FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Ky. Const. art. I, § 60 — Article I / Section 60
Ky. Const. § 60
Status: in_force

Section 60   General law not to be made special or local by amendment -- No special 
powers or privileges -- Law not to take effect on approval of other authority 
than General Assembly -- Exceptions. 
 
The General Assembly shall not indirectly enact any special or local act by the 
repeal in part of a general act, or by exempting from the operation of a general act any 
city, town, district or county; but laws repealing local or special acts may be enacted. No 
law shall be enacted granting powers or privileges in any case where the granting of such 
powers or privileges shall have been provided for by a general law, nor where the courts 
have jurisdiction to grant the same or to give the relief asked for. No law, except such as 
relates to the sale, loan or gift of vinous, spirituous or malt liquors, bridges, turnpikes or 
other public roads, public buildings or improvements, fencing, running at large of stock, 
matters pertaining to common schools, paupers, and the regulation by counties, cities, 
towns or other municipalities of their local affairs, shall be enacted to take effect upon the 
approval of any other authority than the General Assembly, unless otherwise expressly 
provided in this Constitution. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 236 — Article I / Section 236
Ky. Const. § 236
Status: in_force

Section 236   When officers to enter upon duties. 
 
The General Assembly shall, by law, prescribe the time when the several officers 
authorized or directed by this Constitution to be elected or appointed, shall enter upon the 
duties of their respective offices, except where the time is fixed by this Constitution. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 21 — Article I / Section 21
Ky. Const. § 21
Status: in_force

Section 21   Descent in case of suicide or casualty. 
 
The estate of such persons as shall destroy their own lives shall descend or vest as 
in cases of natural death; and if any person shall be killed by casualty, there shall be no 
forfeiture by reason thereof. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 70 — Article I / Section 70
Ky. Const. § 70
Status: in_force

Section 70   Election of Governor and Lieutenant Governor -- Term -- Tie vote. 
 
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be elected for the term of four years 
by the qualified voters of the State. They shall be elected jointly by the casting by each 
voter of a single vote applicable to both offices, as shall be provided by law. The slate of 
candidates having the highest number of votes cast jointly for them for Governor and 
Lieutenant Governor shall be elected; but if two or more slates of candidates shall be 
equal and highest in votes, the election shall be determined by lot in such manner as the 
General Assembly may direct. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 3, 1992. 
History:  1992 amendment was proposed by 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 168, sec. 1; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 135 — Article I / Section 135
Ky. Const. § 135
Status: in_force

Section 135   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Only Constitutional Courts permitted. 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 4, 1975, effective January 1, 1976. 
History:  Repeal was proposed by 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 84, sec. 1; original version ratified 
August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 250 — Article I / Section 250
Ky. Const. § 250
Status: in_force

Section 250   Arbitration, method for to be provided. 
 
It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to enact such laws as shall be necessary 
and proper to decide differences by arbitrators, the arbitrators to be appointed by the 
parties who may choose that summary mode of adjustment. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 40 — Article I / Section 40
Ky. Const. § 40
Status: in_force

Section 40   Journals -- When vote to be entered. 
 
Each House of the General Assembly shall keep and publish daily a journal of its 
proceedings; and the yeas and nays of the members on any question shall, at the desire of 
any two of the members elected, be entered on the journal. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891 and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 176 — Article I / Section 176
Ky. Const. § 176
Status: in_force

Section 176   Commonwealth not to assume debt of county or city -- Exception. 
 
The Commonwealth shall not assume the debt of any county, municipal corporation 
or political subdivision of the State, unless such debt shall have been contracted to defend 
itself in time of war, to repel invasion or to suppress insurrection. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 255A — Article I / Section 255A
Ky. Const. § 255A
Status: in_force

Section 255A   Personal right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife - Limitations. 
 
The citizens of Kentucky have the personal right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, 
using traditional methods, subject only to statutes enacted by the Legislature, and to 
administrative regulations adopted by the designated state agency to promote wildlife 
conservation and management and to preserve the future of hunting and fishing. Public 
hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. This 
section shall not be construed to modify any provision of law relating to trespass, property 
rights, or the regulation of commercial activities. 
Text as Ratified on: November 6, 2012. 
History: Creation proposed by 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 4, sec. 1.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 225 — Article I / Section 225
Ky. Const. § 225
Status: in_force

Section 225   Armed men not to be brought into State -- Exception. 
 
