Kentucky
General Assembly

Preamble

Bill of Rights

Section 1 ... Rights of life, liberty, worship, pursuit of safety and happiness, free speech, acquiring and protecting property, peaceable assembly, redress of grievances, bearing arms.

Section 2 ... Absolute and arbitrary power denied.

Section 3 ... Men are equal -- No exclusive grant except for public services -- Property not to be exempted from taxation -- Grants revocable.

Section 4 ... Power inherent in the people -- Right to alter, reform, or abolish government.

Section 5 ... Right of religious freedom.

Section 6 ... Elections to be free and equal.

Section 7 ... Right of trial by jury.

Section 8 ... Freedom of speech and of the press.

Section 9 ... Truth may be given in evidence in prosecution for publishing matters proper for public information -- Jury to try law and facts in libel prosecutions.

Section 10 ... Security from search and seizure -- Conditions of issuance of warrant.

Section 11 ... Rights of accused in criminal prosecution -- Change of venue.

Section 12 ... Indictable offense not to be prosecuted by information -- Exceptions.

Section 13 ... Double jeopardy -- Property not to be taken for public use without compensation.

Section 14 ... Right of judicial remedy for injury -- Speedy trial.

Section 15 ... Laws to be suspended only by General Assembly.

Section 16 ... Right to bail -- Habeas corpus.

Section 17 ... Excessive bail or fine, or cruel punishment, prohibited.

Section 18 ... Imprisonment for debt restricted.

Section 19 ... Ex post facto law or law impairing contract forbidden -- Rules of construction for mineral deeds relating to coal extraction.

Section 20 ... Attainder, operation of restricted.

Section 21 ... Descent in case of suicide or casualty.

Section 22 ... Standing armies restricted -- Military subordinate to civil -- Quartering soldiers restricted.

Section 23 ... No office of nobility or hereditary distinction, or for longer than a term of years.

Section 24 ... Emigration to be free.

Section 25 ... Slavery and involuntary servitude forbidden.

Section 26 ... General powers subordinate to Bill of Rights -- Laws contrary thereto are void.

Section 26A ... Rights of victims of crime.

Section 27 ... Powers of government divided among legislative, executive, and judicial departments.

Section 28 ... One department not to exercise power belonging to another.

Section 29 ... Legislative power vested in General Assembly.

Section 30 ... Term of office of Senators and Representatives.

Section 31 ... Time of election and term of office of Senators and Representatives.

Section 32 ... Qualifications of Senators and Representatives.

Section 33 ... Senatorial and Representative districts.

Section 34 ... Officers of Houses of General Assembly.

Section 35 ... Number of Senators and Representatives.

Section 36 ... Time and place of meetings of General Assembly.

Section 37 ... Majority constitutes quorum -- Powers of less than a quorum.

Section 38 ... Each House to judge qualifications, elections, and returns of its members -- Contests.

Section 39 ... Powers of each House as to rules and conduct of members -- Contempt -- Bribery.

Section 40 ... Journals -- When vote to be entered.

Section 41 ... Adjournment during session.

Section 42 ... Compensation of members -- Length of sessions -- Legislative day.

Section 43 ... Privileges from arrest and from questioning as to speech or debate.

Section 44 ... Ineligibility of members to civil office created or given increased compensation during term.

Section 45 ... Collector of public money ineligible unless he has quietus.

Section 46 ... Bills must be reported by committee, printed, and read -- How bill called from committee -- Votes required for passage.

Section 47 ... Bills to raise revenue must originate in House of Representatives.

Section 48 ... Resources of Sinking Fund not to be diminished -- Preservation of fund.

Section 49 ... Power to contract debts -- Limit.

Section 50 ... Purposes for which debt may be contracted -- Tax to discharge -- Public vote.

Section 51 ... Law may not relate to more than one subject, to be expressed in title -- Amendments must be at length.

Section 52 ... General Assembly may not release debt to State or to county or city.

Section 53 ... Investigation of accounts of Treasurer and Auditor -- Report, publication, submission to Governor and General Assembly.

Section 54 ... No restriction on recovery for injury or death.

Section 55 ... When laws to take effect -- Emergency legislation.

Section 56 ... Signing of bills -- Enrollment -- Presentation to Governor.

Section 57 ... Member having personal interest to make disclosure and not vote.

Section 58 ... General Assembly not to audit nor allow private claim -- Exception -- Appropriations.

Section 59 ... Local and special legislation.

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.

Section 61 ... Provision to be made for local option on sale of liquor -- Time of elections.

Section 62 ... Style of laws.

Section 63 ... Area of counties -- Boundaries -- Creation and abolishment of counties.

Section 64 ... Division of county or removal of county seat, election required -- Minimum population of county.

Section 65 ... Striking territory from county -- Liability for indebtedness.

