Oath & Bond Guide for Powell County Kentucky

Holding Public Officials Accountable Through Oaths, Bonds, and Open Records

This guide is a step-by-step resource for citizens who want to hold public servants to the standards required by law. Every officer in Kentucky—and across the United States—must take an oath of office before performing any duties, and many must also be covered by a surety or fidelity bond to protect the People against misconduct, neglect, or financial harm. These oaths and bonds are not private; they are public records that anyone has the right to inspect.

Inside, you’ll learn:

• The Constitutional Foundation — why oaths of office are required and what they mean.
• Surety & Fidelity Bonds — how bonds work, why they exist, and how they safeguard the public.
• Who Must Take an Oath or Bond — from state officers and judges to county officials, school boards, and state police.
• Where Records Are Filed — Secretary of State, county clerks, school boards, Finance Cabinet, and more.
• How to Access Records — using Kentucky’s Open Records Act (KRS 61.870–61.884), including the five-day response rule.
• What to Do If Denied — enforcement remedies through the Attorney General or Circuit Court, including statutory penalties for agencies that withhold records.
• Templates & Sample Requests — ready-to-use letters and notices to request oaths and bonds from any office.

This guide empowers you to demand transparency, enforce accountability, and remind officials that they serve the People under oath and bond.