Louisiana
Louisiana entered the Union on April 30, 1812 as the 18th state. Louisiana entered the Union in the wake of the Louisiana Purchase, carrying forward legal and cultural traditions that set it apart from every other state. Today its state government is centered in Baton Rouge and operates through a governor and a bicameral legislature, while its civic life still reflects the state’s French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and American influences.
Government & Representation
Use this section to understand how the state organizes executive authority, legislative power, and federal representation.
Louisiana organizes state government through an elected governor and a bicameral legislature made up of a Senate and a House of Representatives. Its legal and political traditions give statewide institutions a distinct role in managing civil law, parish-based local government, and regional policy differences.