Kentucky State Government( Section I)

Kentucky History

State Constitutions Each State is organized under its own 

State constitution. Like the federal Constitution, State constitutions outline the basic principles, structures, and powers of State government. All State constitutions also include a bill of rights enumerating the rights guaranteed to the citizens of the State.

Most of the first constitutional conventions were called and appointed by the State legislatures. The constitution produced by the convention was then put to the people for approval, or ratification. Today most States have allowed popular participation in the constitution-making process.

As new State constitutions were written and old ones were rewritten, States continued to wrestle with the proper distribution of government authority. Today, some States still have a legislature that dominates the government, while in other States the executive branch is equally or even more influential than the legislative branch. Many States prefer executive power to be dispersed among numerous elected officials, but others concentrate power in the hands of the governor. A minority of States even allow citizens to vote directly on issues of public policy.

Although no State constitution is exactly like another, all have certain characteristics in common. Every State constitution contains the same five basic elements:

fundamental principles citizens' rights governmental structure, powers, and

processes amendment procedures miscellaneous provisions

The U.S. Constitution and State constitutions both rest on the fundamental principles of popular sovereignty and limited government. Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution guarantees every State in the Union "a republican form of government." All State constitutions require regular elections, and many also allow for direct popular participation in the law-making process. Some State constitutions list the right to self-government as a basic right.

Like the U.S. Constitution, State constitutions separate the powers of government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Every State constitution also establishes a system of checks and balances in which each branch of the government may block or influence the actions of the other two branches. Whether implicitly or explicitly, all State constitutions provide for judicial review, the judicial branch's authority to determine the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions.

State Constitutions create the structure of the state government.

Every state constitution provides for separation of powers among the three branches.

State constitutions also outline the way state officials are elected.

Types of local government; Counties Townships Municipalities Special districts Parishes Boroughs

State Constitutions State constitutions regulate the ways state

and local governments can raise and spend money.

Vocabulary Initiative Constitutional convention Constitutional commission Bicameral Governor Lieutenant governor Veto Ratification Popular sovereignty Limited government Judicial review

State Constitutions

Lay out the structure of state governmentEstablish different types of local government

Regulate how state and local governments can raise and spend moneyEstablish independent state agencies, boards, and commissions

Branches of State Government

Legislative-All States except Nebraska have a bicameral legislature

Executive-Every state is headed by a governor, though the power and influence of the governor differ from state to state

Judicial-Interprets and applies state and local laws; structure of state court system and selection of judges varies from state to state