Download Kentucky`s Legislative Branch is comprised of the

Kentucky’s Legislative Branch is
comprised of the Senate and
The House of Representatives.
 The Senate is made up of 38 members
 Each member serves a term of 4 years.
 State senators listen to their constituents (citizens) about
political issues.
 They use this information to base their votes and decisions in
order to represent the will of the people in Legislative
sessions.
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/whoswho/county.htm
 AKA the “General Assembly”
 The House is composed of 100 members.
 Congressmen and women serve a specific district
 Congressmen and women introduce bills and resolutions,
offer amendments and serve on specific committees.
 There are 4 levels of Courts
 District Courts
 Circuit Court
 Court of Appeals
 Kentucky Supreme Court
 District Court
• court of limited jurisdiction and handles juvenile matters, city and county
ordinances, misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, probate of wills,
arraignments, felony probable cause hearings, small claims involving $2,500
or less, civil cases involving $5,000 or less, voluntary and involuntary mental
commitments and cases relating to domestic violence and abuse
• District Judges serve 4 year terms
 Circuit Court
• the court of general jurisdiction that hears civil matters involving more than
$5,000, capital offenses and felonies, land dispute title cases and contested
probate cases
• One judge may serve more than one county within a circuit. Some circuits
contain only one county but have several judges, depending on population
and caseload. Circuit judges serve in eight-year terms.
 Court of Appeals
• Nearly all cases come to it on appeal from a lower court.
• If a case is tried in District or Circuit court, and the losing parties involved are not
satisfied with the outcome, they may ask for a higher court to review the decision.
• Fourteen judges, two elected from seven appellate court districts, serve on the
Court of Appeals
 Kentucky Supreme
• Court is the final interpreter of the state laws.
• hear a appeals of decisions from the lower courts and issue decisions or "opinions"
on cases.
• Cases involving the death penalty, life imprisonment or imprisonment for twenty
years or more go directly from the circuit court level, where the cases are tried
• The Supreme Court is also responsible for establishing rules of practice and
procedures for the Court of Justice, which includes the conduct of judges and
attorneys.
 Governor of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch and the highest state
office in Kentucky.
• The governor is popularly elected every four years
• limited to serve 2 terms in a row
 Secretary of State is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of
Kentucky
• responsible for business registration, preservation of state records, state election
management and other administrative, fiscal and personnel tasks
 Attorney General
• the state's chief prosecutor- supervises the prosecutors of Kentucky
• state's chief law officer- writes opinions to advise government officials and agencies
concerning the law
• May serve two consecutive terms of 4 years
 8 Cabinets- Commerce, Education, Environment/Public Policy, Finance and
Administration, Health and Family Services, Justice and Public Safety,
Personnel, Transportation