5 Written Questions

1. Powers: Hear cases involving traffic, small claims, and evictions. Responsibilities: Impartially decide cases guided by the laws and constitutions. Limits: Cannot hear cases over $25,000, Decisions may be appealed.
2. Powers: Prosecutes crimes. Responsibilities: Decide which alleged crimes are worth prosecution based on evidence and severity. Limits: Must follow the laws and the constitutions; the courts and voters evaluate; Can only enforce the laws and ordinances made by the legislative branch.
3. Powers: Presides over the Louisiana House of Representatives. Responsibilities: Manage the House and enforce its rules on the Representatives. Limits: Elected by the members of the House.
4. Powers: Presides over the Louisiana Senate. Responsibilities: Manage the Senate and enforce its rules on the Senators. Limits: Elected by the members of the Senate.
5. Powers: Replaces the governor if he or she cannot serve; Acts as governor if the governor is out-of-state or temporarily unable to serve; Becomes governor if the governor dies, is permanently incapacitated, or is removed from office by the Senate. Responsibilities: Promote the public image of Louisiana; Head the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. Limits: Must follow the laws and constitutions of the state and federal governments.

5 Matching Questions

1. Sheriff
2. Council Member
3. Coroner
4. Senator
5. District Court Judge

1. a Powers: Hears legal cases; Civil -- lawsuits; Domestic -- divorce and child custody; Criminal -- violations of the criminal code. Responsibilities: Decide impartially on the legal and constitutional merits of the case. Limits: Decisions must not conflict with the Louisiana or U.S. Constitutions; Decisions may be appealed to the Circuit Courts of Appeal.
2. b Powers: Introduce bills into the Senate; Vote bills into law (with the House); Vote to remove government officials after the House has impeached. Responsibilities: Represent the best interests of his or her constituents. Limits: Cannot introduce bills related to taxes or spending money.
3. c Powers: May propose new city ordinances; Has a vote on ordinances. Responsibilities: Attend city council meetings; Represent the interests of his or her constituents. Limits: Ordinances may not conflict with state or federal laws or constitutions.
4. d Powers: Order an autopsy; Commit a patient to a psychiatric facility against his or her will for two weeks if the ___ determines the patient is a danger to himself or herself or others. Responsibilities: Investigate unexplained deaths. Limits: Must follow the laws and the constitutions; the courts and voters evaluate; Must be a licensed physician unless no licensed physician will take the job.
5. e Powers; Manages law enforcement and incarceration for the parish. Responsibilities: Makes personnel decisions about the deputies and other employees in the department. Limits: Must follow the laws and the constitutions; the courts and voters evaluate; Can only enforce the laws and ordinances made by the legislative branch.

5 Multiple Choice Questions

1. Powers: Stop, search (with probable cause and/or a warrant), and arrest people. Responsibilities: Deter crime; Investigate crimes; Enforce the laws. Limits: Must follow the law and the constitutions (US & LA) as determined by judicial branch: Must only enforce laws & ordinances created by legislative branch.
   1. Council Member
   2. police jury
   3. Police Officer
   4. Clerk of Court
2. Powers: Institute, prosecute, and intervene in any civil action or proceeding on behalf of the state; Advise and assist local district attorneys at their request. Responsibilities: Act as the chief attorney for Louisiana's state government; Head of the Louisiana Department of Justice; Promote public safety. Limits: Must follow the laws and constitutions of the state and federal governments.
   1. Teacher
   2. Coroner
   3. Attorney General
   4. Treasurer
3. Powers: Inspection of products related to agriculture and natural resources; Inspection of weights and measures used in selling products related to natural resources. Responsibilities: Manages the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Limits: Must follow the laws and constitutions of the state and federal governments.
   1. Commissioner of Agriculture
   2. Commissioner of Insurance
   3. Speaker of the House
   4. Clerk of Court
4. Powers: Votes and writes opinions on important legal cases that involve the interpretation of the Louisiana Constitution. Responsibilities: Vote impartially on the legal and constitutional merits of the case. Limits: Decisions must not conflict with the U.S. Constitution; Decisions may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
   1. District Court Judge
   2. Supreme Court Justice
   3. Circuit Court Judge
   4. Supreme Court Chief Justice
5. Powers: Initiate new bills, including those related to new taxes and the budget; Initiate the impeachment, perhaps leading to removal from office, of public officials at the state level. Responsibilities: Represent the interests of his or her constituents. Limits: Is only one vote out of 105.
   1. Treasurer
   2. Senator
   3. Teacher
   4. Representative

5 True/False Questions

1. Governor → Powers: Commands Louisiana National Guard (unless the Guard has been federalized and placed under the command of the President of the United States); Veto bills, requiring a 2/3 majority in both legislative chambers (House and Senate) to override; May submit administrative bills to the legislature through friendly legislators; Call special sessions of the legislature if he or she feels a matter is too urgent to wait for the next session; Is the Chief Executive Officer of Louisiana. Responsibilities: Enforce the laws of Louisiana; Prepares and submits a budget to the legislature; Appoint members of many boards and commissions. Limits: Must enforce the laws created by the legislature; Must follow the laws and constitutions of the state and federal governments.

   True        False

2. Clerk of Court → Powers: Keep records of real estate transactions, moveable property transactions, court decisions, marriages, etc. Responsibilities: Keep accurate and complete records for the courts. Limits: Must keep office open on the hours required by the state.

   True        False

3. Circuit Court Judge → Powers: Votes and writes opinions on legal cases appealed from the District Courts. Responsibilities: Vote impartially on the legal and constitutional merits of the case. Limits: Decisions must not conflict with the Louisiana or U.S. Constitutions; Decisions may be appealed to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

   True        False

4. Treasurer → Powers: Invest state funds; Disburse state funds. Responsibilities: Keep state funds secure; Manage the state's money; Lead the Louisiana Department of the Treasury; Make an annual financial report to governor and legislature. Limits: The legislature creates the budget and mandates the spending.

   True        False

5. Supreme Court Chief Justice → Powers: Has all the powers and responsibilities of the other Louisiana Supreme Court Justices; Chief administrative officer of the Louisiana judicial system. Responsibilities: Vote impartially on the legal and constitutional merits of the case. Limits: Decisions must not conflict with the U.S. Constitution.

   True        False