FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Ky. Const. art. I, § 255 — Article I / Section 255
Ky. Const. § 255
Status: in_force

Section 255   Frankfort is state capital. 
 
The seat of government shall continue in the city of Frankfort, unless removed by a 
vote of two-thirds of each House of the first General Assembly which convenes after the 
adoption of this Constitution. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 226A — Article I / Section 226A
Ky. Const. § 226A
Status: in_force

Section 226A   (Repealed 1935) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Manufacture, sale or transportation of 
intoxicating liquors prohibited -- Exception -- Legislature to enforce." 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 5, 1935. 
History:  Repeal was proposed by 1934 Ky. Acts ch. 58, sec. 1; creation proposed by 
1918 Ky. Acts ch. 63, sec. 1, and ratified on November 4, 1919.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 201 — Article I / Section 201
Ky. Const. § 201
Status: in_force

Section 201   Public utility company not to consolidate with, acquire or operate 
competing or parallel system -- Common carriers not to share earnings with 
one not carrying -- Telephone companies excepted under certain conditions. 
 
No railroad, telegraph, telephone, bridge or common carrier company shall 
consolidate its capital stock, franchises or property, or pool its earnings, in whole or in 
part, with any other railroad, telegraph, telephone, bridge or common carrier company 
owning a parallel or competing line or structure, or acquire by purchase, lease or 
otherwise, any parallel or competing line or structure, or operate the same; nor shall any 
railroad company or other common carrier combine or make any contract with the owners 
of any vessel that leaves or makes port in this State, or with any common carrier, by 
which combination or contract the earnings of one doing the carrying are to be shared by 
the other not doing the carrying: Provided, however, That telephone companies may 
acquire by purchase or lease, or otherwise, and operate, parallel or competing exchanges, 
lines and structures, and the property of other telephone companies, if the state agency as 
may have jurisdiction over such matters shall first consent thereto, and if, further, each 
municipality wherein such property or any part thereof is located shall also first consent 
thereto as to the property within its limits, but under any such acquisition and operation 
toll line connections with the property so acquired shall be continued and maintained 
under an agreement between the purchasing company and the toll line companies then 
furnishing such service, and in the event they are unable to agree as to the terms of such 
an agreement the state agency as may have jurisdiction over such matters, shall fix the 
term of such agreement. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 7, 2000. 
History:  2000 amendment was proposed by 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 399, sec. 1; 1917 
amendment was proposed by 1916 Ky. Acts ch. 125, sec. 1, and ratified November 6, 
1917; original version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 63 — Article I / Section 63
Ky. Const. § 63
Status: in_force

Section 63   Area of counties -- Boundaries -- Creation and abolishment of counties. 
 
No new county shall be created by the General Assembly which will reduce the 
county or counties, or either of them, from which it shall be taken, to less area than four 
hundred square miles; nor shall any county be formed of less area; nor shall any boundary 
line thereof pass within less than ten miles of any county seat of the county or counties 
proposed to be divided. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the General Assembly 
from abolishing any county. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 230 — Article I / Section 230
Ky. Const. § 230
Status: in_force

Section 230   Money not to be drawn from Treasury unless appropriated -- Annual 
publication of accounts -- Certain revenues usable only for highway purposes. 
 
No money shall be drawn from the State Treasury, except in pursuance of 
appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and 
expenditures of all public money shall be published annually. No money derived from 
excise or license taxation relating to gasoline and other motor fuels, and no moneys 
derived from fees, excise or license taxation relating to registration, operation, or use of 
vehicles on public highways shall be expended for other than the cost of administration, 
statutory refunds and adjustments, payment of highway obligations, costs for 
construction, reconstruction, rights-of-way, maintenance and repair of public highways 
and bridges, and expense of enforcing state traffic and motor vehicle laws. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 6, 1945. 
History:  1945 amendment was proposed by 1944 Ky. Acts ch. 9, sec. 1; original version 
ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 256 — Article I / Section 256
Ky. Const. § 256
Status: in_force

Section 256   Amendments to Constitution -- How proposed and voted upon. 
 
