FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Ky. Const. art. I, § 166 — Article I / Section 166
Ky. Const. § 166
Status: in_force

Section 166   Expiration of city charters granted prior to Constitution. 
 
All acts of incorporation of cities and towns heretofore granted, and all amendments 
thereto, except as provided in Section 167, shall continue in force under this Constitution, 
and all City and Police Courts established in any city or town shall remain, with their 
present powers and jurisdictions, until such time as the General Assembly shall provide 
by general laws for the government of towns and cities, and the officers and courts 
thereof; but not longer than four years from and after the first day of January, one 
thousand eight hundred and ninety-one, within which time the General Assembly shall 
provide by general laws for the government of towns and cities, and the officers and 
courts thereof, as provided in this Constitution. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 94 — Article I / Section 94
Ky. Const. § 94
Status: in_force

Section 94   (Repealed 1992) 
 
Catchline at time of repeal:  "Register of Land Office may be abolished." 
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, § 104 — Article I / Section 104
Ky. Const. § 104
Status: in_force

Section 104   Abolishment of office of assessor -- Assessor may not succeed himself. 
 
The General Assembly may abolish the office of Assessor and provide that the 
assessment of property shall be made by other officers; but it shall have power to 
reestablish the office of Assessor and prescribe his duties. No person shall be eligible to 
the office of Assessor two consecutive terms. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 132 — Article I / Section 132
Ky. Const. § 132
Status: in_force

Section 132   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Additional Circuit Court districts -- Population 
limits." 
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, § 33 — Article I / Section 33
Ky. Const. § 33
Status: in_force

Section 33   Senatorial and Representative districts. 
 
The first General Assembly after the adoption of this Constitution shall divide the 
State into thirty-eight Senatorial Districts, and one hundred Representative Districts, as 
nearly equal in population as may be without dividing any county, except where a county 
may include more than one district, which districts shall constitute the Senatorial and 
Representative Districts for ten years. Not more than two counties shall be joined together 
to form a Representative District: Provided, In doing so the principle requiring every 
district to be as nearly equal in population as may be shall not be violated. At the 
expiration of that time, the General Assembly shall then, and every ten years thereafter, 
redistrict the State according to this rule, and for the purposes expressed in this section. If, 
in making said districts, inequality of population should be unavoidable, any advantage 
resulting therefrom shall be given to districts having the largest territory. No part of a 
county shall be added to another county to make a district, and the counties forming a 
district shall be contiguous. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 93 — Article I / Section 93
Ky. Const. § 93
Status: in_force

Section 93   Succession of elected Constitutional State Officers -- Duties -- Inferior 
officers and members of boards and commissions. 
 
The Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Secretary of State, Commissioner of 
Agriculture, Labor and Statistics, and Attorney General shall be ineligible to reelection 
for the succeeding four years after the expiration of any second consecutive term for 
which they shall have been elected. The duties and responsibilities of these officers shall 
be prescribed by law, and all fees collected by any of said officers shall be covered into 
the treasury. Inferior State officers and members of boards and commissions, not 
specifically provided for in this Constitution, may be appointed or elected, in such 
manner as may be prescribed by law, which may include a requirement of consent by the 
Senate, for a term not exceeding four years, and until their successors are appointed or 
elected and qualified. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 3, 1992. 
History:  1992 amendment was proposed by 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 168, sec. 12; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 260 — Article I / Section 260
Ky. Const. § 260
Status: in_force

Section 260   Election of delegates -- meeting. 
 
Delegates to such Convention shall be elected at the next general State election after 
the passage of the act calling the Convention, which does not occur within less than 
ninety days; and they shall meet within ninety days after their election at the Capital of 
the State, and continue in session until their work is completed. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 92 — Article I / Section 92
Ky. Const. § 92
Status: in_force

Section 92   Qualifications of Attorney General. 
 
The Attorney-General shall have been a practicing lawyer eight years before his 
election. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 216 — Article I / Section 216
Ky. Const. § 216
Status: in_force

Section 216   Railroad must allow tracks of others to cross or unite. 
 