No armed person or bodies of men shall be brought into this State for the 
preservation of the peace or the suppression of domestic violence, except upon the 
application of the General Assembly, or of the Governor when the General Assembly may 
not be in session. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 229 — Article I / Section 229
Ky. Const. § 229
Status: in_force

Section 229   "Treason" defined -- Evidence necessary to convict. 
 
Treason against the Commonwealth shall consist only in levying war against it, or 
in adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of 
treason except on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or his own 
confession in open court. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 157A — Article I / Section 157A
Ky. Const. § 157A
Status: in_force

Section 157A   Credit of Commonwealth may be loaned or given to county for roads 
-- County may vote to incur indebtedness and levy additional tax for roads. 
 
The credit of the Commonwealth may be given, pledged or loaned to any county of 
the Commonwealth for public road purposes, and any county may be permitted to incur 
an indebtedness in any amount fixed by the county, not in excess of five per centum of 
the value of the taxable property therein, for public road purposes in said county, 
provided said additional indebtedness is submitted to the voters of the county for their 
ratification or rejection at a special election held for said purpose, in such manner as may 
be provided by law and when any such indebtedness is incurred by any county said 
county may levy, in addition to the tax rate allowed under Section 157 of the Constitution 
of Kentucky, an amount not exceeding twenty cents on the one hundred dollars of the 
assessed valuation of said county for the purpose of paying the interest on said 
indebtedness and providing a sinking fund for the payment of said indebtedness. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 2, 1909. 
History:  Creation proposed by 1908 Ky. Acts ch. 36, sec. 1.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 149 — Article I / Section 149
Ky. Const. § 149
Status: in_force

Section 149   Privilege from arrest during voting. 
 
Voters, in all cases except treason, felony, breach of surety of the peace, or violation 
of the election laws, shall be privileged from arrest during their attendance at elections, 
and while they are going to and returning therefrom. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 19 — Article I / Section 19
Ky. Const. § 19
Status: in_force

Section 19   Ex post facto law or law impairing contract forbidden -- Rules of 
construction for mineral deeds relating to coal extraction. 
 
(1)  No ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the obligation of contracts, shall be 
enacted. 
 
(2)  In any instrument heretofore or hereafter executed purporting to sever the 
surface and mineral estates or to grant a mineral estate or to grant a right to extract 
minerals, which fails to state or describe in express and specific terms the method of coal 
extraction to be employed, or where said instrument contains language subordinating the 
surface estate to the mineral estate, it shall be held, in the absence of clear and convincing 
evidence to the contrary, that the intention of the parties to the instrument was that the 
coal be extracted only by the method or methods of commercial coal extraction 
commonly known to be in use in Kentucky in the area affected at the time the instrument 
was executed, and that the mineral estate be dominant to the surface estate for the 
purposes of coal extraction by only the method or methods of commercial coal extraction 
commonly known to be in use in Kentucky in the area affected at the time the instrument 
was executed. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 8, 1988. 
History:  1988 amendment was proposed by 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 117, sec. 1; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 83 — Article I / Section 83
Ky. Const. § 83
Status: in_force

Section 83   (Repealed 1992) 
 
Catchline at time of repeal:  "Lieutenant Governor is President of Senate -- Right to 
vote." 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 3, 1992. 
History:  Repeal was proposed by 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 168, sec. 18; original version 
ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 47 — Article I / Section 47
Ky. Const. § 47
Status: in_force

Section 47   Bills to raise revenue must originate in House of Representatives. 
 
All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the 
Senate may propose amendments thereto: Provided, No new matter shall be introduced, 
under color of amendment, which does not relate to raising revenue. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 133 — Article I / Section 133
Ky. Const. § 133
Status: in_force

Section 133   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Compensation of Circuit Judges." 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 4, 1975, effective January 1, 1976. 
History:  Repeal was proposed by 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 84, sec. 1; original version ratified 
August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 167 — Article I / Section 167
Ky. Const. § 167
Status: in_force

Section 167   Time of election of city, urban-county, and town officers. 
 
All officers required to be elected in cities, urban-counties, and towns by this 
Constitution, or by general laws enacted in conformity to its provisions, shall be elected 
at the general elections in November in even-numbered years. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 3, 1992. 
History:  1992 amendment was proposed by 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 168, sec. 17; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 185 — Article I / Section 185
Ky. Const. § 185
Status: in_force

Section 185   Interest on school fund -- Investment. 
 