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in either House of the General 
Assembly at a regular session, and if such amendment or amendments shall be agreed to 
by three-fifths of all the members elected to each House, such proposed amendment or 
amendments, with the yeas and nays of the members of each House taken thereon, shall 
be entered in full in their respective journals. Then such proposed amendment or 
amendments shall be submitted to the voters of the State for their ratification or rejection 
at the next general election for members of the House of Representatives, the vote to be 
taken thereon in such manner as the General Assembly may provide, and to be certified 
by the officers of election to the Secretary of State in such manner as shall be provided by 
law, which vote shall be compared and certified by the same board authorized by law to 
compare the polls and give certificates of election to officers for the State at large. If it 
shall appear that a majority of the votes cast for and against an amendment at said 
election was for the amendment, then the same shall become a part of the Constitution of 
this Commonwealth, and shall be so proclaimed by the Governor, and published in such 
manner as the General Assembly may direct. Said amendments shall not be submitted at 
an election which occurs less than ninety days from the final passage of such proposed 
amendment or amendments.  Not more than four amendments shall be voted upon at any 
one time.  If two or more amendments shall be submitted at the same time, they shall be 
submitted in such manner that the electors shall vote for or against each of such 
amendments separately, but an amendment may relate to a single subject or to related 
subject matters and may amend or modify as many articles and as many sections of the 
Constitution as may be necessary and appropriate in order to accomplish the objectives of 
the amendment.  The approval of the Governor shall not be necessary to any bill, order, 
resolution or vote of the General Assembly, proposing an amendment or amendments to 
this Constitution. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 6, 1979. 
History:  1979 amendment was proposed by 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 433, sec. 1; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 51 — Article I / Section 51
Ky. Const. § 51
Status: in_force

Section 51   Law may not relate to more than one subject, to be expressed in title -- 
Amendments must be at length. 
 
No law enacted by the General Assembly shall relate to more than one subject, and 
that shall be expressed in the title, and no law shall be revised, amended, or the provisions 
thereof extended or conferred by reference to its title only, but so much thereof as is 
revised, amended, extended or conferred, shall be reenacted and published at length. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 211 — Article I / Section 211
Ky. Const. § 211
Status: in_force

Section 211   Foreign railroad corporation may not condemn or acquire real estate. 
 
No railroad corporation organized under the laws of any other State, or of the 
United States, and doing business, or proposing to do business, in this State, shall be 
entitled to the benefit of the right of eminent domain or have power to acquire the right of 
way or real estate for depot or other uses, until it shall have become a body corporate 
pursuant to and in accordance with the laws of this Commonwealth. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 125 — Article I / Section 125
Ky. Const. § 125
Status: in_force

Section 125   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Circuit Court for each county." 
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, § 190 — Article I / Section 190
Ky. Const. § 190
Status: in_force

Section 190   Regulation of corporations by General Assembly. 
 
Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution of Kentucky, the General 
Assembly shall, by general laws only, provide for the formation, organization, and 
regulation of corporations. Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution of Kentucky, 
the General Assembly shall also, by general laws only, prescribe the powers, rights, 
duties, and liabilities of corporations and the powers, rights, duties, and liabilities of their 
officers and stockholders or members. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 5, 2002 
History:  2002 amendment was proposed by 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 341, sec. 1; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 139 — Article I / Section 139
Ky. Const. § 139
Status: in_force

Section 139   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Quarterly Court for each county -- Jurisdiction -- 
County Judge to preside." 
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, § 238 — Article I / Section 238
Ky. Const. § 238
Status: in_force

Section 238   Discharge of sureties on officers' bonds. 
 
The General Assembly shall direct by law how persons who now are, or may 
hereafter become, sureties for public officers, may be relieved of or discharged from 
suretyship. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 119 — Article I / Section 119
Ky. Const. § 119
Status: in_force

Section 119   Terms of office. 
 
Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals and circuit court 
shall severally hold their offices for terms of eight years, and judges of the district court 
for terms of four years.  All terms commence on the first Monday in January next 
succeeding the regular election for the office.  No justice or judge may be deprived of his 
term of office by redistricting, or by a reduction in the number of justices or judges. 
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, § 27 — Article I / Section 27
Ky. Const. § 27
Status: in_force

Section 27   Powers of government divided among legislative, executive, and judicial 
departments. 
 
