The
Executive Journal, or Governor's Journal, contains entries of all official acts of the governor, including:
-
Pardons and restorations of civil rights - the Governor has the authority to commute sentences and pardon infractions of state law and to restore the right to vote and hold public office to any person who has been convicted of a felony. Applications for commutations of sentences and pardons must be made directly to the Governor. Applications for restorations of civil rights must be obtained from the Department of Corrections, Division of Probation and Parole; these applications are processed by the Department of Corrections, then submitted to the Governor's office.
-
Oaths of Office - 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 districts greater than one county, officers from cities whose boundaries extend beyond 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.
-
Legislation - 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. Veto messages issued by the Governor during recess of the General Assembly are 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 are available online or by contacting the Secretary of State's office. -
Bonds - the Secretary of State files all bonds of state officers and certain state employees. The Secretary of State's bond is filed in the Governor's office.
- Requisitions and extraditions
- Appointments
- Proclamations
- Reorganizations.
Entries in the Executive Journal are made chronologically, but there is also a subject-matter index to assist in research. Selected executive orders and other official filings starting with Governor Ernie Fletcher's administration are available online. Executive Journals for 1792 through 1927 are housed with the Department of Libraries and Archives. Executive Journals for 1927 through 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.
For more information about the Executive Journal, please contact the executive branch of the Office of Secretary of State:
- phone:
(502) 564-3490
- fax:
(502) 564-5687
-
email
- mail: Office of the Secretary of State
Executive Branch
700 Capital Ave., Ste. 80
Frankfort, KY 40601
The Office of the Secretary of State is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., ET.