The General Assembly shall make provision, by law, for the payment of the interest 
of said school fund, and may provide for the sale of the stock in the Bank of Kentucky; 
and in case of a sale of all or any part of said stock, the proceeds of sale shall be invested 
by the Sinking Fund Commissioners in other good interest-bearing stocks or bonds, 
which shall be subject to sale and reinvestment, from time to time, in like manner, and 
with the same restrictions, as provided with reference to the sale of the said stock in the 
Bank of Kentucky. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 206 — Article I / Section 206
Ky. Const. § 206
Status: in_force

Section 206   Warehouses subject to legislative control -- Inspection -- Protection of 
patrons. 
 
All elevators or storehouses, where grain or other property is stored for a 
compensation, whether the property stored be kept separate or not, are declared to be 
public warehouses, subject to legislative control, and the General Assembly shall enact 
laws for the inspection of grain, tobacco and other produce, and for the protection of 
producers, shippers and receivers of grain, tobacco and other produce. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 85 — Article I / Section 85
Ky. Const. § 85
Status: in_force

Section 85   President of Senate -- Election -- Powers. 
 
A President of the Senate shall be elected by each Senate as soon after its 
organization as possible and as often as there is a vacancy in the office of President, 
another President of the Senate shall be elected by the Senate, if in session. And if, during 
the vacancy of the office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall be impeached and 
removed from office, refuse to qualify, resign, or die, the President of the Senate shall in 
like manner administer the government. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 3, 1992. 
History:  1992 amendment was proposed by 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 168, sec. 8; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 257 — Article I / Section 257
Ky. Const. § 257
Status: in_force

Section 257   Publication of proposed amendments. 
 
Before an amendment shall be submitted to a vote, the Secretary of State shall cause 
such proposed amendment, and the time that the same is to be voted upon, to be 
published at least ninety days before the vote is to be taken thereon in such manner as 
may be prescribed by law. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 262 — Article I / Section 262
Ky. Const. § 262
Status: in_force

Section 262   Determination of election and qualifications of delegates -- Contests. 
 
The Convention, when assembled, shall be the judge of the election and 
qualification of its members, and shall determine contested elections. But the General 
Assembly shall, in the act calling the Convention, provide for taking testimony in such 
cases, and for issuing a writ of election in case of a tie. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 183 — Article I / Section 183
Ky. Const. § 183
Status: in_force

Section 183   General Assembly to provide for school system. 
 
The General Assembly shall, by appropriate legislation, provide for an efficient 
system of common schools throughout the State. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 143 — Article I / Section 143
Ky. Const. § 143
Status: in_force

Section 143   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Police Court may be established in each city -- 
Jurisdiction." 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 4, 1975, effective January 1, 1976. 
History:  Repeal was proposed by 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 84, sec. 1; original version ratified 
August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 249 — Article I / Section 249
Ky. Const. § 249
Status: in_force

Section 249   Employees of General Assembly -- Number and compensation. 
 
The House of Representatives of the General Assembly shall not elect, appoint, 
employ or pay for, exceeding one Chief Clerk, one Assistant Clerk, one Enrolling Clerk, 
one Sergeant at Arms, one Doorkeeper, one Janitor, two Cloakroom Keepers and four 
Pages; and the Senate shall not elect, appoint, employ or pay for, exceeding one Chief 
Clerk, one Assistant Clerk, one Enrolling Clerk, one Sergeant at Arms, one Doorkeeper, 
one Janitor, one Cloakroom Keeper and three Pages; and the General Assembly shall 
provide, by general law, for fixing the per diem or salary of all of said employees. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 109 — Article I / Section 109
Ky. Const. § 109
Status: in_force

Section 109   The judicial power -- Unified system -- Impeachment. 
 
The judicial power of the Commonwealth shall be vested exclusively in one Court 
of Justice which shall be divided into a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeals, a trial court 
of general jurisdiction known as the Circuit Court and a trial court of limited jurisdiction 
known as the District Court.  The court shall constitute a unified judicial system for 
operation and administration.  The impeachment powers of the General Assembly shall 
remain inviolate. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 4, 1975, effective January 1, 1976. 
History:  Repeal and reenactment proposed by 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 84, sec. 1; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 172 — Article I / Section 172
Ky. Const. § 172
Status: in_force

Section 172   Property to be assessed at fair cash value -- Punishment of assessor for 
willful error. 
 
