Louisiana Constitution
PREAMBLE
ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
ARTICLE II. DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS
ARTICLE III. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
ARTICLE V. JUDICIAL BRANCH
ARTICLE VI. LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ARTICLE VII. REVENUE AND FINANCE
ARTICLE VIII. EDUCATION
ARTICLE IX. NATURAL RESOURCES
ARTICLE X. PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
ARTICLE XI. ELECTIONS
ARTICLE XII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE XIII. CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION
ARTICLE XIV. TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
APPENDIX
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
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
PART V. DEFINITIONS
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
- 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
- 26. Revenue Sharing Fund
- 27. Transportation Trust Fund
PART II. PROPERTY TAXATION
PART III. REVENUE SHARING
PART IV. TRANSPORTATION
ARTICLE VIII. EDUCATION
- 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
Preamble
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
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
- 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
- 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
PART II.
PART III.
APPENDIX
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