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Your Louisiana Government:
An Owner's Manual
Government, like a car, is a complex piece of machinery. To keep both running properly requires
the work of specialists as well as the attention of the owners. You take your car to a mechanic (a specialist) who maintains and repairs it. Yet you, the owner, must know what work needs to be done. In much the same way, you elect people to office (the specialists), yet you (the owners of government) must be aware of the work they do. And also like the car owner, you must understand the work in order to know if it is being done right.This “owner’s manual” tells you how Louisiana government works. It provides tools you can use
to ensure that the work is being done right and that government is responsive, efficient, and effective. The challenges of the 21st century will place great demands on our state and local governments. It is your right to enjoy the freedom that democractic government provides. But it is also your responsibility to keep this complex machinery in working order.This"owner's manual" has been revised and updated to incorporate changes that have occurred since its original publication. It is current through May 1, 2004. You can download the entire document or a specific part below in the Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.
Permission is granted to reproduce this manual or any portion thereof, provided that the source of the material is clearly marked and attributed to the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, Inc. and that no changes are made to the material.
Acknowledgements, Preface and Dedication
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Louisiana
Chapter 3: The Legislative Branch
Chapter 4: The Executive Branch
Chapter 5: The Judicial Branch
Chapter 7: Paying for Government
Chapter 8: Citizen Involvement and Access to Government
Appendix A: Preamble and Article I of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974
Appendix C: Sample Discussion Questions