All railway, transfer, belt lines and railway bridge companies shall allow the tracks 
of each other to unite, intersect and cross at any point where such union, intersection and 
crossing is reasonable or feasible. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 163 — Article I / Section 163
Ky. Const. § 163
Status: in_force

Section 163   Public utilities must obtain franchise to use streets. 
 
No street railway, gas, water, steam heating, telephone, or electric light company, 
within a city or town, shall be permitted or authorized to construct its tracks, lay its pipes 
or mains, or erect its poles, posts or other apparatus along, over, under or across the 
streets, alleys or public grounds of a city or town, without the consent of the proper 
legislative bodies or boards of such city or town being first obtained; but when charters 
have been heretofore granted conferring such rights, and work has in good faith been 
begun thereunder, the provisions of this section shall not apply. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 137 — Article I / Section 137
Ky. Const. § 137
Status: in_force

Section 137   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Circuit Court in county having population of 
150,000 or more -- Separate district -- Additional judges -- Branches -- General Term -- 
Clerk -- Criminal cases." 
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, § 10 — Article I / Section 10
Ky. Const. § 10
Status: in_force

Section 10   Security from search and seizure -- Conditions of issuance of warrant. 
 
The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from 
unreasonable search and seizure; and no warrant shall issue to search any place, or seize 
any person or thing, without describing them as nearly as may be, nor without probable 
cause supported by oath or affirmation. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 138 — Article I / Section 138
Ky. Const. § 138
Status: in_force

Section 138   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Certain counties may constitute separate district -
- Additional judges -- Practice." 
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, § 120 — Article I / Section 120
Ky. Const. § 120
Status: in_force

Section 120   Compensation -- Expenses. 
 
All justices and judges shall be paid adequate compensation which shall be fixed by 
the General Assembly. All compensation and necessary expenses of the Court of Justice 
shall be paid out of the State Treasury. The compensation of a justice or judge shall not 
be reduced during his term. 
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, § 90 — Article I / Section 90
Ky. Const. § 90
Status: in_force

Section 90   Contest of election for Governor or Lieutenant Governor. 
 
Contested elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be determined by 
both Houses of the General Assembly, according to such regulations as may be 
established by law. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 169 — Article I / Section 169
Ky. Const. § 169
Status: in_force

Section 169   Fiscal year. 
 
The fiscal year shall commence on the first day of July in each year, unless 
otherwise provided by law. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 164 — Article I / Section 164
Ky. Const. § 164
Status: in_force

Section 164   Term of franchises limited -- Advertisement and bids. 
 
No county, city, town, taxing district or other municipality shall be authorized or 
permitted to grant any franchise or privilege, or make any contract in reference thereto, 
for a term exceeding twenty years. Before granting such franchise or privilege for a term 
of years, such municipality shall first, after due advertisement, receive bids therefor 
publicly, and award the same to the highest and best bidder; but it shall have the right to 
reject any or all bids. This section shall not apply to a trunk railway. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 75 — Article I / Section 75
Ky. Const. § 75
Status: in_force

Section 75   Governor is Commander-in-Chief of army, navy and militia. 
 
He shall be Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy of this Commonwealth, and 
of the militia thereof, except when they shall be called into the service of the United 
States; but he shall not command personally in the field, unless advised so to do by a 
resolution of the General Assembly. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 78 — Article I / Section 78
Ky. Const. § 78
Status: in_force

Section 78   Governor may require information from state officers. 
 
He may require information in writing from the officers of the Executive 
Department upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 16 — Article I / Section 16
Ky. Const. § 16
Status: in_force

Section 16   Right to bail -- Habeas corpus. 
 
All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient securities, unless for capital offenses 
when the proof is evident or the presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas 
corpus shall not be suspended unless when, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public 
safety may require it. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 124 — Article I / Section 124
Ky. Const. § 124
Status: in_force

Section 124   Conflicting provisions. 
 
