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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 179
BY SENATOR ALARIO
COMMENDATIONS. Recognizes the framers of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 and
the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of ratification and commends the delegates to the
Constitutional Convention of 1973 for their service to the state.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To recognize the fortieth anniversary of the ratification of the Louisiana Constitution of2
1974 and to commend those framers and delegates to the Constitutional Convention3
of 1973 for their extraordinary public service to the state of Louisiana.4
WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana duly recognizes April 20, 2014, as the5
fortieth anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution of 1974 by the electorate and6
commends the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1973 upon the successful7
confection of a new constitution, a collaborative effort of representative democracy8
considered to be the most significant achievement in Louisiana's history during the twentieth9
century; and10
WHEREAS, the present constitution lies at the epicenter of the infrastructure of state11
government as a definitive legal instrument composed of fourteen articles that clearly12
delineate the rights of individuals, describes the distribution and powers to state officials and13
local governments, and establishes both state and local civil service systems; and14
WHEREAS, as a historic document, the constitution reflects Louisiana's European15
origins with singular emphasis applied to individual civil liberties and property rights, with16
precedence found in Spanish law and the Napoleonic Code; "to protect individual rights to17
life, liberty, and property"; and18 SCR NO. 179
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WHEREAS, the delegation drafted the tenth revision of the state's constitution since1
statehood in 1812, that had previously been reworked in 1845, 1852, 1864, 1868, 1879,2
1898, 1913, and 1921; and3
WHEREAS, its predecessor, the Constitution of 1921, had become a conflicted legal4
quagmire, the most lengthy of all state constitutions with over 20,000 words containing five5
hundred amendments, one hundred seventy outside references, dedication of two-thirds of6
all state funding, and no internal provisions for constitutional reform; and7
WHEREAS, lawmakers and government watch dog organizations such as the Public8
Affairs Research Council (PAR) raised objections to the antiquated 1921 Constitution as a9
hindrance to economic growth and flexibility within state and local governments; and10
WHEREAS, in 1971, gubernatorial candidate, Congressman Edwin W. Edwards, ran11
on a campaign plank to implement a modern constitution and to streamline government;12
when elected, he was stymied in his efforts to reorganize the executive branch due to the13
inflexibility of the 1921 Constitution; and14
WHEREAS, Act No. 2 of the 1972 Regular Session (House Bill No. 181 by15
Representative McLeod, and others) was the legislative instrument used to bring about16
change through the creation of the Constitutional Convention of 1973, known as CC 73, a17
collective of one hundred five delegates elected by popular vote from existing districts of18
the House of Representatives and twenty-seven delegates appointed by the governor; and19
WHEREAS, convened on January 5, 1973, CC 73 delegates came from all corners20
of the state; they represented a cross-section of state demographics, as the greatest21
generation whose strength of character was forged by the global conflict of World War II,22
as activists of the "New South" who were the emerging national voice for minorities and23
women, and as a new generation of political novices taking their first steps in public service;24
Phillip Bergeron was the youngest elected delegate at eighteen years of age; and25
WHEREAS, the roll call of elected delegates in order beginning with District One26
are Jasper K. Smith, Alphonse Jackson Jr., Wellborn Jack, V. C. Shannon, Tom Stagg,27
Frank Fulco, Dr. Emmett Asseff, Ford E. Stinson, Charles "Buddy" Roemer, R. Harmon28
Drew, Bill P. Grier, Kenneth Dale Kilpatrick, E. L. "Bubba" Henry, Paul David Ginn, Shady29
Wall, Judge James L. "Jim" Dennis, Thomas W. Leigh, R. M. Elkins, J. A. "Jim" McDaniel,30 SCR NO. 179
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Lantz Womack, Jim Brown, Terry R. Reeves, Donald G. Kelly, H. M. "Mutt" Fowler,1
Richard S. Thompson, Chris J. Roy, Charles Slay, Miss Lynn Perkins, Cecil R. Blair, F. E.2
"Pete" Hernandez, Dr. J. E. Stephenson, Errol D. Deshotels, A. J. Planchard, Dr. Gerald N.3
Weiss, Mack Abraham, Conway LeBleu, Greg Arnette Jr., Clyde Fontenot, Walter J.4
Champagne Jr., Lawrence B. Sandoz Jr., I. Jackson Burson Jr., Ralph L. Cowen, Pat Juneau,5
Heloise C. Corne, E. J. Chatelain, J. Burton Willis, H. G. Hardee Jr., Minos H. Armentor,6
Perry Segura, F. D. "Dan" Winchester, Anthony J. Guarisco Jr., Stanwood R. Duval Jr.,7
Charles A. Badeaux, Donald T. Bollinger, Walter I. Lanier Jr., Eual J. Landry Sr., Gordon8
J. Martin, N. E. Carmouche, Louis J. Lambert Jr., Jessel M. Ourso Sr., Herman J. "Monday"9
Lowe, Richard H. Kilbourne, George Dewey Hayes, Gary O'Neill, Harvey W. Cannon Jr.,10
Louis "Woody" Jenkins, Miss Mary E. Wisham, J. D. De Blieux, Robert J. Aertker, R.11
Gordon Kean Jr., Calvin C. Fayard Jr., Joseph "Joe" E. Anzalone Jr., Autley B. Newton,12
James T. "Jim" Burns, B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn, Alvin D. Singletary, Edward J. "Eddie"13
