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Simple English definitions for legal terms
parish
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A quick definition of parish:
A parish is a specific area that is served by a church. It can also refer to a district in Louisiana that has its own government and is similar to a county. This term comes from Louisiana's history as a Roman Catholic territory under Spanish and French rule. The state legislature has the power to create, change, or dissolve parishes as needed.
A more thorough explanation:
An area served by a particular church or an ecclesiastical district is called a parish. In Louisiana, a parish is also a government sub-unit, which is equivalent to a county. It governs a portion of the state, and some of the state's power is delegated to the parish.
- St. Mary's Parish is a Catholic church that serves the local community.
- Jefferson Parish is a government sub-unit in Louisiana that administers the governance of a portion of the state.
The examples illustrate that a parish can refer to both a religious and a governmental entity. In the first example, St. Mary's Parish is a religious district served by a Catholic church. In the second example, Jefferson Parish is a government sub-unit that administers the governance of a portion of the state.