History and Government

Louisiana's government is like that of no other state in the United States of America.  Louisiana has "parishes" instead of "counties" and each of those parishes, for the most part, are governed by "police juries."  Police jurors are elected officials and function in the same way as county commissioners in other states' counties.

At one time, Louisiana had counties.  When the Louisiana Territory was purchased by the United States, twelve counties were established, but those large areas proved too hard to govern effectively.  In 1807 the state was divided into 19 parishes, and the parish became the local government district.

Each parish was governed by a 12-member jury serving with the parish judges and the justices of the peace.  Each jury was charged with the responsibility of "execution of whatever concerns the interior and local police and administration of the parish."  In 1811 an act made the members of these assemblies elective, and they were officially designated as the "police jury."

In Morehouse Parish, there are seven police jury districts, with a representative from each district elected every four years.  A complete list of the current jurors and their phone numbers is provided below.

NAPOLEONIC CODE

The parish and police jury system is only one of the distinctive aspects of government in Morehouse Parish.  Also unique to the state of Louisiana is the Napoleonic Code, or the Code Napoleon.  Originating in 1804, with French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the Code Napoleon was a form of government that used codified law.  Codified law means simply that each law was categorized.  Since Louisiana was founded by the French, Louisiana adopted many of the rules and laws of France, and Louisiana still uses numerous basic laws from the original Napoleonic Code that was used in 1804. 

This brief insight into Morehouse Parish and the atypical style of government, provides a a better understanding and answers questions you may have had.

Morehouse Parish Police Jurors:

Morehouse Economic Development Corporation
Suite A, 101 South Franklin Street, CapitalOne Bank Building, Bastrop LA  71220
Telephone: 318-283-4000  Fax: 318-283-0651  Web: http://www.morehouseedc.org
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