Section 66 ... Power of impeachment vested in House.

Section 67 ... Trial of impeachments by Senate.

Section 68 ... Civil officers liable to impeachment -- Judgment -- Criminal liability.

Section 109 ... The judicial power -- Unified system -- Impeachment.

Section 140 ... County Court for each county -- Judge -- Compensation -- Commission -- Removal.

Section 141 ... (Repealed 1975)

Section 142 ... Justices' districts -- One Justice for each district -- Jurisdiction and powers of Justices -- Commissions -- Removal.

Section 143 ... (Repealed 1975)

Section 144 ... Fiscal Court for each county -- To consist of Justices of the Peace or Commissioners, and County Judge -- Quorum.

Section 145 ... Persons entitled to vote.

Section 146 ... Soldiers or sailors stationed in State are not residents.

Section 147 ... Registration of voters -- Manner of voting -- Absent voting -- Voting machines -- "Election" defined -- Election laws -- Illiterate and disabled voters.

Section 148 ... Number of elections -- Day and hours of election -- Qualifications of officers -- Employees to be given time to vote.

Section 149 ... Privilege from arrest during voting.

Section 150 ... Disqualification from office for using money or property to secure or influence election -- Corporation not to use money or other thing of value to influence election -- Exclusion from office for conviction of felony or high misdemeanor -- Laws to regulate elections.

Section 151 ... Person guilty of fraud, intimidation, bribery, or corrupt practice to be deprived of office by suitable statutory means.

Section 152 ... Vacancies -- When filled by appointment, when by election-- Who to fill.

Section 153 ... Power of General Assembly as to elections.

Section 154 ... Laws as to sale or gift of liquor on election days.

Section 155 ... School elections not governed by Constitution.

Section 156 ... (Repealed 1994)

Section 156A ... General Assembly authorized to provide for creation, governmental structure, and classification of cities.

Section 156B ... General Assembly authorized to permit municipal home rule for cities.

Section 157 ... Maximum tax rate for cities, counties, and taxing districts.

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.

Section 157B ... Adoption of budget required for cities, counties, and taxing districts -- Expenditures not to exceed revenues for fiscal year.

Section 158 ... Maximum indebtedness of cities, counties, and taxing districts -- General Assembly authorized to set additional limits and conditions.

Section 159 ... Tax to pay indebtedness in not more than forty years must be levied.

Section 160 ... Municipal officers -- Election and term of office -- Officers ineligible -- Fiscal officers.

Section 161 ... Compensation of city, county, or municipal officer not to be changed after election or appointment or during term, nor term extended.

Section 162 ... Unauthorized contracts of cities, counties, and municipalities are void.

Section 163 ... Public utilities must obtain franchise to use streets.

Section 164 ... Term of franchises limited -- Advertisement and bids.

Section 165 ... Incompatible offices and employments.

Section 166 ... Expiration of city charters granted prior to Constitution.

Section 167 ... Time of election of city, urban-county, and town officers.

Section 168 ... Ordinance not to fix less penalty than statute for same offense -- Prosecution under one a bar.

Section 169 ... Fiscal year.

Section 170 ... Property exempt from taxation -- Cities may exempt factories for five years.

Section 171 ... State tax to be levied -- Taxes to be levied and collected for public purposes only and by general laws, and to be uniform within classes -- Classification of property for taxation -- Bonds exempt -- Referendum on act classifying property.

Section 172 ... Property to be assessed at fair cash value -- Punishment of assessor for willful error.

Section 172A ... Assessment for ad valorem tax purposes of agricultural and horticultural land.

Section 172B ... Property assessment or reassessment moratoriums.

Section 173 ... Officer receiving profit on public funds guilty of felony.

Section 174 ... Property to be taxed according to value, whether corporate or individual -- Income, license, and franchise taxes.

Section 175 ... Power to tax property not to be surrendered.

Section 176 ... Commonwealth not to assume debt of county or city -- Exception.

Section 177 ... Commonwealth not to lend credit, nor become stockholder in corporation, nor build railroad or highway.

Section 178 ... Law for borrowing money to specify purpose, for which alone money may be used.

Section 179 ... Political subdivision not to become stockholder in corporation, or appropriate money or lend credit to any person, except for roads or State Capitol.

Section 180 ... Act or ordinance levying any tax must specify purpose, for which alone money may be used.

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.

Section 182 ... Railroad taxes -- How assessed and collected.

Section 183 ... General Assembly to provide for school system.

Section 184 ... Common school fund -- What constitutes -- Use -- Vote on tax for education other than in common schools.

Section 185 ... Interest on school fund -- Investment.

Section 186 ... Distribution and use of school fund.

Section 187 ... Race or color not to affect distribution of school fund.

Section 188 ... Refund of Federal direct tax part of school fund -- Irredeemable bond.

