U.S. laws form another important part of the complex legal relationship between these sovereign nations. Tribal-state compacts . Agreements between tribal and state governments have been used to manage such matters as law enforcement, natural resources, social services, and gaming. The Governor's Office negotiates and maintains these agreements for the State of Oregon. The views of Oregon's Indian tribes are often expressed as testimony before Congressional committee hearings, and as contributions to such federal projects as environmental impact statements.
Constitutions provide the basic legal structures and assumptions for tribal governments.
Under their powers of self-government, tribal councils enact laws that may also be supplemented by regulations. Legislative records . Meetings and decisions of tribal councils are documented in the form of agendas and minutes. Reports of tribal governments' activities and finances are issued on an annual basis. Annual proposed budgets are a good source of information about tribal activities, priorities for the future, and accomplishments of the previous year.