HLS 10RS-855 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE BILL NO. 415
BY REPRESENTATIVE LABRUZZO
CURRICULA/COLLEGE DEGREE: (Constitutional Amendment) Requires credit for a
course covering the U.S. Constitution for a student to receive a baccalaureate degree
from a Louisiana public college or university
A JOINT RESOLUTION1
Proposing to add Article VIII, Section 17 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to require credit2
for a course covering the Constitution of the United States of America as a3
prerequisite for an undergraduate baccalaureate degree from a Louisiana public4
college or university; to provide relative to the content of the course; to provide for5
enforcement and exceptions; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment6
to the electors; and to provide for related matters.7
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members8
elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of9
Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to add10
Article VIII, Section 17 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:11
§17. Required Course Covering the Constitution of the United States of America12
Section 17.(A) No Louisiana public postsecondary education institution shall13
grant a baccalaureate degree to a person who has not received credit for a14
postsecondary level course covering the Constitution of the United States of15
America. The course required by this Section shall be designed to give students a16
basic but substantive working knowledge of the Constitution of the United States of17
America and shall include the following:18 HLS 10RS-855 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 415
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
(1) The historical circumstances of the drafting and ratification of the1
constitution.2
(2) The general content of each of the Articles of the constitution, including3
the ways powers of each branch of government are limited by the constitution itself,4
by other branches, or by elections.5
(3) The constitutional provisions relative the allocation of powers to the6
national and the state governments.7
(4) The importance of the Federalist Papers and the content of at least three8
Numbers of the Federalist Papers.9
(5) Landmark decisions of the United States Supreme Court interpreting the10
constitution.11
(6) The Bill of Rights and its ratification and the content and impact of other12
important amendments.13
B. The requirements of this Section may be met by completing a course14
solely focused on the Constitution of the United States of America or a course which15
includes the material outlined in Paragraph A of this Section as a portion of the16
course content.17
C. Each postsecondary management board shall certify a course or courses18
meeting the requirements of Paragraph A of this Section at each institution that19
grants baccalaureate degrees under its jurisdiction and shall ensure that each degree20
candidate has met the requirement of this Section.21
D. The provisions of this Section shall not be applied to a student who has22
received any credit for course work at a Louisiana public postsecondary education23
institution prior to July 1, 2011.24
Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted25
to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 2,26
2010.27
Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at said election28
there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted29 HLS 10RS-855 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 415
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
to vote FOR or AGAINST, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall1
read as follows:2
To require students to have credit for a course covering the Constitution of3
the United States of America to receive a baccalaureate degree from a4
Louisiana public college or university. (Adds Article VIII, Section 17)5
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
LaBruzzo HB No. 415
Abstract: Requires students to have credit for a course covering the U.S. Constitution to
receive a baccalaureate degree from a La. public college or university.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides that no La. public college or university shall
grant a baccalaureate degree to a person who has not received credit for a postsecondary
level course covering the U.S. Constitution. Requires that the course include the following:
(1)The historical circumstances of the drafting and ratification of the constitution.
(2)The general content of each of the Articles of the constitution, including the ways
powers of each branch of government are limited by the constitution itself, by other
branches, or by elections.
(3)The constitutional provisions relative the allocation of powers to the national and the
state governments.
(4)The importance of the Federalist Papers and the content of at least three Numbers of
the Federalist Papers.
(5)Landmark decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court interpreting the constitution.
(6)The Bill of Rights and its ratification and the content and impact of other important
amendments.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides that the proposed requirement may be met
through a course solely focused on the U.S. Constitution or a course which includes the
required material as a portion of the course content. Requires that each postsecondary
management board certify a course or courses meeting the requirements at each college or
university under its jurisdiction and ensure that each degree candidate has met the
requirement of this Section.
Proposed constitutional amendment shall not be applied to a student who has received any
credit for course work at a La. public college or university prior to July 1, 2011.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Nov. 2, 2010.
(Adds Const. Art. VIII, §17)