Napoleonic code

The History of Louisiana Government Even after it became part of the United States, Louisiana’s government continued to be shaped by its experiences as a French and Spanish colony. This influence can be seen in the legal system. Louisiana civil laws are based on French and Spanish civil codes. Civil laws set the ground rules for how individuals interact with each other. Around 1800,

Napoleon Bonaparte, the emperor of France, established a commission to write a complete collection of civil laws for France. This project, called the Napoleonic Code, influenced Louisiana’s first civil code adopted in 1808. The British common law system, which was used in other states, was introduced in Louisiana after 1803. Common law uses earlier decisions—called precedents—as guidelines.

The common law system shaped the criminal laws adopted in Louisiana. Because the colony of Louisiana had been run entirely by officials appointed by a king, the concept of self-government—the idea that citizens should actively participate in government—was new to Louisiana’s residents. People coming to Louisiana from other parts of the United States, who had participated in democratic systems before, had an advantage over the Louisiana residents and expected to have a strong influence on government.