Omar Bennett
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which outlines the state's framework for governance, was first adopted in 1792 and has been rewritten three times since, in 1799, 1850, and 1891. The current version of the Kentucky Constitution, which was ratified in 1891, has been amended several times, with the most recent amendment being approved by voters on November 5, 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of last amendment | November 5, 2024 |
| Previous amendment | 2012 |
| Total number of amendments | 41 |
| First adoption | 1792 |
| Previous adoptions | 1799, 1850, 1891 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The current Kentucky Constitution was ratified in 1891
The first constitutional convention of Kentucky was called in 1784, and over the next eight years, ten constitutional conventions were called. The state's first constitution was accepted by the United States Congress on June 1, 1792, making Kentucky the 15th state. This constitution provided for three branches of government – legislative, executive, and judicial – and a bicameral legislature called the General Assembly.
The second constitution was adopted in 1799, and it abolished the electoral college, allowing senators, representatives, the governor, and the newly created office of lieutenant governor to be directly elected. The 1799 Constitution also gave the governor the power to appoint several local offices, including sheriffs, coroners, and justices of the peace. However, it did not provide a method of amendment, and it made it more difficult to call a constitutional convention.
The third constitution was adopted in 1850. This addressed the issue of the governor's appointment of many officials by making all state officials, including judges, popularly elected, and imposing term limits on these offices. The 1850 Constitution also created a sinking fund for the liquidation of the state's debt and mandated a maximum of $500,000 of indebtedness for the state. Several provisions from the 1850 Constitution survive in the present Constitution, including the ineligibility for public office of anyone who had participated in a duel.
The current Kentucky Constitution of 1891 has been amended 41 times, with the most recent amendment being approved on November 5, 2024. The 1891 Constitution limited state officials' salaries to $5,000, and while this number was raised to $12,000 in 1949, the Kentucky Supreme Court allowed the General Assembly to adjust this figure in 1962 to account for inflation. Another important amendment in 1992 lifted the restriction that the Governor could not succeed himself or herself in office.
The Constitution's Infamous Three-Fifths Compromise
You may want to see also
It has been amended 41 times
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was first adopted in 1792, has been amended 41 times as of 2024. The current version of the constitution, which was ratified in 1891, is the result of three rewrites and numerous amendments. The previous versions were adopted in 1799, 1850, and 1891.
The Kentucky Constitution has a section called "Mode of Revision" (Sections 256-263) that outlines how the constitution can be changed over time. It provides two mechanisms for amending the state constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot.
The 1850 Constitution addressed the issue of the governor appointing too many officials by making all state officials, including judges, popularly elected, and imposing term limits on these offices. It also included provisions to protect slave property and prevent ministers of religion, who were thought to be largely anti-slavery, from holding public office.
The 1891 Constitution, which is still in force today, included a provision that prohibited anyone who had participated in a duel from holding public office. This provision remains in the current constitution, despite its diminishing relevance. The 1891 Constitution also limited state officials' salaries to $5,000, which was later raised to $12,000 in 1949.
In 2024, voters approved three additional constitutional amendments, bringing the total number of amendments to the Kentucky Constitution to 41.
Understanding Differences in Excerpts Through Comparative Analysis
You may want to see also
The last amendment was approved in 2024
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky has been amended several times since its adoption in 1792. The most recent amendment to the Kentucky Constitution was approved by voters on November 5, 2024. This amendment, along with two others approved between 2012 and 2024, brought the total number of amendments to the 1891 Constitution to 41.
The process of amending the Kentucky Constitution is outlined in the document itself, which provides for two mechanisms of amendment: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot.
The Kentucky Constitution has undergone several significant revisions throughout its history. The first constitutional convention was called in 1784, and over the next eight years, ten conventions were held, each contributing to the development of the state's first constitution. The 1792 Constitution, modelled after the United States Constitution, provided for three branches of government and a bicameral legislature.
The second constitution was adopted in 1799, abolishing the electoral college and expanding the governor's powers while imposing term limits. The 1850 Constitution addressed spiralling spending in the General Assembly and further entrenched pro-slavery provisions. The current constitution, adopted in 1891, has been amended numerous times to adapt to modern times, such as in 1949, when an amendment raised the salary limit for state officials.
Conformational vs Constitutional Isomers: What's the Difference?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The 1850 Constitution created a sinking fund to liquidate state debt
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, first adopted in 1792, has been rewritten three times and amended several times since. The latest version of the constitution was ratified in 1891 and last amended in 2012.
The 1850 iteration of the Kentucky Constitution addressed the dissatisfaction with the 1799 Constitution, which gave the governor the power to appoint several officials. The 1850 Constitution made all state officials, including judges, popularly elected and imposed term limits on these offices. It also provided greater protections for slave property, including a requirement that slaves and their offspring remain in the state, and prohibited ministers of religion, who were thought to be largely anti-slavery, from holding public office.
The 1850 Constitution also focused on the General Assembly, whose spending had spiralled out of control. Membership in the Senate was fixed at 38, and at 100 in the House. Sessions of the General Assembly were limited to 60 days biennially, requiring a two-thirds majority to extend them.
Additionally, the 1850 Constitution created a sinking fund to liquidate the state's debt, which had climbed to $4.5 million. To prevent the debt from climbing too high in the future, the Constitution mandated a maximum indebtedness of $500,000 for the state. This amount represented about a year's worth of revenue for the state at the time. This provision remains in the current Kentucky Constitution, even though the state's finances have changed significantly.
Balancing Powers: Madison's Vision for the Constitution
You may want to see also
The 1891 Constitution limited state officials' salaries to $5,000
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, first adopted in 1792, has been rewritten three times, in 1799, 1850, and 1891. The current constitution, which was last amended in 2012, is the 1891 version.
The 1891 Constitution of Kentucky limited state officials' salaries to $5,000. This amount was raised to $12,000 in 1949, but it soon became clear that this number would be difficult to keep updated. The Kentucky Supreme Court addressed this issue in 1962 in the Matthews v. Allen case, ruling that the General Assembly could adjust the $12,000 figure in Section 246 to account for the value of a dollar in 1949. This was to ensure that circuit judges' salaries remained adequate, as required by Section 133 of the constitution.
The 1891 Constitution of Kentucky made several other changes. It required the governor to provide a reason for calling a special legislative session and prohibited the consideration of other business during that session. Additionally, it empowered the governor with a line-item veto, although its use was forbidden on constitutional amendments and laws related to property tax classification. The 1891 Constitution also required the governor to file a statement of reasons for granting pardons, making them publicly available.
The 1891 Constitution of Kentucky has been adapted to modern times through judicial decisions and amendments. While some provisions may be considered antiquated, the 1891 Constitution, as amended, remains the governing document of the Commonwealth of Kentucky today.
The Barron v Baltimore Case: Interpreting the Constitution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Kentucky Constitution was last amended in 2024.
The current Kentucky Constitution has been amended 41 times.
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky was first adopted in 1792 and has since been rewritten three times.