Any remaining sections of the Constitution of Kentucky as it existed prior to the 
effective date of this amendment which are in conflict with the provisions of amended 
Sections 110 through 125 are repealed to the extent of the conflict, but such amended 
sections are not intended to repeal those parts of Sections 140 and 142 conferring 
nonjudicial powers and duties upon county judges and justices of the peace. Nothing in 
such amended sections shall be construed to limit the powers otherwise granted by this 
Constitution to the county judge as the chief executive, administrative and fiscal officer 
of the county, or to limit the powers otherwise granted by the Constitution to the justices 
of the peace or county commissioners as executive, administrative and fiscal officers of a 
county, or of the fiscal court as a governing body of a county. 
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, § 165 — Article I / Section 165
Ky. Const. § 165
Status: in_force

Section 165   Incompatible offices and employments. 
 
No person shall, at the same time, be a State officer or a deputy officer or member 
of the General Assembly, and an officer of any county, city, town, or other municipality, 
or an employee thereof; and no person shall, at the same time, fill two municipal offices, 
either in the same or different municipalities, except as may be otherwise provided in this 
Constitution; but a Notary Public, or an officer of the militia, shall not be ineligible to 
hold any other office mentioned in this section. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 191 — Article I / Section 191
Ky. Const. § 191
Status: in_force

Section 191   (Repealed 2002) 
 
Catchline at time of repeal:  "Unexercised charters granted prior to Constitution 
revoked." 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 5, 2002 
History:  Repeal was proposed by 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 341, sec. 2; original version ratified 
August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 6 — Article I / Section 6
Ky. Const. § 6
Status: in_force

Section 6   Elections to be free and equal. 
 
All elections shall be free and equal. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 248 — Article I / Section 248
Ky. Const. § 248
Status: in_force

Section 248   Juries -- Number of jurors -- Three-fourths may indict or give verdict. 
 
A grand jury shall consist of twelve persons, nine of whom concurring, may find an 
indictment. In civil and misdemeanor cases, in courts inferior to the Circuit Courts, a jury 
shall consist of six persons. The General Assembly may provide that in any or all trials of 
civil actions in the Circuit Courts, three-fourths or more of the jurors concurring may 
return a verdict, which shall have the same force and effect as if rendered by the entire 
panel. But where a verdict is rendered by a less number than the whole jury, it shall be 
signed by all the jurors who agree to it. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 39 — Article I / Section 39
Ky. Const. § 39
Status: in_force

Section 39   Powers of each House as to rules and conduct of members -- Contempt -
- Bribery. 
 
Each House of the General Assembly may determine the rules of its proceedings, 
punish a member for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a 
member, but not a second time for the same cause, and may punish for contempt any 
person who refuses to attend as a witness, or to bring any paper proper to be used as 
evidence before the General Assembly, or either House thereof, or a Committee of either, 
or to testify concerning any matter which may be a proper subject of inquiry by the 
General Assembly, or offers or gives a bribe to a member of the General Assembly, or 
attempts by other corrupt means or device to control or influence a member to cast his 
vote or withhold the same. The punishment and mode of proceeding for contempt in such 
cases shall be prescribed by law, but the term of imprisonment in any such case shall not 
extend beyond the session of the General Assembly. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 180 — Article I / Section 180
Ky. Const. § 180
Status: in_force

Section 180   Act or ordinance levying any tax must specify purpose, for which alone 
money may be used. 
 
Every act enacted by the General Assembly, and every ordinance and resolution 
passed by any county, city, town or municipal board or local legislative body, levying a 
tax, shall specify distinctly the purpose for which said tax is levied, and no tax levied and 
collected for one purpose shall ever be devoted to another purpose. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 5, 1996. 
History:  1996 amendment was proposed by 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 98, sec. 1; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 123 — Article I / Section 123
Ky. Const. § 123
Status: in_force

Section 123   Prohibited activities. 
 
