority in the House of Representatives with 33 of 60 seats. In the US Congress, the State of Oregon is represented by one Democratic Senator and one Republican Senator. In the House of Representatives 4 of the 5 members are Democratic.

Accessed from the official website of the State of Oregon

Idaho State Political Structure

Governor : Dirk Kempthorne - Republican Party

The Republican Party leads the Senate (28 of 35 seats) and the House of Representatives (57 of 70 seats). 2 Republican Senators and 2 Republican members of the House of Representatives represent the State of Idaho in the United States Congress in Washington DC.