Orleans Territory: Polity Style: 1804-1812

21 Oct 1803	part of the territory of North America known as Louisiana, legally claimed by France and administered by Spain, is ceded by France to the United States in accordance with a treaty and conventions concluded in Paris by representatives of both nations on 30 Apr 1803, effective upon the exchange of ratifications in Washington, D.C., on 21 Oct 1803 (Martens, 7:706-727; Clercq, 2:59-66; Territorial Papers, 9:81-82)
20 Dec 1803	Louisiana is transferred to the United States in accordance with an instrument of transfer signed by commissioners of the governments of France and the United States in New Orleans on 20 Dec 1803 (American State Papers, Foreign Relations, 2:582; Territorial Papers, 9:138-139)
1 Oct 1804	Louisiana is divided into two territories—the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana—in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (Senate on 18 Feb 1804, House of Representatives on 17 Mar 1804), signed into law on 26 Mar 1804, effective on 1 Oct 1804, the date appointed by the act (Statutes at Large, 2:283-289) [1]
1 Oct 1804 - 30 Apr 1812	Territory of Orleans
2 Oct 1804	the territorial government is established with the reading of the governor's commission and swearing-in at a public ceremony held in New Orleans on 2 Oct 1804 (Territorial Papers, 9:303-306)
20 Feb 1811	the inhabitants of part of the territory ceded under the name of Louisiana are authorized to form a constitution and state government and to assume a name for the future State, to be admitted to the United States on condition of acceptance of the Constitution of the United States by a State Convention and approval of the State's constitution by Congress, in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (House of Representatives on 15 Jan 1811, Senate on 7 Feb 1811 with amendments, House disagrees with one of the amendments on 9 Feb 1811, Senate refuses to recede from the amendment on 12 Feb 1811, House concurs in the amendment on 13 Feb 1811) and signed into law on 20 Feb 1811 (Statutes at Large, 2:641-643) [2]
23 Nov 1811	the Constitution of the United States is accepted by a declaration approved at a session of the Convention held at New Orleans on 23 Nov 1811 as required by the Act of the Congress of the United States of 20 Feb 1811 (Louisiana Convention 1811-1812, p. 4)
28 Jan 1812	the Constitution or Form of Government of the State of Louisiana is adopted (Constitution on 22 Jan 1812, Schedule on 27 Jan 1812) at a session of the Convention held at New Orleans and signed on 28 Jan 1812, pending the approval by the Congress of the United States (Louisiana Convention 1811-1812, pp. 15-19) [3]
30 Apr 1812	the Constitution or Form of Government of the State of Louisiana is approved, and Louisiana is admitted to the United States in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (House of Representatives on 20 Mar 1812; Senate on 1 Apr 1812, with amendments; House concurs in the amendments on 6 Apr 1812) and signed into law on 8 Apr 1812, effective on 30 Apr 1812, the date appointed by the act (Statutes at Large, 2:701-704) [4][5]

Full title: An Act erecting Louisiana into two territories and providing for the temporary government thereof.
Full title: An Act to enable the people of the Territory of Orleans to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union, on an equal footing with the original states, and for other purposes.
The reading and adoption of the Constitution's articles were completed on 22 Jan 1812, and the Convention passed a resolution approving the text. A committee was appointed to consider the Schedule, which was presented to the Convention and adopted on 27 Jan 1812. The signed copy of the Constitution and its official publications in English and French, however, bear the date "Done in Convention, at New-Orleans, [22 Jan 1812]."
Full title: An Act for the admission of the State of Louisiana into the Union, and to extend the laws of the United States to the said state. Unlike other former territories of the United States, the admission of Louisiana into the Union required the formal approval of the state's constitution by Congress.
Following the adoption and approval of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana, one of its provisions authorized all civil officers of the territorial government to continue in office until superseded by officers elected or appointed under it.