  The second-quantized form of the Laughlin states for the fractional quantum
Hall effect is discussed by decomposing the Laughlin wavefunctions into the
$N$-particle Slater basis. A general formula is given for the expansion
coefficients in terms of the characters of the symmetric group, and the
expansion coefficients are shown to possess numerous interesting symmetries.
For expectation values of the density operator it is possible to identify
individual dominant Slater states of the correct uniform bulk density and
filling fraction in the physically relevant $N\to\infty$ limit.