The powers of the government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall be divided 
into three distinct departments, and each of them be confined to a separate body of 
magistracy, to wit: Those which are legislative, to one; those which are executive, to 
another; and those which are judicial, to another. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 175 — Article I / Section 175
Ky. Const. § 175
Status: in_force

Section 175   Power to tax property not to be surrendered. 
 
The power to tax property shall not be surrendered or suspended by any contract or 
grant to which the Commonwealth shall be a party. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 181 — Article I / Section 181
Ky. Const. § 181
Status: in_force

Section 181   General Assembly may not levy tax for political subdivision, but may 
confer power -- License and excise taxes -- City taxes in lieu of ad valorem 
taxes. 
 
The General Assembly shall not impose taxes for the purposes of any county, city, 
town or other municipal corporation, but may, by general laws, confer on the proper 
authorities thereof, respectively, the power to assess and collect such taxes. The General 
Assembly may, by general laws only, provide for the payment of license fees on 
franchises, stock used for breeding purposes, the various trades, occupations and 
professions, or a special or excise tax; and may, by general laws, delegate the power to 
counties, towns, cities and other municipal corporations, to impose and collect license 
fees on stock used for breeding purposes, on franchises, trades, occupations and 
professions. And the General Assembly may, by general laws only, authorize cities or 
towns of any class to provide for taxation for municipal purposes on personal property, 
tangible and intangible, based on income, licenses or franchises, in lieu of an ad valorem 
tax thereon: Provided, Cities of the first class shall not be authorized to omit the 
imposition of an ad valorem tax on such property of any steam railroad, street railway, 
ferry, bridge, gas, water, heating, telephone, telegraph, electric light or electric power 
company. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 3, 1903. 
History:  1903 amendment was proposed by 1902 Ky. Acts ch. 50, sec. 1; original 
version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 156B — Article I / Section 156B
Ky. Const. § 156B
Status: in_force

Section 156B   General Assembly authorized to permit municipal home rule for 
cities. 
 
The General Assembly may provide by general law that cities may exercise any 
power and perform any function within their boundaries that is in furtherance of a public 
purpose of a city and not in conflict with a constitutional provision or statute. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 8, 1994 
History:  Creation proposed by 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 168, sec. 1.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 56 — Article I / Section 56
Ky. Const. § 56
Status: in_force

Section 56   Signing of bills -- Enrollment -- Presentation to Governor. 
 
No bill shall become a law until the same shall have been signed by the presiding 
officer of each of the two Houses in open session; and before such officer shall have 
affixed his signature to any bill, he shall suspend all other business, declare that such bill 
will now be read, and that he will sign the same to the end that it may become a law. The 
bill shall then be read at length and compared; and, if correctly enrolled, he shall, in the 
presence of the House in open session, and before any other business is entertained, affix 
his signature, which fact shall be noted in the journal, and the bill immediately sent to the 
other House. When it reaches the other House, the presiding officer thereof shall 
immediately suspend all other business, announce the reception of the bill, and the same 
proceeding shall thereupon be observed in every respect as in the House in which it was 
first signed. And thereupon the Clerk of the latter House shall immediately present the 
same to the Governor for his signature and approval. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 128 — Article I / Section 128
Ky. Const. § 128
Status: in_force

Section 128   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Circuit Court districts." 
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, § 102 — Article I / Section 102
Ky. Const. § 102
Status: in_force

Section 102   Officers for new counties. 
 
When a new county shall be created, officers for the same, to serve until the next 
regular election, shall be elected or appointed in such way and at such times as the 
General Assembly may prescribe. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 153 — Article I / Section 153
Ky. Const. § 153
Status: in_force

Section 153   Power of General Assembly as to elections. 
 
Except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the General Assembly shall have 
power to provide by general law for the manner of voting, for ascertaining the result of 
elections and making due returns thereof, for issuing certificates or commissions to all 
persons entitled thereto, and for the trial of contested elections. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 156 — Article I / Section 156
Ky. Const. § 156
Status: in_force

Section 156   (Repealed 1994) 
 
Catchline at time of repeal:  "Cities divided into six classes -- General laws to be 
made for each class -- Population limits for classes -- Assignment to classes -- 
Organization of cities." 
Repeal Ratified on:  November 8, 1994. 
History:  Repeal was proposed by 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 168, secs. 1 and 6; original version 
ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 11 — Article I / Section 11
Ky. Const. § 11
Status: in_force

Section 11   Rights of accused in criminal prosecution -- Change of venue. 
 
