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 (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/

The Louisiana State Legislature 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.

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.

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.