Cameron Miranda
A law is a broad term for any rule that is made and enforced by a government. Statutes and acts are more specific terms that refer to written laws enacted by a legislative body. For example, when a bill passes both houses of Congress and becomes a law, it is called an act or a statute. Statutes and acts are the same things and are sometimes referred to as codes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Act and Statute are the same thing: a written law enacted by a legislative body. |
| Example | When a bill passes both houses of Congress, it is called an act and/or a statute. For example, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Affordable Care Act. |
| Where to find them | Federal acts/statutes that are currently being enforced can be found in the United States Code. |
| Kentucky Acts | Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. |
| Kentucky Revised Statutes | Passed by the Kentucky General Assembly, which consists of the Kentucky House of Representatives and the Kentucky Senate. |
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What You'll Learn
- Acts and statutes are the same—written laws enacted by a legislative body
- Bills are proposed laws introduced in the Kentucky legislature
- The Governor of Kentucky can veto a bill
- The Kentucky General Assembly consists of the House of Representatives and Senate
- Acts are arranged chronologically and published in the Kentucky Acts
Acts and statutes are the same—written laws enacted by a legislative body
Acts and statutes are the same, in that they refer to written laws enacted by a legislative body. In the context of Kentucky law, the General Assembly, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, proposes bills every year (before 2001, the legislature met every other year). If these bills are passed by both chambers, they are then reviewed by the Governor of Kentucky. If the Governor approves the bill, it is signed into law. If not, the bill is either vetoed and returned to the legislature or left unsigned, in which case it automatically becomes law after a period of 90 days, unless a delayed effective date or an emergency clause is specified. Once a bill becomes law, it is known as an act or a statute.
For example, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Affordable Care Act are both acts or statutes. These acts/statutes are published in the Kentucky Acts in chronological order. To facilitate research, the laws are also arranged by subject into a statutory code (KRS) by the Legislative Research Commission.
The main difference between acts and statutes is in their level of specificity. Acts are typically broader in scope and outline general principles and policies, while statutes are more specific and detailed, often providing the implementation details of an act. Acts are usually passed by a simple majority vote, while statutes may require a higher threshold, such as a two-thirds majority vote.
In summary, while acts and statutes refer to the same concept of written laws enacted by a legislative body, they differ in their scope and level of detail, with acts being broader and statutes being more specific.
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Bills are proposed laws introduced in the Kentucky legislature
In Kentucky, bills are proposed laws introduced in the state legislature. The Kentucky Constitution specifies that an act becomes law 90 days after the General Assembly adjourns, unless the act contains a delayed effective date or an emergency clause.
The Kentucky Legislative Research Commission publishes the Kentucky Acts, which are the final session laws arranged in chronological order. The Kentucky Revised Statutes are also published by the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.
There are several ways to track legislation during the Kentucky Legislative Session. Bill Watch Kentucky.gov is a free service that enables users to track legislation during the Kentucky Legislative Session. LegiScan also provides a legislative dashboard for Kentucky, which includes tracking details on the most recent legislation, popular bills, sponsors, and committees. KET offers legislative coverage with live video of committee meetings and chamber sessions, as well as archived videos from current and past sessions. The Legislative Record is published daily during the legislative session and contains summaries of the bills and all actions taken by the legislature on each bill.
The KY Full-Text Bills (KYTEXT) file contains the full text of bills pending in the Kentucky state legislature. The Kentucky Enacted Legislation database on Westlaw contains session laws passed during the current legislative session, while Kentucky Proposed Legislation contains bills introduced during the current legislative session.
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The Governor of Kentucky can veto a bill
In Kentucky, the governor's powers are outlined in the state constitution, which has been amended four times, in 1792, 1799, 1850, and 1891, with each amendment increasing the governor's authority. One of the powers assigned to the governor is the ability to veto legislation. This power first appeared in the 1799 constitution, which was likely influenced by the 1792 New Hampshire Constitution and the 1798 Georgia Constitution, which contained similar provisions.
The governor's veto power can be overridden by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature, unlike in most states, where a supermajority is required. A supermajority refers to a large enough majority that a party can override a veto without any votes from members of the minority party. In Kentucky, the vote margin to override a veto is lower than in most states, with a simple majority in both houses being sufficient.
