Louisiana State Legislature
| Louisiana State Legislature | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2013 session start: | March 12, 2012 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | John Alario (R) |
| House Speaker: | Charles Kleckley (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 39 (Senate), 105 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 4 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art III, Louisiana Constitution |
| Salary: | $66,800/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 19, 2011 39 seats (Senate) 105 seats (House) |
| Next election: | November 2015 39 seats (Senate) 105 seats (House) |
| Redistricting: | Louisiana Legislature has control |
Contents |
The legislature meets in Louisiana's state capital, Baton Rouge.
The powers and privileges of the legislature are laid out in Article III of the Constitution of Louisiana.
Section 3 of Article III says that the number of members of each chamber of the legislature is set by state law, which means the number of senators and representatives can be changed over time, but in no case can there be more than 39 senators or 105 representatives.
The boundaries of legislative districts must be re-drawn every ten years in order to maintain proportional representation in each of the districts. Re-apportionment must take place by the end of the year following the year in which the state's population is reported to the president of the United States for each decennial federal census. The next such re-apportionment must take place before December 31, 2011.
Sessions
Article III of the Louisiana Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to be in session. Section 2 of Article III states that, in even-numbered years, the Legislature shall convene on the last Monday in March and meet for no more than sixty legislative days during a period of eighty-five calendar days. In odd-numbered years, the Legislature is to convene on the last Monday in April and meet for no more than forty-five legislative days during a period of sixty calendar days. During regular sessions in odd-numbered years, the Legislature can only consider measures regarding the state budget, revenues, and appropriations.
Section 2 of Article III also allows the Legislature to be called into a special session by the Governor of Louisiana or by a majority of the members of each legislative house. During special sessions, the Legislature can only legislate on matters related to the proclaimed purposes of the session.
Section 2 of Article III also authorizes the Governor of Louisiana to call an emergency session without prior notice in the event of a public emergency.
Bills may be prefiled at any time, except between when the legislature adjourns for an election and when the election results are certified.[1]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the Legislature will be in session from March 12 through June 4.
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the Legislature was in regular session from April 25 through June 23. The Legislature was in a special session regarding the census and redistricting from March 20-April 15. [2]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the Legislature was in session from March 29th to June 21st.[3]
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2012, members of the Louisiana legislature are paid $16,800/year. Additionally, legislators receive $6,000/year for expenses and $152/day per diem tied to the federal rate.[4]
The $16,800/year that Louisiana legislators are paid as of 2011 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $138/day in 2007 to $152/day in 2011.[5]
When sworn in
Louisiana legislators assume office at noon on the second Monday in January after their election.
Senate
The Louisiana Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. Each member represents an average of 116,240 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[6] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 114,589.[7]
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 15 | |
| Republican Party | 24 | |
| Total | 39 | |
House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature. The House is composed of 105 Representatives. Each member represents an average of 43,175 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[8] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 42,562.[9] Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of three terms (twelve years). The House is one of the five state legislative lower houses that has a four-year term, as opposed to the more common two-year term.
| Party | As of May 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 45 | |
| Republican Party | 58 | |
| Independent | 2 | |
| Total | 105 | |
Leadership of the House
The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the full House. In addition to presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The House of Representatives also elects a Speaker pro tempore to preside in the absence of the Speaker.
Joint Legislative Committees
External links
- Louisiana State Legislature
- Louisiana House of Representatives
- Wikipedia: Louisiana State Legislature
- The Institution of the Louisiana Legislature
- Louisiana Senate
References
- ↑ HR 7.2 and SR 9.1
- ↑ StateNet, Daily Session Summary, 4 March 2011
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Louisiana Legislature
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