In all criminal prosecutions the accused has the right to be heard by himself and 
counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him; to meet the 
witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his 
favor. He cannot be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor can he be deprived 
of his life, liberty or property, unless by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land; 
and in prosecutions by indictment or information, he shall have a speedy public trial by an 
impartial jury of the vicinage; but the General Assembly may provide by a general law for 
a change of venue in such prosecutions for both the defendant and the Commonwealth, 
the change to be made to the most convenient county in which a fair trial can be obtained. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 98 — Article I / Section 98
Ky. Const. § 98
Status: in_force

Section 98   Compensation of Commonwealth's Attorney. 
 
The compensation of the Commonwealth's Attorney shall be by salary and such 
percentage of fines and forfeitures as may be fixed by law, and such salary shall be 
uniform in so far as the same shall be paid out of the State Treasury, and not to exceed the 
sum of five hundred dollars per annum; but any county may make additional 
compensation, to be paid by said county. Should any percentage of fines and forfeitures 
be allowed by law, it shall not be paid except upon such proportion of fines and 
forfeitures as have been collected and paid into the State Treasury, and not until so 
collected and paid. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 204 — Article I / Section 204
Ky. Const. § 204
Status: in_force

Section 204   Bank officer liable for receiving deposit for insolvent bank. 
 
Any President, Director, Manager, Cashier or other officer of any banking 
institution or association for the deposit or loan of money, or any individual banker, who 
shall receive or assent to the receiving of deposits after he shall have knowledge of the 
fact that such banking institution or association or individual banker is insolvent, shall be 
individually responsible for such deposits so received, and shall be guilty of felony and 
subject to such punishment as shall be prescribed by law. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 161 — Article I / Section 161
Ky. Const. § 161
Status: in_force

Section 161   Compensation of city, county, or municipal officer not to be changed 
after election or appointment or during term, nor term extended. 
 
The compensation of any city, county, town or municipal officer shall not be 
changed after his election or appointment, or during his term of office; nor shall the term 
of any such officer be extended beyond the period for which he may have been elected or 
appointed. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 42 — Article I / Section 42
Ky. Const. § 42
Status: in_force

Section 42   Compensation of members -- Length of sessions -- Legislative day. 
 
The members of the General Assembly shall severally receive from the State 
Treasury compensation for their services: Provided, No change shall take effect during 
the session at which it is made; nor shall a session occurring in odd-numbered years 
extend beyond March 30; nor shall a session of the General Assembly occurring in even-
numbered years continue beyond sixty legislative days, nor shall it extend beyond April 
15; these limitations as to length of sessions shall not apply to the Senate when sitting as 
a court of impeachment. A legislative day shall be construed to mean a calendar day, 
exclusive of Sundays, legal holidays, or any day on which neither House meets. 
Text as Ratified on:  November 7, 2000. 
History:  2000 amendment was proposed by 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 407, sec. 2; 1979 
amendment was proposed by 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 440, sec. 3, and ratified November 6, 
1979; original version ratified August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 141 — Article I / Section 141
Ky. Const. § 141
Status: in_force

Section 141   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Jurisdiction of County Courts." 
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, § 44 — Article I / Section 44
Ky. Const. § 44
Status: in_force

Section 44   Ineligibility of members to civil office created or given increased 
compensation during term. 
 
No Senator or Representative shall, during the term for which he was elected, nor 
for one year thereafter, be appointed or elected to any civil office of profit in this 
Commonwealth, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have 
been increased, during the said term, except to such offices as may be filled by the 
election of the people. 
Text as Ratified on:  August 3, 1891, and revised September 28, 1891. 
History:  Not yet amended.
Ky. Const. art. I, § 131 — Article I / Section 131
Ky. Const. § 131
Status: in_force

Section 131   (Repealed 1975) 
 
Catchline read at time of repeal:  "Terms of Circuit Courts." 
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.