When Does The Governor's Signature Enact Law?

The governor of Kentucky has the power to veto legislation, and if the governor does not make a decision to sign or veto a bill, it automatically becomes law after 10 days. If the governor does veto a bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each house.

The governor's signature is not required for a bill to become law

In the state of Kentucky, the governor's signature is not required for a bill to become law. If the governor does not make a decision to sign or veto a bill, it automatically becomes law after 10 days. This is in contrast to the U.S. President, who has the option of a pocket veto, where a bill is considered vetoed after 10 days if the legislature adjourns.

The governor of Kentucky has the power to veto legislation, which is outlined in the state constitution. The governor's authority to veto legislation was first introduced in the 1799 constitution and was likely based on similar provisions in the 1792 New Hampshire Constitution and the 1798 Georgia Constitution. The 1891 constitution further empowered the governor with a line-item veto, allowing them to veto specific items within a bill while approving others.

However, the governor's veto can be overridden by majority votes from both houses of the legislature. This is a unique feature of Kentucky law, as most states require a supermajority to override a veto. Additionally, the governor must specify the reason for any specially called legislative session, and no other business can be considered during that session.

The governor of Kentucky has broad powers and is considered one of the most powerful state executive positions in the United States. The governor has significant influence over appointments to commissions and state contracts, further augmenting their authority. However, it is important to note that the governor's signature is not always required for a bill to become law in Kentucky.

The governor can veto legislation

The governor of Kentucky has the power to veto legislation. This power was first introduced in the state's 1799 constitution and was likely based on similar provisions in the 1792 New Hampshire Constitution and the 1798 Georgia Constitution.

The governor's veto power is not absolute, however. It can be overridden by majority votes of both houses of the Kentucky legislature. This is a lower threshold than in most other states, where a supermajority is required to override a veto.

In addition, the governor does not have the option of a pocket veto. If the governor does not make a decision to sign or veto a bill, it automatically becomes law after 10 days. If the legislature adjourns to prevent the return of a vetoed bill, the bill becomes law three days after the commencement of the next legislative session unless it is explicitly vetoed.

The governor's veto can be overridden by a majority vote in both houses of the Kentucky legislature

The governor of Kentucky has the power to veto legislation, but this can be overridden by a majority vote in both houses of the Kentucky legislature. This is a distinctive feature of the state's constitution, as in most states a supermajority is required to override a veto.

The governor's veto power was introduced in the 1799 constitution and was probably based on similar provisions in the 1792 New Hampshire Constitution and the 1798 Georgia Constitution. The 1891 constitution further empowered the governor with a line-item veto, which could be overridden in the same way as a regular veto.

In recent years, the Republican-led Kentucky legislature has overridden several vetoes by Democratic Governor Andy Beshear. For example, in 2022, the House and Senate voted to override Beshear's veto of a charter schools bill, which aimed to launch charter schools in the state and provide them with funding. The House overrode the veto by a vote of 52-46, and the Senate followed with a 22-15 vote.

In another instance, the legislature overrode Beshear's veto of a bill that shifted key school governance decisions to superintendents, taking them away from school-based decision-making councils. The override votes won by wide margins in both chambers, reflecting the deep policy differences between Beshear and Republican lawmakers.

The power to override a governor's veto is an important check on executive power and allows the legislature to shape the direction of policy in the state.

The governor has 10 days to sign or veto a bill

In Kentucky, the governor has 10 days to sign or veto a bill. If the governor does not make a decision within this timeframe, the bill automatically becomes law. This is different from the federal pocket veto, where a bill is considered vetoed after 10 days if Congress adjourns before the bill can be returned.

The governor's powers are outlined in the state constitution, which has been amended four times—in 1792, 1799, 1850, and 1891—each time expanding the governor's authority. The governor serves as the head of government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces and is responsible for enforcing all state laws. They have broad statutory authority to make appointments to various cabinets and departments within the executive branch.

The governor also has the power to grant pardons, call the legislature into session, and adjourn the General Assembly for up to four months if the two houses cannot agree on an adjournment time. Additionally, they play a significant role in setting the state budget and have wide discretion in awarding state contracts.

The governor can call the legislature into session

The governor of Kentucky has the power to call the legislature into session. This power is enumerated in the state constitution, which has been amended four times, in 1792, 1799, 1850, and 1891, with each amendment increasing the governor's authority.

The governor's ability to call the legislature into session is especially significant because Kentucky's governor controls so many appointments to commissions. This has historically made the governor of Kentucky one of the most powerful state executive positions in the United States.

The governor's power to call the legislature into session is not absolute, however. Since the 1799 constitution, the governor has been permitted to call the legislature into session somewhere other than the state capital if the capital has become dangerous due to an enemy or contagious disease. This provision was important in the early days of the Commonwealth when epidemics like smallpox posed a danger to the populace.

Additionally, the 1891 constitution added a provision that the governor must specify the reason for any specially called legislative session, and that no other business could be considered during the session. However, there is no requirement that the legislature conduct any business during the called session.

The governor's power to call the legislature into session should be understood in the context of the governor's other powers. For example, the governor serves as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces and is responsible for enforcing all state laws. The governor also has broad statutory authority to make appointments to the various cabinets and departments of the executive branch.

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