Overview

The Secretary of State is required to keep a register of official acts of the Governor. This register is called the Executive Journal or Governor's Journal. The Executive Journal contains entries of all official acts of the Governor such as pardons, restorations of civil rights, requisitions and extraditions, appointments, proclamations and reorganizations. Entries in the Executive Journal are made chronologically, but a subject matter index is kept to aid in researching entries into the Executive Journal. Selected Executive Orders and other official filings starting in the administration of former Governor Ernie Fletcher are available online. Click here to search the Executive Journal. Many scanned images are also available.

The Executive Journals for 1792 to 1927 are housed with the Department of Library and Archives. The Executive Journals from 1927 to the present are kept in the Secretary of State's Office.

Upon request, the Secretary of State's Office will certify copies of documents recorded and entries of such documents in the Executive Journal.

Legislation is also entered into the Executive Journal. The Secretary of State files all enrolled bills approved by the General Assembly that are signed by the Governor, passed over the Governor's veto or passed without the Governor's signature. See Kentucky Constitution, Section 91. This includes legislation passed in either a regular or special session of the General Assembly.

A veto message issued by the Governor during recess of the General Assembly is filed with the General Assembly. Veto messages issued by the Governor following adjournment of the General Assembly are entered into the Executive Journal.

Copies of enrolled bills, with appropriate signatures affixed, may be obtained by downloading scanned images of the bills here, or by contacting the Office of the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State files all certifications of oaths of office for members of the General Assembly, officers elected from the state at large, officers elected from a district greater than one county, officers from a city whose boundaries extend beyond those of a single county, officers appointed cabinet secretary, and officers appointed a deputy or assistant to an elected constitutional officer and who are required by separate statute to take the oath of office. KRS 62.020

The Secretary of State files all bonds of state officers and certain state employees. The bond of the Secretary of State is filed in the Governor's office. KRS 62.200.

Pardons and restorations of civil rights are official acts of the Governor. Accordingly, they are filed with the Secretary of State and entered into the Executive Journal.

The Governor has the authority to commute sentences and pardon infractions of state law. Kentucky Constitution, Section 77. The Governor also has the authority to restore the right to vote and hold public office to any person who has been convicted of a felony in any state or federal court. Kentucky Constitution Section 150 and Section 145.

Applications for commutation of sentences and pardons must be made directly to the Governor. Applications for restorations of civil rights must be obtained by contacting the Department of Corrections, Division of Probation and Parole. These applications are processed by the Department of Corrections and then submitted to the Governor's Office.