Section 189 ... School money not to be used for church, sectarian, or denominational school.

Section 190 ... Regulation of corporations by General Assembly.

Section 191 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 192 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 193 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 194 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 195 ... Corporation property subject to eminent domain; corporations not to infringe upon individuals.

Section 196 ... Regulation of common carriers -- No relief from common-law liability.

Section 197 ... Free passes or reduced rates to officers forbidden.

Section 198 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 199 ... Telegraph and telephone companies -- Right to construct lines -- Exchange of messages.

Section 200 ... (Repealed 2002)

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.

Section 202 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 203 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 204 ... Bank officer liable for receiving deposit for insolvent bank.

Section 205 ... Forfeiture of corporate charters in case of abuse or detrimental use.

Section 206 ... Warehouses subject to legislative control -- Inspection -- Protection of patrons.

Section 207 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 208 ... (Repealed 2002)

Section 209 ... (Repealed 2000)

Section 210 ... Common carrier corporation not to be interested in other business.

Section 211 ... Foreign railroad corporation may not condemn or acquire real estate.

Section 212 ... Rolling stock, earnings, and personal property of railroads subject to execution or attachment.

Section 213 ... Railroad companies to handle traffic with connecting carriers without discrimination.

Section 214 ... Railroad not to make exclusive or preferential contract.

Section 215 ... Freight to be handled without discrimination.

Section 216 ... Railroad must allow tracks of others to cross or unite.

Section 217 ... Penalties for violating Sections 213, 214, 215, or 216 -- Attorney General to enforce.

Section 218 ... Long and short hauls.

Section 219 ... Militia, what to consist of.

Section 220 ... General Assembly to provide for militia -- Exemptions from service.

Section 221 ... Government of militia to conform to Army regulations.

Section 222 ... Officers of militia -- Adjutant General.

Section 223 ... Safekeeping of public arms, military records, relics, and banners.

Section 224 ... Bonds -- What officers to give -- Liability on.

Section 225 ... Armed men not to be brought into State -- Exception.

Section 226 ... State lottery -- Charitable lotteries and charitable gift enterprises -- Other lotteries and gift enterprises forbidden.

Section 226A ... (Repealed 1935)

Section 227 ... Prosecution and removal of local officers for misfeasance, malfeasance, or neglect.

Section 228 ... Oath of officers and attorneys.

Section 229 ... "Treason" defined -- Evidence necessary to convict.

Section 230 ... Money not to be drawn from Treasury unless appropriated -- Annual publication of accounts -- Certain revenues usable only for highway purposes.

Section 231 ... Suits against the Commonwealth.

Section 232 ... Manner of administering oath.

Section 233 ... General laws of Virginia in force in this State until repealed.

Section 233A ... Valid or recognized marriage -- Legal status of unmarried individuals.

Section 234 ... Residence and place of office of public officers.

Section 235 ... Salaries of public officers not to be changed during term -- Deductions for neglect.

Section 236 ... When officers to enter upon duties.

Section 237 ... Federal office incompatible with State office.

Section 238 ... Discharge of sureties on officers' bonds.

Section 239 ... Disqualification from office for presenting or accepting challenge to duel -- Further punishment.

Section 240 ... Pardon of person convicted of dueling.

Section 241 ... Recovery for wrongful death.

Section 242 ... Just compensation to be made in condemning private property -- Right of appeal -- Jury trial.

Section 243 ... Child labor.

Section 244 ... Wage-earners in industry or of corporations to be paid in money.

Section 244A ... Old age assistance.

Section 245 ... Revision of statutes to conform to Constitution.

Section 246 ... Maximum limit on compensation of public officers.

Section 247 ... Public printing -- Contract for -- Officers not to have interest in -- Governor to approve.

Section 248 ... Juries -- Number of jurors -- Three-fourths may indict or give verdict.

Section 249 ... Employees of General Assembly -- Number and compensation.

Section 250 ... Arbitration, method for to be provided.

Section 251 ... Limitation of actions to recover possession of land based on early patents.

Section 252 ... Houses of reform to be established and maintained.

Section 253 ... Working of penitentiary prisoners -- When and where permitted.

Section 254 ... Control and support of convicts -- Leasing of labor.

Section 255 ... Frankfort is state capital.

Section 255A ... Personal right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife - Limitations.

Section 256 ... Amendments to Constitution -- How proposed and voted upon.

Section 257 ... Publication of proposed amendments.

Section 258 ... Constitutional Convention -- How proposed, voted upon, and called.

Section 259 ... Number and qualifications of delegates.

Section 260 ... Election of delegates -- meeting.

Section 261 ... Certification of election and compensation of delegates.

Section 262 ... Determination of election and qualifications of delegates -- Contests.

Section 263 ... Notice of election on question of calling convention.

Schedule and Ordinance