Louisiana State Legislature
| Louisiana State Legislature | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses |
Senate House of Representatives |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 144 |
House of Representatives political groups |
Republican Party (60) Democratic Party (42) Independents (3) |
Senate political groups |
Republican Party (24) Democratic Party (15) |
| Elections | |
House of Representatives last election | November 21, 2015 |
Senate last election | November 21, 2015 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Louisiana State Capitol, Baton Rouge | |
| Website | |
| http://www.legis.state.la.us/ | |
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Louisiana |
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Executive
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See also: List of United States Senators from Louisiana
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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 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.
See also
- Louisiana House of Representatives
- Louisiana State Senate
- Government of Louisiana
- American Legislative Exchange Council members
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.