Kentucky state government has made a commitment to you guaranteeing equal employment opportunity under the law regardless of your race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or veteran’s status. The law also provides other legal protections against retaliation in employment based on political affiliations or beliefs and employees who report wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. With programs like the Employee Suggestion System and educational opportunities for career development, the state has promised to recognize and reward resourceful and productive employees.
When you accepted a state position, you also made a commitment to your employer. Your effort to do a good job and work according to the standards and policies set by your employer will show that you recognize your responsibility to the citizens of Kentucky.
Kentucky state government is made up of three branches: the Legislative Branch, the Judicial Branch, and the Executive Branch. As an employee of the state, your position is assigned to an agency within the Executive Branch. Your position is also identified as being under the "merit system"—also called the "classified" service—or outside the merit system in the "unclassified" service.
The Legislative Branch is made up of the elected members of the Kentucky General Assembly and staff. Legislators are chosen by voters in their districts to serve in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. With the aid of their professional staffs employed in the Legislative Research Commission (LRC), they write and enact the laws of Kentucky. LRC employees are not covered by the merit system in KRS Chapter 18A.
The Judicial Branch includes the state’s court system. It interprets and applies the laws under the Kentucky and United States constitutions. As with the Legislative Branch, Judicial Branch employees are not covered by the KRS 18A Merit System.
The Executive Branch, headed by the governor, carries out the laws through "agencies" – cabinets, departments, boards, commissions, and offices. Most Executive Branch employees are covered by one of the three merit systems: KRS 18A; KRS 151B; and KRS 16.
Within the Executive Branch, agencies are grouped into "Cabinets." As head of the Executive Branch, the governor may organize agencies so they will function more efficiently. Agencies are sometimes organized when the governor finds they may work better under a different structure.
The Executive Branch now has nine cabinets. They are: Education, Finance & Administration, Justice & Public Safety, Economic Development, Transportation, Health and Family Services, Environmental & Public Protection, Personnel, and Commerce.