Louisiana State Legislature

Louisiana State Legislature

Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate House of Representatives
Leadership
President of the Senate	John Alario, (R) Since January 9, 2012
Speaker of the House	Taylor Barras, (R) Since January 11, 2016
Structure
Seats	144
House of Representatives political groups	Republican Party (58) Democratic Party (45) Independents (2)
Senate political groups	Republican Party (24) Democratic Party (15)
Elections
House of Representatives last election	November 19, 2011
Senate last election	November 19, 2011
Meeting place

Louisiana State Capitol, Baton Rouge
Website
http://www.legis.state.la.us/

The Louisiana State Legislature^[1] is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is a bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators. Members of both houses are elected from single-member constituencies.

The State Legislature meets in the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

Terms

Members of both houses of the legislature serve a four-year term, with a term limit of three terms (twelve years). Term limits were passed by state voters in a constitutional referendum in 1995 and were subsequently added as Article III, §4, of the Louisiana Constitution. The year 2007 saw legislators termed out of office for the first time. The term limits however are consecutive rather than lifetime.

Officers

The officers of each house of the Legislature are elected at the beginning of each term to serve for four-year terms. The Louisiana House of Representatives elects from among its members a speaker and speaker pro tempore. Although the procedure is not mandated constitutionally, the speaker of the House is traditionally recommended by the governor of Louisiana to the body. The current speaker, Taylor Barras, a Republican, presides over the House. The House also elects its chief clerical officer, the clerk of the House, who is not an elected member. The Louisiana Senate elects its presiding officer, the President of the Senate, from among its membership, though the position is also traditionally recommended by the governor. The current President is John Alario. Each house provides for the election of its officers.

Originally the Lieutenant Governor presided over the Louisiana Senate from 1853 until the adoption of the Louisiana constitution of 1974. Today, the Lieutenant Governor exercises powers delegated to him by the Governor as provided by law. He also serves as governor in the event of a vacancy in the office, if the Governor is unable to act as governor, or is out of the state. Since the Lieutenant Governor no longer serves as president of the Senate, he has been made an ex-officio member of each committee, board and commission on which the Governor serves. (Louisiana Constitution Article IV, Section 6) Additionally, the Lieutenant Governor serves as head of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

Sessions and Quorum

In even-numbered years, a state legislature convenes at noon on the last Monday in March to extend for no longer than 60 legislative days during a period of 85 days. In odd-numbered years, a limited jurisdiction session convenes at noon on the last Monday in April for no longer than 45 legislative days during a period of 60 days. The legislature also may convene for extraordinary sessions and for veto sessions. The legislature is required to meet in an organizational session, which cannot exceed three days, on the date its members take office. A special session may be called by the Governor or may be convened by the presiding officers of both houses upon a written petition of a majority of the elected members of each house. A special session is limited to the number of days stated in the proclamation, not to exceed 30 days. The power to legislate in a special session is limited to the objects specifically enumerated in the proclamation.

In order to constitute a quorum, both houses require a majority of members present; 53 members of the House of Representatives and 20 members of the Senate. A smaller number may adjourn from day to day and may compel attendance of absent members. Each house is required to also keep a journal of its proceedings and have it published immediately after the close of each session.

Political immunity

Members of both houses of the State Legislature are free from arrest, except for felony, during their attendance at sessions and committee meetings of their house and while going to and from them. No member shall be questioned elsewhere for any speech in either house.

Veto powers

The Governor of Louisiana carries the power of the line-item veto. However, the legislature has the constitutional power to override a gubernatorial veto by a vote of two-thirds from each house.

Notes

↑ A common name for the Louisiana State Legislature is "the General Assembly", a name used first in English in the 1812 Louisiana Constitution,() which in turn is a translation of French Assemblée générale and found in other states to designate the lower house.

External links

Members of the Louisiana State Senate

President of the Senate: John Alario (R) President pro Tempore: Gerald Long (R) Parliamentarian: Danny Martiny (R)

Sharon Hewitt (R) Troy E. Brown (D) Jean-Paul Morrell (D) Wesley T. Bishop (D) Karen Carter Peterson (D) Bodi White (R) Troy Carter (D) John Alario (R) Conrad Appel (R) Danny Martiny (R) Jack Donahue (R) Beth Mizell (R) Dale M. Erdey (R) Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb (D) Regina Barrow (D) Dan Claitor (R) Rick Ward, III (R) Eddie J. Lambert (R) Gary Smith, Jr. (D) Norby Chabert (R) Bret Allain (R) Fred H. Mills, Jr. (R) Page Cortez (R) Gerald Boudreaux (D) Dan Morrish (R) Jonathan W. Perry (R) Ronnie Johns (R) Eric LaFleur (D) Jay Luneau (D) John R. Smith (R) Gerald Long (R) Neil Riser (R) Mike Walsworth (R) Francis C. Thompson (D) James R. Fannin (R) Ryan Gatti (R) Barrow Peacock (R) John Milkovich (D) Gregory Tarver (D)