During his term of office, no justice of the Supreme Court or judge of the Court of 
Appeals, Circuit Court or District Court shall engage in the practice of law, or run for 
elective office other than judicial office, or hold any office in a political party or 
organization. 
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, § 43 — Article I / Section 43
Ky. Const. § 43
Status: in_force

Section 43   Privileges from arrest and from questioning as to speech or debate. 
 
The members of the General Assembly shall, in all cases except treason, felony, 
breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance on the 
sessions of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for 
any speech or debate in either House they shall not be questioned in any other place. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 28 — Article I / Section 28
Ky. Const. § 28
Status: in_force

Section 28   One department not to exercise power belonging to another. 
 
No person or collection of persons, being of one of those departments, shall 
exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, except in the instances 
hereinafter expressly directed or permitted. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 231 — Article I / Section 231
Ky. Const. § 231
Status: in_force

Section 231   Suits against the Commonwealth. 
 
The General Assembly may, by law, direct in what manner and in what courts suits 
may be brought against the Commonwealth. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 174 — Article I / Section 174
Ky. Const. § 174
Status: in_force

Section 174   Property to be taxed according to value, whether corporate or 
individual -- Income, license, and franchise taxes. 
 
All property, whether owned by natural persons or corporations, shall be taxed in 
proportion to its value, unless exempted by this Constitution; and all corporate property 
shall pay the same rate of taxation paid by individual property. Nothing in this 
Constitution shall be construed to prevent the General Assembly from providing for 
taxation based on income, licenses or franchises. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 205 — Article I / Section 205
Ky. Const. § 205
Status: in_force

Section 205   Forfeiture of corporate charters in case of abuse or detrimental use. 
 
The General Assembly shall, by general laws, provide for the revocation or 
forfeiture of the charters of all corporations guilty of abuse or misuse of their corporate 
powers, privileges or franchises, or whenever said corporations become detrimental to the 
interest and welfare of the Commonwealth or its citizens. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 252 — Article I / Section 252
Ky. Const. § 252
Status: in_force

Section 252   Houses of reform to be established and maintained. 
 
It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to provide by law, as soon as 
practicable, for the establishment and maintenance of an institution or institutions for the 
detention, correction, instruction and reformation of all persons under the age of eighteen 
years, convicted of such felonies and such misdemeanors as may be designated by law. 
Said institution shall be known as the "House of Reform." 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 187 — Article I / Section 187
Ky. Const. § 187
Status: in_force

Section 187   Race or color not to affect distribution of school fund. 
 
In distributing the school fund no distinction shall be made on account of race or 
color. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 5, 1996. 
History:  1996 amendment was proposed by 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 98, sec. 2; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 20 — Article I / Section 20
Ky. Const. § 20
Status: in_force

Section 20   Attainder, operation of restricted. 
 
No person shall be attainted of treason or felony by the General Assembly, and no 
attainder shall work corruption of blood, nor, except during the life of the offender, 
forfeiture of estate to the Commonwealth. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 77 — Article I / Section 77
Ky. Const. § 77
Status: in_force

Section 77   Power of Governor to remit fines and forfeitures, grant reprieves and 
pardons -- No power to remit fees. 
 
He shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, commute sentences, grant 
reprieves and pardons, except in case of impeachment, and he shall file with each 
application therefor a statement of the reasons for his decision thereon, which application 
and statement shall always be open to public inspection. In cases of treason, he shall have 
power to grant reprieves until the end of the next session of the General Assembly, in 
which the power of pardoning shall be vested; but he shall have no power to remit the 
fees of the Clerk, Sheriff or Commonwealth's Attorney in penal or criminal cases. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 193 — Article I / Section 193
Ky. Const. § 193
Status: in_force

Section 193   (Repealed 2002) 
 
Catchline at time of repeal:  "Stock or bonds to be issued only for money or for 
property or labor at market value -- Watered stock void." 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 5, 2002 
History:  Repeal was proposed by 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 341, sec. 2; original version ratified 
August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.