One look at the Kentucky state seal gives you a glimpse of the state’s history. For starters Kentucky is officially a commonwealth, as written on the seal. But it is also a state.
Ask a political historian why a U.S. state would call itself a commonwealth – a traditional British word – and the usual answer is that the term was en vogue in the late 1700s. Four states, including three former British colonies, and Kentucky took the name. Otherwise, all 50 states (yes, states) are equally part of a constitutional federal republic known as the United States.
A federal republic, by definition, is “a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.”
But that doesn’t mean that states are puppets of Washington, DC.
Under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, all powers not granted to the federal government belong to the states. Each state has its own constitution to explain those powers and how they are to be divided, or separated, under the law. Of the three branches of government, the legislature is considered the “first branch” because it is the one that is most representative of the people.
So what does representation look like when it comes to the Kentucky General Assembly and the more than 4.5 million Kentuckians it serves? Let’s take a look.
It starts with legislative districts
Kentucky has 138 state legislative districts. The state constitution requires each district to be divided “as nearly equal in population as may be,” or as equal as possible. In numbers, that equates to approximately 45,000 people in each of the 100 House districts and approximately 118,400 people in each of the 38 Senate districts.
That’s far fewer people than are represented by Kentucky’s governor (there’s only one). And it’s no surprise why. The United States was constitutionally designed to be governed by the people, not a king or queen or any one person. Been there, done that, as they say.
The same representative democracy enshrined in the U.S. Constitution was written into Kentucky’s constitution starting with these words in the preamble: “We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” It is under that standard that each citizen who is at least age 18 and legally registered to vote may go to the polls and elect their legislators in Frankfort.
How state legislators are selected
Voters go to the polls every two years to elect all 100 members of the Kentucky House and half of the membership of the Kentucky Senate, which has a staggered election cycle. Special elections are called if there’s a vacancy such as a resignation, although those are few and usually far between.
The next set of state legislative elections will be held in 2024. That’s right – there isn’t just one election.
A primary election to nominate each party’s state and federal legislative candidates will be held on Tuesday, May 21. Winners of that election and candidates who ran unopposed must then run in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
A candidate who wins, and is certified the winner, will begin their term of office on Jan. 1 following their election. Most lawmakers take the oath of office in their respective chambers when the Kentucky General Assembly convenes in regular session that January.
How many years does a state legislator serve when elected?
Once a state lawmaker takes office, they remain in their seat for the length of their term or until they leave for whatever reason. Terms are defined in the state constitution as two years for members of the Kentucky House of Representatives and four years for members of the Kentucky Senate.
All House members are up for election at the same time every two years. Kentucky law staggers Senate elections to add stability that wouldn’t exist if the entire General Assembly membership turned over every four years.
To run for office, a person vying for a seat in the Kentucky Senate must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of Kentucky, and have lived in the state for at least six years, including one year in their prospective district. A person running for a seat in the House must be at least age 24, a citizen of Kentucky, and have lived in the state for at least two years, including one in the district they hope to represent.
Are state legislators term-limited?
Senators and State Representatives elected to the Kentucky General Assembly are not term-limited. That means members can be elected, and reelected (and reelected again) as long as registered voters in their district want to keep them around.
It is not unusual for some lawmakers to serve 20 years or more in one district, or serve a term or more in one house and then be elected to the other house. Right now there are 10 members of the Senate and House that have been serving in the General Assembly for at least 20 years, with service in one of both houses.
Two current members – Sen. Gerald Neal of Louisville and Sen. Ruth Ann Palumbo of Lexington, both Democrats – have held their current seats for over three decades.
How much power do state legislators have?
At their most basic, the powers of the Kentucky General Assembly are to create state law, raise taxes and fees, and appropriate revenue. Neither the Executive Branch or the Judicial Branch holds that power.
Other powers granted to the General Assembly include the power to confirm certain gubernatorial appointments, judge contested gubernatorial elections, and impeach the governor and civil officers including state prosecutors. Most recently, the Kentucky House impeached and the Kentucky Senate convicted former 21st Judicial Circuit Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Goldy on three articles of impeachment related to quid pro quo while he was in office.
How do I reach my state legislator?
Ask any state lawmaker what their most important job is in Frankfort and they are likely to say representing their constituents – the people back home who elected them. The Kentucky General Assembly makes each lawmaker’s legislative email address available to the public so that lawmakers can be contacted and respond directly to their constituents.
The Kentucky General Assembly website lists all 138 state legislators by name, district, and county, including all 19 members of the Northern Kentucky Caucus. The information is available at this link.