Louisiana Constitution

PREAMBLE
ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

• 1. Origin and Purpose of Government
• 2. Due Process of Law
• 3. Right to Individual Dignity
• 4. Right to Property
• 5. Right to Privacy
• 6. Freedom from Intrusion
• 7. Freedom of Expression
• 8. Freedom of Religion
• 9. Right of Assembly and Petition
• 10. Right to Vote; Disqualification from seeking or holding an elective office
• 11. Right to Keep and Bear Arms
• 12. Freedom from Discrimination
• 13. Rights of the Accused
• 14. Right to Preliminary Examination
• 15. Initiation of Prosecution
• 16. Right to a Fair Trial
• 17. Jury Trial in Criminal Cases; Joinder of Felonies; Mode of Trial
• 18. Right to Bail
• 19. Right to Judicial Review
• 20. Right to Humane Treatment
• 21. Writ of Habeas Corpus
• 22. Access to Courts
• 23. Prohibited Laws
• 24. Unenumerated Rights
• 25. Rights of a Victim
• 26. State Sovereignty
• 27. Freedom to Hunt, Fish and Trap

ARTICLE II. DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS

• 1. Three Branches
• 2. Limitations on Each Branch

ARTICLE III. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

• 1. Legislative Power; Composition; Continuous Body
• 2. Sessions
• 3. Size
• 4. Qualifications; Residence and Domicile Requirements; Term; Election Limitations;Vacancies
• 5. Taking Office
• 6. Legislative Reapportionment; Reapportionment by Supreme Court; Procedure
• 7. Judging Qualifications and Elections; Procedural Rules; Discipline; Expulsion;Subpoenas; Contempt; Officers
• 8. Privileges and Immunities
• 9. Conflict of Interest
• 10. Quorum; Compulsory Attendance; Journal; Adjournment With Consent of Other House
• 11. Legislative Auditor
• 12. Prohibited Local and Special Laws
• 13. Local or Special Laws; Notice of Intent; Publication
• 14. Style of Laws; Enacting Clause
• 15. Passage of Bills
• 16. Appropriations
• 17. Signing of Bills; Delivery to Governor
• 18. Gubernatorial Action on Bills; Sign, Failure to Sign, Veto; Veto Session
• 19. Effective Date of Laws
• 20. Suspension of Laws

ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE BRANCH

• 1. Composition; Number of Departments; Reorganization
• 2. Qualifications
• 3. Election; Term
• 4. Compensation
• 5. Governor; Powers and Duties
• 6. Lieutenant Governor; Powers and Duties
• 7. Secretary of State; Powers and Duties
• 8. Attorney General; Powers and Duties
• 9. Treasurer; Powers and Duties
• 10. Commissioner of Agriculture; Powers and Duties
• 11. Commissioner of Insurance; Powers and Duties
• 12. Commissioner of Election; Powers and Duties
• 13. First Assistants; Appointment
• 14. Vacancy in Office of Governor
• 15. Vacancy in Office of Lieutenant Governor
• 16. Vacancies in Other Statewide Elective Offices
• 17. Declaration of Inability by Statewide Elected Officials
• 18. Determination of Inability of Statewide Elected Official
• 19. Temporary Absences
• 20. Appointment of Officials; Merger, Consolidation of Offices and Departments
• 21. Public Service Commission

ARTICLE V. JUDICIAL BRANCH

• 1. Judicial Power
• 2. Habeas Corpus, Needful Writs, Orders and Process; Contempt
• 3. Supreme Court; Composition; Judgments; Terms
• 4. Supreme Court; Districts
• 5. Supreme Court; Jurisdiction; Rule-Making Power; Assignment of Judges
• 6. Supreme Court; Chief Justice
• 7. Supreme Court; Personnel
• 8. Courts of Appeal; Circuits; Panels; Judgments; Terms
• 9. Courts of Appeal; Circuits and Districts
• 10. Courts of Appeal; Jurisdiction
• 11. Courts of Appeal; Certification
• 12. Courts of Appeal; Chief Judge
• 13. Courts of Appeal; Personnel
• 14. District Courts; Judicial Districts
• 15. Courts; Retention; Jurisdiction; Judicial District Changes; Terms
• 16. District Courts; Jurisdiction
• 17. District Courts; Chief Judge
• 18. Juvenile and Family Courts; Jurisdiction
• 19. Special Juvenile Procedures
• 20. Mayors' Courts; Justice of the Peace Courts
• 21. Judges; Decrease in Terms and Compensation Prohibited
• 22. Judges; Election; Vacancy
• 23. Judges; Retirement
• 24. Judges; Qualifications
• 25. Judiciary Commission
• 26. District Attorneys
• 27. Sheriffs
• 28. Clerks of Court
• 29. Coroners
• 30. Vacancies
• 31. Reduction of Salaries and Benefits Prohibited
• 32. Orleans Parish Courts, Officials
• 33. Jurors
• 34. Grand Jury

