Oregon Secretary of State Executive Division

Oregon State Seal

ORS 186.020 Description of state seal. The description of the seal of the State of Oregon shall be an escutcheon, supported by 33 stars, and divided by an ordinary, with the inscription, "The Union." In chief mountains, an elk with branching antlers, a wagon, the Pacific Ocean, on which there are a British man-of-war departing and an American steamer arriving. The second quartering with a sheaf, plow and a pickax. Crest The American eagle. Legend - State of Oregon, 1859

The authority to manage use of the Oregon State Seal is granted to the Secretary of State by the Oregon State Constitution, Article VI, Section 3, which reads:

Article VI Section 3. Seal of state. There shall be a seal of State, kept by the Secretary of State for official purposes, which shall be called "The seal of the State of Oregon".

Use of the Oregon State Seal is restricted by statute. Oregon Revised Statute 186.023 reads as follows:

ORS 186.023, governs use of the Oregon State Seal: (1) Except as authorized by the Secretary of State, no person shall knowingly use any device, or possess any device capable of such use, to emboss upon a document the seal of the State of Oregon described in ORS 186.020. (2) No person shall use any reproduction of the seal of the State of Oregon: (a) In any manner falsely implying official endorsement or sponsorship by the State of Oregon or any of its agencies of any product, business, service or other activity; or (b) In any manner that subjects or exposes the seal of the State of Oregon to ridicule, debasement or infamy.

Questions about the appropriate use of the state seal should be directed to the office of the Secretary of State. Any complaints of misuse of the state seal should also be directed to that office. Civil penalties up to $500, per occurrence, will be assessed for violations of ORS 186.023 pursuant to ORS 186.025.

Violations are prosecuted by the Oregon Department of Justice.