• The Louisiana House of Representatives meets in Baton Rouge.Louisiana state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
  
  Article III of the Louisiana Constitution establishes the state's legislative body, which makes laws and oversees the administration of state programs by executive branch agencies. It also outlines the qualifications for members of the legislature--a bicameral institution composed of a senate and a house of representatives. While Louisiana law sets the number of senators and representatives, the constitution prohibits more than 39 senators and 105 representatives. The legislature convenes a regular legislative session every year and special sessions when called.
  
  

State Resident

• Louisiana representatives must be full-time residents of the state. The representative must have resided in the state for the preceding two years prior to running for election.
  
  

District Resident

• According to the Louisiana constitution, each member of the house represents a single district. A person must have lived for the preceding year in the legislative district from which he seeks election. After every census, Louisiana legislative districts are reapportioned, or redrawn, based on population shifts. A person is eligible to run for election in a new district created in whole or in part from a district existing prior to reapportionment, provided he lived in that district for the previous year. House members who move out of the district they represent must vacate their seat.
  
  

Age

• To run for a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives, a citizen must be at least 18 years old. The constitution does not set an upper age limit. In contrast, a person has to be at least 25 years old to become a member of the United States House of Representatives.
  
  

Term Limits

• Louisiana representatives serve four-year terms. In 1995, Louisiana passed a constitutional amendment that established term limits for members of the Louisiana House of Representatives beginning Jan. 8, 1996. A member of the Louisiana House who has served more than two and one-half terms in three consecutive terms--or 12 years--may not run for re-election.