ARTICLE VI. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

PART I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

• 1. Parishes
• 2. Municipalities
• 3. Classification
• 4. Existing Home Rule Charters and Plans of Government
• 5. Home Rule Charter
• 6. Home Rule Charter or Plan of Government; Action by Legislature Prohibited
• 7. Powers of Other Local Governmental Subdivisions
• 8. Home Rule Parish; Incorporation of Cities, Towns, and Villages
• 9. Limitations of Local Governmental Subdivisions
• 10. Codification of Ordinances
• 11. Local Officials
• 12. Local Officials; Compensation
• 13. Vacancies
• 14. Increasing Financial Burden of Political Subdivisions
• 15. Local Governmental Subdivisions; Control Over Agencies
• 16. Special Districts and Local Public Agencies
• 17. Land Use; Zoning; Historic Preservation
• 18. Industrial Areas
• 19. Special Districts; Creation
• 20. Intergovernmental Cooperation
• 21. Assistance to Local Industry
• 22. Procedure for Certain Special Elections
• 23. Acquisition of Property
• 24. Servitudes of Way; Acquisition by Prescription
• 25. Courts Not Affected

PART II. FINANCE

• 26. Parish Ad Valorem Tax
• 27. Municipal Ad Valorem Tax
• 28. Local Governmental Subdivisions; Occupational License Tax
• 29. Local Governmental Subdivisions and School Boards; Sales Tax
• 30. Political Subdivisions; Taxing Power
• 30.1. Bonding and Taxing Authority of Certain Political Subdivisions and Other Public Entities
• 31. Taxes; Ratification
• 32. Special Taxes; Authorization
• 33. Political Subdivisions; General Obligation Bonds
• 34. Limitations on Bonded Indebtedness
• 35. Contesting Political Subdivision Bonds
• 36. Local Improvement Assessments
• 37. Revenue-Producing Property

PART III. LEVEE DISTRICTS

• 38. Levee Districts
• 39. Levee District Taxes
• 40. Bond Issues
• 41. Cooperation with Federal Government
• 42. Compensation for Property Used or Destroyed; Tax

PART IV. PORT COMMISSIONS AND DISTRICTS

43. Port Commissions and Districts

PART V. DEFINITIONS

44. Terms Defined

ARTICLE VII. REVENUE AND FINANCE

PART I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

• 1. Power to Tax; Public Purpose
• 2. Power to Tax; Limitation
• 2.1. Fees and Civil Fines; Limitation
  2.2. Power to Tax; Sales and Use Tax; Limitation
• 3. Collection of Taxes
• 4. Income Tax; Severance Tax; Political Subdivisions
• 5. Motor Vehicle License Tax
• 6. State Debt; Full Faith and Credit Obligations
• 7. State Debt; Interim Emergency Board
• 8. State Bond Commission
• 9. State Funds
• 10. Expenditure of State Funds
• 10-A. Wildlife and Fisheries; Conservation Fund
• 10.1. Quality Trust Fund; Education
• 10.2. Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Fund
• 10.3. Budget Stabilization Fund
• 10.4. Higher Education Louisiana Partnership Fund; Program
• 10.5. Mineral Revenue Audit and Settlement Fund
• 10.6. Oilfield Site Restoration Fund
• 10.7. Oil Spill Contingency Fund
• 10.8. Millennium Trust
• 10.9. Louisiana Fund
• 10.10. Millennium Leverage Fund
• 10.11. Louisiana Coastal Restoration Fund
• 10.12. Farmers and fishermen assistance programs; Agricultural and Seafood Products Support Fund
• 11. Budgets
• 12. Reports and Records
• 13. Investment of State Funds
• 14. Donation, Loan, or Pledge of Public Credit
• 15. Release of Obligations to State, Parish, or Municipality
• 16. Taxes; Prescription
• 17. Legislation to Obtain Federal Aid

PART II. PROPERTY TAXATION
• 18. Ad Valorem Taxes
• 19. State Property Taxation; Rate Limitation
• 20. Homestead Exemption
• 21. Other Property Exemptions
• 22. No Impairment of Existing Taxes or Obligations
• 23. Adjustment of Ad Valorem Tax Millages
• 24. Tax Assessors
• 25. Tax Sales

PART III. REVENUE SHARING
• 26. Revenue Sharing Fund

PART IV. TRANSPORTATION
• 27. Transportation Trust Fund

ARTICLE VIII. EDUCATION

Preamble
• 1. Public Educational System
• 2. State Superintendent of Education
• 3. State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
• 4. Approval of Private Schools
• 5. Board of Regents
• 6. Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System
• 7. Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College; Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
• 7.1. Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges
• 8. Boards; Membership; Compensation
• 9. Parish School Boards; Parish Superintendents
• 10. Existing Boards and Systems Recognized; Consolidation
• 11. Appropriations; State Boards
• 12. Appropriations; Higher Education
• 13. Funding; Apportionment
• 14. Tulane University
• 15. Members of State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; beginning and endof terms
• 16. Public Hospitals