Republican (25) Democratic (14) Louisiana Legislature Louisiana House of Representatives Louisiana State Senate

Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives

Speaker of the House: Taylor Barras (R) of New Iberia Speaker pro Tempore: Walt Leger, III (D) of New Orleans Majority Leader: Lance Harris (R) of Alexandria Minority Leader: Gene Reynolds (D) of Minden

Jim Morris (R) Samuel Jenkins, Jr. (D) Barbara Norton (D) Cedric Glover (D) Alan Seabaugh (R) Thomas G. Carmody (R) Larry Bagley (R) Mike Johnson (R) Dodie Horton (R) Gene Reynolds (D) Patrick O. Jefferson (D) Rob Shadoin (R) Jack McFarland (R) Jay Morris (R) Frank A. Hoffmann (R) Katrina Jackson (D) Marcus Hunter (D) Major Thibaut (D) Bubba Chaney (R) Steve Pylant (R) Andy Anders (D) Terry R. Brown (I) Kenny Ray Cox (D) Frank A. Howard (R) Lance Harris (R) Jeff Hall (D) Chris Hazel (R) Robert Johnson (D) Ronnie Edwards (D) James Armes (D) Nancy Landry (R) Dorothy Sue Hill (D) Mike Danahay (D) A. B. Franklin (D) Stephen Dwight (R) Mark Abraham (R) John E. Guinn (R) Bernard LeBas (D) Julie Emerson (R) Dustin Miller (D) Phillip DeVillier (R) Jack Montoucet (D) Stuart Bishop (R) Vincent Pierre (D) Jean-Paul Coussan (R) Mike "Pete" Huval (R) Bob Hensgens (R) Taylor Barras (R) Blake Miguez (R) Sam Jones (D) Beryl Adams Amedee (R) Jerome Zeringue (R) Tanner Magee (R) Jerry Gisclair (D) Jerome "Dee" Richard (I) Gregory A. Miller (R) Randal Gaines (D) Ed Price (D) Tony Bacala (R) Chad Brown (D) C. Denise Marcel (D) Kenny Havard (R) Barbara West Carpenter (D) Valarie Hodges (R) Barry Ivey (R) Rick Edmonds (R) Patricia Haynes Smith (D) Steve Carter (R) Paula Davis (R) Franklin Foil (R) J. Rogers Pope (R) Robby Carter (D) Steve Pugh (R) Scott Simon (R) Malinda Brumfield White (D) Kevin Pearson (R) John Schroder (R) Kirk Talbot (R) Julie Stokes (R) Joseph Lopinto (R) Clay Schexnayder (R) Cameron Henry (R) Robert Billiot (D) Patrick Connick (R) Bryan Adams (R) Chris Broadwater (R) Rodney Lyons (D) Johnny Berthelot (R) Reid Falconer (R) Greg Cromer (R) Walt Leger (D) Tom Willmott (R) Helena Moreno (D) Stephanie Hilferty (R) Sherman Q. Mack (R) Terry Landry (D) Joseph Bouie, Jr. (D) Neil Abramson (D) Jimmy Harris (D) John Bagneris (D) Edward James (D) Gary Carter, Jr. (D) Ray Garofalo (R) Paul Hollis (R) Chris Leopold (R)

Republican (61) Democratic (42) Independent (2) Louisiana Legislature Louisiana House of Representatives Louisiana State Senate

State of Louisiana

Baton Rouge (capital)

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Regions	Acadiana Ark-La-Tex Central Louisiana Florida Parishes Greater New Orleans Northwest Louisiana North Louisiana Southwest Louisiana

Cities	Alexandria Baton Rouge Bossier City Hammond Houma Kenner Lafayette Lake Charles Monroe Natchitoches New Iberia New Orleans Opelousas Ponchatoula Ruston Shreveport Slidell Sulphur

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Metros	Alexandria Baton Rouge Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Lafayette Lake Charles Monroe New Orleans Shreveport‑Bossier City

Parishes	See: List of parishes in Louisiana

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