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Louisiana Constitution
| Louisiana Constitution |
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| Preamble |
| Articles |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 |
The Louisiana Constitution is the state constitution of Louisiana.
- The current state constitution was adopted in 1974.[1]
- The state has had 11 constitutions.
- The current state constitution has 14 articles.
- From 1978 through 2024, 321 proposed amendments have been on the ballot and 221 (68.84%) were adopted by voters.[2][3][4]
- Voters last approved new amendments to the Louisiana Constitution on December 7, 2024, when voters approved four constitutional amendments.
A state constitution is the fundamental document that outlines a state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
The Louisiana Constitution can be amended with a legislative or covention-referred constitutional amendment, both of which require voter approval. Louisiana does not feature initiated constitutional amendments.
Background
Louisiana became the 18th state on April 30, 1812.[5]
Louisiana's current constitution, the version adopted in 1974, is its 11th constitution. The 1974 constitution was adopted by constitutional convention in 1974. It was ratified by the voters of Louisiana on April 20, 1974, and became effective on January 1, 1975. The previous versions were adopted in 1812, 1845, 1852, 1861, 1864, 1868, 1879, 1898, 1913, and 1921. In 1913, a constitutional convention in the state adopted a re-codification of the constitution of 1898. The re-codification was not submitted to the state's voters for ratification.[6][7][8]
Preamble
- Main article: Preamble, Louisiana Constitution and Preambles to state constitutions
The preamble to the Louisiana Constitution states:
Article 1
- See also: Article I, Louisiana Constitution
Article 1 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Declaration of Rights" for the citizens of Louisiana and consists of 27 sections.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 2
- See also: Article II, Louisiana Constitution
Article 2 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Distribution of Powers" and consists of two sections. This article details the distribution of governmental powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 3
- See also: Article III, Louisiana Constitution
Article 3 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Legislative Branch" and consists of 20 sections. This article establishes the state legislature as the law-making body of the government.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 4
- See also: Article IV, Louisiana Constitution
Article 4 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Executive Branch" and consists of 22 sections. This article establishes the executive department and lists the duties of the Louisiana Governor.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 5
- See also: Article V, Louisiana Constitution
Article 5 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Judicial Branch" and consists of 35 sections. This article establishes the system of courts and the judicial department.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 6
- See also: Article VI, Louisiana Constitution
Article 6 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Local Government" and consists of 44 sections.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 7
- See also: Article VII, Louisiana Constitution
Article 7 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Revenue and Finance and consists of 28 sections. This article details the state's revenue and finance system, taxation, and exemptions.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 8
- See also: Article VIII, Louisiana Constitution
Article 8 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Education" and consists of 16 sections, as well as a preamble. This article details the foundation of the public school system of Louisiana.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 9
- See also: Article IX, Louisiana Constitution
Article 9 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Natural Resources" and it consists of 10 sections. This article concerns the use and preservation of natural resources in Louisiana.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 10
- See also: Article X, Louisiana Constitution
Article 10 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Public Officials and Employees" and consists of 51 sections. This article is concerned with public officials and employees.
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Article 11
- See also: Article XI, Louisiana Constitution
Article 11 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Elections" and consists of five sections. This article details the election process as well as voter eligibility.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 12
- See also: Article XII, Louisiana Constitution
Article 12 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "General Provisions" and consists of 16 sections.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 13
- See also: Article XIII, Louisiana Constitution
Article 13 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Constitutional Revision." It has three sections that define the process of how the constitution can be amended and revised over time.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Article 14
- See also: Article XIV, Louisiana Constitution
Article 14 of the Louisiana Constitution is entitled "Transitional Provisions." It is divided into three parts and further subdivided into 37 sections. This article details the transitional schedule, which was designed to ease the transition from territory to state.
Click here to read this article of the Louisiana Constitution.
Amending the Louisiana constitution
- See also: Amending state constitutions
The Louisiana Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution— a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Louisiana requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
Legislature
According to Article XII, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one session of the Louisiana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 70 votes in the Louisiana House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Louisiana State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. Amendments can be referred to the ballot in odd-numbered years and even-numbered years in Louisiana.
Convention
According to Article XII, the state legislature can provide for the calling of a constitutional convention by law enacted by two-thirds of the members of each chamber of the legislature.
See also
- State constitution
- Constitutional article
- Constitutional amendment
- Constitutional revision
- Constitutional convention
- Amendments
External links
- Louisiana State Legislature, "Louisiana Constitution"
- Archives.org, "Louisiana 1812 Constitution"
- Archives.org, "Louisiana Purchase Treaty"
Footnotes
- ↑ Louisiana Senate, "Louisiana Constitution," accessed April 28, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Senate, "Amendments by Year," accessed August 20, 2019
- ↑ Louisiana Public Affairs Research Council, "Voting on Louisiana Proposed Constitutional Amendments 1978-2022," accessed November 22, 2023
- ↑ From 1978 to 2022, 209 amendments were approved by voters. Since 2023, an additional eight amendments were adopted.
- ↑ U.S. National Archives, "Louisiana Statehood, 1812," accessed November 25, 2023
- ↑ The Green Papers, "Louisiana," accessed March 28, 2014
- ↑ Steinglass, S., et al. (2022). The Louisiana State Constitution. New York, NY: Oxford University Press
- ↑ The Law Library of Louisiana, "Louisiana's Constitutions," accessed November 25, 2023
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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