ARTICLE IX. NATURAL RESOURCES

• 1. Natural Resources and Environment; Public Policy
• 2. Natural Gas
• 3. Alienation of Water Bottoms
• 4. Reservation of Mineral Rights; Prescription
• 5. Public Notice; Public Bidding Requirements
• 6. Tidelands Ownership
• 7. Wildlife and Fisheries Commission
• 8. Forestry
• 9. First Use Tax Trust Fund
• 10. Louisiana Investment Fund for Enhancement

ARTICLE X. PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES

PART I. STATE AND CITY CIVIL SERVICE

• 1. Civil Service Systems
• 2. Classified and Unclassified Service
• 3. State Civil Service Commission
• 4. City Civil Service Commission
• 5. Removal
• 6. Department of Civil Service; Directors
• 7. Appointments; Promotions
• 8. Appeals
• 9. Prohibitions Against Political Activities
• 10. Rules; Investigations; Wages and Hours
• 11. Penalties
• 12. Appeal
• 13. Appropriations
• 14. Acceptance of Act; Other Cities, Parishes, City and Parish Governed Jointly
• 15. City, Parish Civil Service System; Creation; Prohibition

PART II. FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE

• 16. Establishment of System
• 17. Appointments and Promotions
• 18. Prior Provisions
• 19. Exclusion
• 20. Political Activities

PART III. OTHER PROVISIONS

• 21. Code of Ethics
• 22. Dual Employment and Dual Officeholding
• 23. Compensation of Elected Public Officials; Reduction
• 24. Impeachment
• 25. Removal by Suit; Officials Subject
• 25.1. Removal by Suit; State, District, Parochial, Ward, or Municipal Employees
• 26. Recall
• 27. Filling of Vacancies
• 28. Definition of Vacancy
• 29. Retirement and Survivors Benefits
• 29.1. Part-time Public Officials
• 30. Oath of Office

PART IV. STATE POLICE SERVICE

• 41. State Police Service
• 42. Classified and Unclassified Service
• 43. State Police Commission
• 44. Director
• 45. Appointments; Promotions
• 46. Appeals
• 47. Prohibitions Against Political Activities
• 48. Rules; Investigations; Wages and Hours
• 49. Penalties
• 50. Appeal
• 51. Appropriations

ARTICLE XI. ELECTIONS

• 1. Election Code
• 2. Secret Ballot; Absentee Voting; Preservation of Ballot
• 3. Privilege from Arrest
• 4. Prohibited Use of Public Funds
• 5. Registrar of Voters

ARTICLE XII. GENERAL PROVISIONS

• 1. State Capital
• 2. Civilian-Military Relations
• 3. Right to Direct Participation
• 4. Preservation of Linguistic and Cultural Origins
• 5. Successions; Forced Heirship and Trusts
• 6. Lotteries; Gaming, Gambling, or Wagering
• 7. State Penal Institutions; Reimbursement of Parish Expense
• 8. Welfare, Unemployment Compensation, and Health
• 8.1. Worker's Compensation
• 9. Exemptions From Seizure and Sale
• 10. Suits Against the State
• 11. Continuity of Government
• 12. Corporations; Perpetual or Indefinite Duration; Dissolution;Perpetual Franchises or Privileges
• 13. Prescription Against State
• 14. Administrative Agency Codes
• 15. Defense of Marriage

ARTICLE XIII. CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION

• 1. Amendments
• 2. Constitutional Convention
• 3. Laws Effectuating Amendments

ARTICLE XIV. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

PART I.

• 1. Board of Regents
  2. Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
• 3. Board of Supervisors of Southern University
• 4. State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities
• 5. Boards; New Appointments
• 6. Mandatory Reorganization of State Government
• 7. Legislative Sessions
• 8. Civil Service Commission; State; Cities
• 9. Civil Service Officers; Employees; State; Cities
• 10. Offshore Mineral Revenues; Use of Funds
• 11. Prescription; Tidelands Taxes
• 12. Forfeitures Prior to 1880
• 13. Effective Date of Property Tax Provisions

PART II.
• 14. Limitation on Transitional Provisions
• 15. Existing Officials
• 16. Provisions of 1921 Constitution Made Statutory
• 17. Provisions of Constitution of 1921 Repealed
• 18. Existing Laws
• 19. Ports; Transition to Statutes
• 20. Public Service Commission

PART III.
• 21. References to 1921 Constitution
• 22. Effect of Titles
• 23. Continuation of Actions and Rights
• 24. Protection of Existing Taxes
• 25. Impairment of Debt Obligations Prohibited
• 26. Constitution Not Retroactive
• 27. Legislative Provisions
• 28. Judiciary Commission
29. [Repealed by Acts 1986, No. 1082, 2.]

• 30. Commissioner of Elections
• 31. Pardon Board
• 32. Levee Districts; Compensation for Property
• 33. Suits Against the State; Effective Date
• 34. Exemption from Seizure and Sale
• 35. Effective Date
• 36. Effect of Adoption
• 37. Severability Clause

APPENDIX

• A. Constitutional Amendments Listed by Article / Section
• B. Constitutional Amendments Listed by Year Adopted