D'Gerolamo, Wendell H. Gauthier, Rev. James L. Stovall, Joseph A. Conino, David Conroy,14
Harold J. Toca, John A. Alario Jr., Dr. Frank J. Ullo, Joseph F. Toomy, Matthew R.15
Sutherland, Earl J. Schmitt Jr., Mrs. Novyse E. Soniat, Moise W. Dennery, Thomas A.16
Casey, Louis Landrum Sr., Edward F. LeBreton Jr., Rev. Avery C. Alexander, Anthony J.17
Vesich Jr., Claude Mauberret Jr., James G. Derbes, Thomas A. Velazquez, Joseph I.18
Giarrusso Sr., Louis G. Riecke Sr., Phillip O. Bergeron, Johnny Jackson Jr., Mrs. George19
Ethel Warren, Elmer R. Tapper, Samuel B. Nunez Jr., and Chalin Perez; and20
WHEREAS, delegates appointed by the governor to represent special interests21
included Edward N. Lennox, industry; Gordon Flory, labor; Horace C. Robinson, education;22
Anthony M. Rachal Jr., civil service; John L. "Jack" Avant, wildlife and conservation; Frank23
M. Edwards Jr., law enforcement; Albert Tate Jr., judiciary; Ruth Miller, professions;24
Hilda Brien, consumers; Robert J. Munson, agriculture; Max N. Tobias Jr., youth; and25
Dorothy Mae Taylor, racial minorities; and26
WHEREAS, at-large delegates appointed by the governor for extraordinary expertise27
in law and local governmental affairs included Tom Colten, Ambroise H. Landry, Pegram28
J. Mire, Clyde F. Bel Sr., Mary Zervigon, Joe N. Silverberg, John R. Thistlethwaite,29
Lawrence A. Chehardy, Kendall Vick, Judy Dunlap, J. K. Haynes, Richard P. Guidry,30 SCR NO. 179
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J. Kenneth Leithman, Risley C. Triche, and Camille F. Gravel Jr.; and1
WHEREAS, emergency appointment of delegates to fulfill unexpired terms were2
filled by Dean Louis Berry, Emile Comar Jr., Paul H. Goldman, R. W. "Buzzy" Graham,3
Norman "Pete" Heine, Louis M. Jones, Corrine Maybruce, James W. Morris, Robert G.4
Pugh, and Charles Wattigny; and5
WHEREAS, CC 73 was a unicameral body comprised of one hundred thirty-two6
delegates from all walks of life and some were the best legal minds of the time; it was a self-7
governing body that employed Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure, a committee8
system, compromise and good humor, transparency of process with open debate, news media9
access, and community involvement with public meetings held across the state to gather10
public opinion and a sense of popular needs and wants, all of which advanced the acceptance11
of a new constitution; and12
WHEREAS, CC 73 was reflective of the changing face of Louisiana's political scene;13
among its ranks were future leaders that included a governor, house clerk, senate secretary,14
judges, mayors, outstanding attorneys-at-law, and future legislators, such as the African15
American delegates who were the predecessors of an alliance that would become the16
Legislative Black Caucus; there were young movers and shakers who gave rise to the17
vanguard of the Young Turks of the 1970's in the House of Representatives, and future state18
officials who would contribute immeasurably to the executive, legislative, and judicial19
branches of state and local government; and20
WHEREAS, CC 73 was a learning process that created a familiarity between21
delegates and constituents who were often separated by distance and biased by cultural22
stereotype; and 23
WHEREAS, at times, the atmosphere of CC 73 was highly contested, but mostly24
congenial, and strong friendships were forged that have lasted over four decades; and25
WHEREAS, CC 73 was a great success; the delegation had drafted a constitutional26
blueprint for a basic form of state government laden with protections for the individual and27
it had championed the tenets of equal opportunity, fair labor relations, small business28
interests, and expanded voter participation; and29
WHEREAS, on January 16, 1974, CC 73 had concluded its business, and on30 SCR NO. 179
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January 19, 1974, the document was attested to with the signatures of its framers; that1
included chairman of the convention, E. L. "Bubba" Henry; vice chairmen, Ruth L. Miller,2
Thomas A. Casey, the Reverend Avery C. Alexander, and Chris J. Roy, treasurer, Herman3
J. "Monday" Lowe; and the remaining convention delegates that included among its number,4
Senate President John A. Alario Jr., then a member of the House of Representatives; and5
WHEREAS, the new Louisiana Constitution of 1974 was ratified by an affirmative6
vote of the people on April 20, 1974, and took effect of January 1, 1975; and7
WHEREAS, with the approach of change through positive deliberation, the delegates8
of CC 73 leave a remarkable legacy of genuine public service to the citizenry of Louisiana,9
who in turn, owe a great debt to these framers of the new constitution whose contributions10
have made Louisiana a better and more prosperous state in which to live.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby12
recognize the fortieth anniversary of the ratification of the Louisiana Constitution of 197413
and does hereby commend the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1973 for their14
extraordinary public service to the state of Louisiana.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to E. L.16
"Bubba" Henry, chairman of CC 73 and delegate from District 13, Senate President John A.17
Alario Jr., delegate from District 83, and Alvin D. Singletary, attorney and delegate from18
District 76.19
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Susan P. Montague.
DIGEST
Alario SCR No. 179
Recognizes the 40
th
anniversary of the La. Constitution of 1974 and commends the delegates
of the Constitutional Convention of 1973.