Louisiana’s Government

1. Louisiana’s Government Executive Branch Judicial Branch legislative Branch How a Louisiana Bill Becomes a Law

2. Governor - State’s highest ranking official Elected every 4 years Responsible for managing the state government and enforcing laws passed by legislature Submits a state budget, signs bills into laws, vetoes bills, calls out the Louisiana national guard, appoints several state positions, makes reports and recommendations to legislature, and can pardon or commute the sentences of convicts. Louisiana’s Executive Branch

3. Lieutenant Governor Elected every 4 years Duties: Supervising the Dept. of culture, recreation, and tourism Replacing governor if he is unable to finish a term Acting in place of the governor if he or she is out of state Executive branch

4. Elected Officials Attorney General (gives legal advice to state government) Commissioner of Agriculture and forestry (administers programs and enforces regulations) Secretary of State (supervises state election; registers corporations, maintains archives and records) Treasurer (supervise the state’s finances) Public Service Commissioners (make sure public utilities are safe, reliable, and reasonably priced) Appointed Officials Sec. of Veteran Affairs Commissioner of Insurance Sec. of Public Safety and Corrections Sec. of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Sec. of Dept. of Social Services Secretary of Economic Development Superintendent of education Sec. of environmental quality Secretary of the dept. of wildlife and fisheries Secretary of health and hospitals Sec. of labor Sec. of natural resources Sec. of revenue and taxation Sec. of transportation and development Civil service commissioners Branch Positions

5. Justices of the Peace (about 400) – local judicial officials elected by voters in their jurisdictions. Power to perform marriages and try minor cases. Parish (3) and City Courts (50)- serve parish and city needs. Judges are elected and handle less serious criminal and civil cases, especially traffic violations. Juvenile Courts (5) – Judges are elected to handle criminal cases involving juveniles, adoption proceedings and child custody cases. District Courts (42) - elected by voters to handle most serious legal matters such as murder, rape, and robbery Courts of Appeal (5) – Anyone convicted of a crime in a district court has the right to appeal the conviction to a higher court. The judges elected study the case and decide whether mistakes were made in the proceedings. The judges can order new trials, overturn convictions, or uphold the original decisions. Supreme Court- Louisiana’s Highest Court, located in New Orleans and includes seven justices elected by 7 districts. Each justice serves a 10 year term. This is the last appeal at the state level and supervise the entire judicial system. It disciplines the state’s lawyers and judges, hears appeals from lower courts, and passes final judgment on whether a law passed by the legislature is constitutional legal. http://www.lasc.org/about_the_court/justices_bio.asp Judicial branchThese courts oversee all legal matters, and the supreme court judges the legality of laws passed by the legislature

6. Louisiana Supreme Court Justices http://www.lasc.org/about_the_court/justices_bio.asp

7. Duties Passes laws and taxes Approves funding for the state budget Regulates state agencies Has the power to impeach state officials, including Supreme Court Justices and the governor Representation 105 House of Representatives and 39 Senatorial Districts Based on population Districts redrawn after each census At least 18, 2 year citizen (living at least 1 year in their district) No more than 3 consecutive four-year terms Legislative Branch

8. Speaker of the House presides over the House Senate president resides over the senate Legislature meets in sessions once a year for a specific period of time. Only sessions held in odd numbered years consider monetary matters (budgets and taxes) Special Sessions- called if governor needs to address matters that require immediate attention, especially budgets and taxes, or if both houses agree. Committees members appointed by the Speaker or president, but political party affiliation plays a role too. Investigate important issues, review proposed laws, and hold public hearings to give voters an opportunity to speak out on issues State Legislature’s Role

9. Senators Bill Cassidy Yvonne dorsey Sharon broome Dale erday Rob marionneaux http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Senators/ParishList.asp?ParishID=17 http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Reps/By_Parish/H_Reps_ByParish_eastbatonrouge.asp Representatives Regina barrow Stephen carter Franklin foil Hunter green Avon haney Michael Jackson Thomas mcvea Erich ponti Clifton Richardson Patrisha smith Mack white, jr. Your ebr legislature

10. Louisiana has an intricate law-making process that involves both the legislature and the governor. Citizens and lobbyists also play a role in the law-making process. They can attend hearings or contact their legislators or the governor’s office to express their opinions on bills. Strong public opinion frequently affects the outcome of a bill. Lobbyists (special interest groups)- meet with legislators to provide information about proposed bills and to persuade them to support their interest. Lobbyists’ activities are somewhat restricted by law, and their role in the political process is often controversial. Some people accuse lobbyists of “buying” support by providing legislators with dinners, entertainment, and trips. Others argue lobbyists serve a valuable purpose by providing legislators with information on important matters they might not otherwise receive. How a bill becomes a law