Governor of Louisiana

The governor of Louisiana is the chief executive of the U.S. state government of Louisiana. The governor also serves as the commander in chief of the Louisiana National Guard. Democrat John Bel Edwards has held the office since January 2016. History Louisiana ratified its first constitution in 1812. The document provided for a governor who would serve a four-year term and was responsible for appointing all non-elected state officials, making the holder of the office one of the most powerful such executives in the United States at the time. Candidates for the office were limited to white men of at least 35 years of age who held at least $5,000 worth in landed property. Popular gubernatorial elections were held, but the Louisiana State Legislature was given the responsibility of deciding the winner from among the two top-performing candidates. Governors were forbidden from holding consecutive terms. William C. C. Claiborne served as the state's first governor. The 1845 constitution eliminated minimum property requirements for gubernatorial candidates and ensured the governor would be chosen directly by popular vote. In 1879, governors were authorized to hold successive terms, but this was eliminated in the 1898 constitution. After the 1930s and 1940s, governors increasingly had to manage their image over mass media while their staffs grew in size. In the 1960s, governors assumed responsibility over executing federally-funded programs. In 1966, the state constitution was amended to permit governors to seek consecutive terms in office. The 1974 constitution imposed term limits on the governor and weakened the qualifications for candidates seeking the office.