All property, not exempted from taxation by this Constitution, shall be assessed for 
taxation at its fair cash value, estimated at the price it would bring at a fair voluntary sale; 
and any officer, or other person authorized to assess values for taxation, who shall 
commit any willful error in the performance of his duty, shall be deemed guilty of 
misfeasance, and upon conviction thereof shall forfeit his office, and be otherwise 
punished as may be provided by law. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 222 — Article I / Section 222
Ky. Const. § 222
Status: in_force

Section 222   Officers of militia -- Adjutant General. 
 
All militia officers whose appointment is not herein otherwise provided for, shall be 
elected by persons subject to military duty within their respective companies, battalions, 
regiments or other commands, under such rules and regulations and for such terms, not 
exceeding four years, as the General Assembly may, from time to time, direct and 
establish. The Governor shall appoint an Adjutant-General and his other staff officers; the 
generals and commandants of regiments and battalions shall respectively appoint their 
staff officers, and the commandants of companies shall, subject to the approval of their 
regimental or battalion commanders, appoint their noncommissioned officers. The 
Governor shall have power to fill vacancies that may occur in elective offices by granting 
commissions which shall expire when such vacancies have been filled according to the 
provisions of this Constitution. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 65 — Article I / Section 65
Ky. Const. § 65
Status: in_force

Section 65   Striking territory from county -- Liability for indebtedness. 
 
There shall be no territory stricken from any county unless a majority of the voters 
living in such territory shall petition for such division. But the portion so stricken off and 
added to another county, or formed in whole or in part into a new county, shall be bound 
for its proportion of the indebtedness of the county from which it has been taken. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 173 — Article I / Section 173
Ky. Const. § 173
Status: in_force

Section 173   Officer receiving profit on public funds guilty of felony. 
 
The receiving, directly or indirectly, by any officer of the Commonwealth, or of any 
county, city or town, or member or officer of the General Assembly, of any interest, profit 
or perquisites arising from the use or loan of public funds in his hands, or moneys to be 
raised through his agency for State, city, town, district, or county purposes shall be 
deemed a felony. Said offense shall be punished as may be prescribed by law, a part of 
which punishment shall be disqualification to hold office. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 209 — Article I / Section 209
Ky. Const. § 209
Status: in_force

Section 209   (Repealed 2000) 
 
Catchline at time of repeal:  "Railroad Commission -- Election, term, and 
qualifications of Commissioners -- Commissioners' districts -- Powers and duties -- 
Removal -- Vacancies." 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 7, 2000. 
History:  Repealed was proposed by 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 399, sec. 3; original version 
ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 106 — Article I / Section 106
Ky. Const. § 106
Status: in_force

Section 106   Fees of county officers -- Fees in counties having seventy-five thousand 
population or more. 
 
The fees of county officers shall be regulated by law. In counties or cities having a 
population of seventy-five thousand or more, the Clerks of the respective Courts thereof 
(except the Clerk of the City Court), the Marshals, the Sheriffs and the Jailers, shall be 
paid out of the State Treasury, by salary to be fixed by law, the salaries of said officers 
and of their deputies and necessary office expenses not to exceed seventy-five per centum 
of the fees collected by said officers, respectively, and paid into the Treasury. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 162 — Article I / Section 162
Ky. Const. § 162
Status: in_force

Section 162   Unauthorized contracts of cities, counties, and municipalities are void. 
 
No county, city, town or other municipality shall ever be authorized or permitted to 
pay any claim created against it, under any agreement or contract made without express 
authority of law, and all such unauthorized agreements or contracts shall be null and void. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 151 — Article I / Section 151
Ky. Const. § 151
Status: in_force

Section 151   Person guilty of fraud, intimidation, bribery, or corrupt practice to be 
deprived of office by suitable statutory means. 
 
The General Assembly shall provide suitable means for depriving of office any 
person who, to procure his nomination or election, has, in his canvass or election, been 
guilty of any unlawful use of money, or other thing of value, or has been guilty of fraud, 
intimidation, bribery, or any other corrupt practice, and he shall be held responsible for 
acts done by others with his authority, or ratified by him. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 244A — Article I / Section 244A
Ky. Const. § 244A
Status: in_force

Section 244A   Old age assistance. 
 
The General Assembly shall prescribe such laws as may be necessary for the 
granting and paying of old persons an annuity or pension. 
Text as Ratified on: November 5, 1935. 
History: Creation proposed by 1934 Ky. Acts ch. 59, sec. 1.