Overview

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The duties and responsibilities of the three divisions of government (legislative, executive and judicial) are defined in the Constitution of Kentucky. Article II, Section 1, of the constitution, drafted by delegates at the tenth Constitutional Convention in Danville in April 1792, states “The supreme executive power of this commonwealth shall be vested in a governor.” Section 17 of Article II declared “A secretary shall be appointed and commissioned during the governor’s continuance in office, if he shall so long behave himself well: he shall keep a fair register of, and attest all the official acts and proceedings of the governor, and shall when required, lay the same and all papers, minutes and vouchers relative thereto, before either branch of the legislature, and shall perform such other duties as shall be enjoined him by law.” The same provisions were included in Article III entitled “Concerning the Executive Department”, Section 24, of the 1799 Kentucky Constitution.

Article III, Section 21, of the 1850 Kentucky Constitution changed the title of the office to Secretary of State. The secretary’s duties and responsibilities, defined in the previous two Constitutions, remained the same.

Section 91 of the 1891 Kentucky Constitution, now in effect, changed the method by which the Secretary of State is selected. Prior to 1891, the secretary was appointed by the governor; under the present Constitution, the Secretary of State is elected by the qualified voters of the state. In 1992 the Constitution was amended to allow the Secretary of State to serve two successive terms.

Although the title of the office has changed from “secretary” to “Secretary of State” and the selection method has changed from appointive to elective, the fundamental duties and responsibilities of the office are the same as originally defined in 1792. This website allows researchers to view documents, filings, and summaries relating to those constitutional mandates regarding the Secretary of State’s Office. Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s home page to see “other duties” added to the Secretary’s office “as enjoined him by law.”

 Researchers may access the “Executive Journal” database to view scanned images of selected executive orders signed by the Governor. (Executive orders comprise the Governor’s Executive Journal, identified in the Kentucky Constitution as the “fair register.” Governors’ Journals spanning 1931 to current date, bound in book format, are housed with the Secretary of State’s Office, Capitol Building, Frankfort, Ky. Earlier journals may be researched by contacting the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort, Ky.)

Legislation passed by the Kentucky General Assembly and submitted to the Secretary of State for filing, defines the Governor’s action on all bills presented to him for consideration. The “Enacted Legislation” database on this website allows researchers to access enrolled bills by bill number, date filed and topic. The database identifies which bills were signed, allowed to become law without signature, or vetoed by the governor, as well as bills whose vetoes were overridden by the Legislature. The database is linked to scanned images of each enrolled bill; a glossary provides an online guide to legislative terms. Governor’s veto messages are included with the “Executive Journal Database.”

Section 91 of the Kentucky Constitution requires the Secretary of State to attest all official acts of the Governor.  This is accomplished by impressing the official documents with the Seal of the Commonwealth. The Secretary of State is charged with keeping this seal pursuant to KRS 14.030.

Because the purpose of the seal is to attest official acts only, it may not be used for commercial purposes.

As the Notary Public for the Commonwealth, official Acts and Certifications by the Kentucky Secretary of State are attested by the Secretary of State's personal seal. Section 2 of Chapter 176 of the Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky states: The Seal of this Commonwealth shall be kept by the Secretary of State; and he shall also keep a seal of office which shall have upon it the device, the American Eagle, in the center, with the words around the same "Commonwealth of Kentucky, Office of the Secretary of State."  Approved April 6, 1893.

Because the purpose of the seal is to attest official acts only, it may not be used for commercial purposes.

Kentucky Colonel commissions are authorized by executive orders signed by the Governor. This website includes an informational summary regarding the history of the “Kentucky Colonel” designation.

For more information, please contact the executive branch of the Office of the Secretary of State:

The Office of the Secretary of State is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm EST.