The governor's veto power is not absolute and does not apply to all types of legislation. For example, the 1891 constitution granted the governor a line-item veto, but this could not be used on constitutional amendments or laws related to property tax classification. Additionally, while the governor has the power to veto bills, the state legislature can overturn a gubernatorial veto with sufficient support, typically between one-half and two-thirds of sitting legislators, depending on the state.
In recent years, Kentucky lawmakers have overridden several gubernatorial vetoes. For example, in 2024, Republican lawmakers overrode Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's vetoes on multiple bills, including one that removed the governor's authority to fill US Senate vacancies and another regarding ranked-choice voting. These examples demonstrate the dynamic between the governor's veto power and the legislature's ability to override it, highlighting the political dynamics at play in Kentucky's law-making process.
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The Kentucky General Assembly consists of the House of Representatives and Senate
The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It comprises the Kentucky Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives, making it a bicameral legislature. The General Assembly meets annually in the state capitol building in Frankfort, convening on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January. In even-numbered years, sessions may not last more than 60 legislative days and cannot extend beyond April 15. In odd-numbered years, sessions may not last more than 30 legislative days and cannot go past March 30. Special sessions may be called by the Governor of Kentucky at any time and for any duration.
The Senate is the upper house of the General Assembly, consisting of 38 senators. Senators are elected to four-year staggered terms, with half the Senate elected every two years. The House of Representatives is the lower house of the General Assembly, consisting of 100 members. Representatives are elected every two years in the November following a regular session of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly is served by a 16-member nonpartisan agency called the Legislative Research Commission (LRC). Created in 1948, the LRC provides the General Assembly with staff and research support, including committee staffing, bill drafting, and oversight of the state budget.
In terms of the difference between laws, statutes, and acts in Kentucky, the Kentucky Constitution specifies that an act becomes law 90 days after the General Assembly adjourns, unless the act contains a delayed effective date or an emergency clause. Therefore, acts can be understood as the actions or decisions of the General Assembly, which then become laws after the specified time period. Statutes refer to the written records of these laws.
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Acts are arranged chronologically and published in the Kentucky Acts
Acts, also known as statutes, are written laws enacted by a legislative body. In the context of Kentucky, acts refer to the laws passed by the Kentucky General Assembly, which consists of the Kentucky House of Representatives and the Kentucky Senate.
The Kentucky General Assembly meets annually (prior to 2001, the legislature met every other year) to propose and deliberate on bills. If a bill is passed by the Assembly, it is then reviewed by the Governor of Kentucky. The Governor may sign the bill into law or choose not to take any action, in which case the bill will become law after 90 days, as specified by the Kentucky Constitution. However, if the Governor vetoes the bill, it will be returned to the legislature. The legislature can override the Governor's veto with a simple majority vote in each chamber, and the bill will then become law.
These laws, or acts, are arranged chronologically and published in the Kentucky Acts. The Legislative Research Commission plays a crucial role in this process by arranging the laws in chronological order and producing the Kentucky Acts. This chronological arrangement ensures that researchers and legal professionals can easily access and understand the legislative history of Kentucky.
The Kentucky Acts serve as a comprehensive record of the laws enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly. By arranging the acts chronologically, users can trace the evolution of legislation and identify any amendments or updates made over time. This chronological arrangement also facilitates the quick identification of the most recent laws, ensuring that legal professionals and citizens alike can stay abreast of the current legal framework in Kentucky.
Moreover, the Kentucky Acts provide transparency and accountability in the legislative process. By publishing the acts, the Legislative Research Commission enables citizens to review and understand the laws that govern their state. This transparency is a fundamental aspect of a democratic society, allowing citizens to hold their elected representatives accountable for their decisions during legislative sessions.
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Frequently asked questions
Statutes are federal or state written laws enacted by Congress or state legislatures. Acts are the same as statutes. Regulations are rules and administrative codes issued by governmental agencies at all levels and have the force of law because they are adopted under authority granted by statutes.
Federal acts or statutes that are currently being enforced can be found in the United States Code.
A regulation is an official rule with the full weight of law. It is issued by administrative agencies that have legislative authority over a specific area and can create and enforce rules over that area. Regulations are not usually included in volumes containing state statutes or federal laws.
