The Text

Appointments and promotions in the civil service of the state, and of all the civil divisions thereof, including cities and villages, shall be made according to merit and fitness to be ascertained, so far as practicable, by examinations, which, so far as practicable, shall be competitive; provided, however, that honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines who shall have served as such in the army, navy or marine corps of the United States in time of war, who are citizens and residents of this state, shall be entitled to preference in appointment and promotion, without regard to their standing on any list from which such appointment or promotion may be made; provided they were residents of this state at the time they entered said army, navy or marine corps; and provided also that soldiers, sailors and marines who served in the civil war shall have preference over all others on the same list. Laws shall be made to provide for the enforcement of this section.