ny constitution fresh squeezed 96
Ballot Questions

1869

Question #1

State Constitutional Amendment

NYS were asked if they wanted to pass an amendment to the NYS constitution,

to change the whole NYS constitution, except for certain provisions with separate ballot questions - as proposed by the 1867 NY constitutional convention


as proposed by the most recent NYS Constitutional Convention

And the voters said: No!

How We Voted

YES

43.53%

223,935 New Yorkers voted Yes

NO

56.47%

290,456 New Yorkers voted No

514,391 votes determined the outcome of this ballot question.

We found out how every county voted on this ballot question, and mapped it!
Visit this page on a large screen and you'll find our map. Click on a county to see how its voters stood on this question

This BQ Would Have Amended

Note: When voters approved of provisions, the new changes take effect on January 1st of the year after the question's appearance on the ballot

  • X.3 proposed for 1870

    • Section 3: Corporation defined.

    The term corporation, as used in this article, shall be construed to inelude all associations and joint-stock companies having any of the privileges or powers of corporations, not possessed by partnerships or individuals. Corporations shall have the right to sue and may be sued in all courts by their corporate names.

    Read more
  •  
  • X.4 proposed for 1870

    • Section 4: Registry of bills and notes; Specie payments; Banking corporations.

    The Legislature shall provide for the registration of all bills or notes issued or put in circulation as money, by virtue of any law of this State, and shall require ample security for the redemption of the same in specie. No law shall be passed authorizing or sanctioning the suspension of specie payments. In case of the insolvency of any…

    Read more
  •  
  • X.5 proposed for 1870

    • Section 5: Liability of stockholders.

    The stockholders in every corporation and joint-stock association for banking purposes, issuing notes or any kind of credits to circulate as money, shall be individually liable to the amount of their respective share or shares of stock, for all of its liabilities.

    Read more
  •  
  • XI.1 proposed for 1870

    • Section 1: Board of managers of prisons.

    There shall be a board of managers of prisons, to be composed of five persons, appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, who shall hold office for ten years, except that the five first appointed shall, as the Legislature may direct, be so classified that the term of one shall expire at the…

    Read more
  •  
  • XI.2 proposed for 1870

    • Section 2: Prison manager board appointments.

    The board shall appoint the warden, clerk, physician and chaplain of each state prison, and shall have power to remove them for cause only, after opportunity to be heard, upon written charges. All other officers of each prison shall be appointed by the warden, and be removable at his pleasure.

    Read more
  •  
  • XI.3 proposed for 1870

    • Section 3: Governor may remove prison managers.

    The governor may remove the managers of prisons for misconduct or neglect of duty, after opportunity to be heard, upon written charges.

    Read more
  •  
  • XII.1 proposed for 1870

    • Section 1: Militia enrollment.

    All able-bodied male citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years shall be annually enrolled, under such regulations as shall be established by law, as a militia force, to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and aid in the enforcement of the laws.

    Read more
  •  
  • XII.2 proposed for 1870

    • Section 2: Militia forces.

    The militia shall be divided into active and reserve forces. The active militia shall be called the national guard of the State of New York, and its number determined by law ; but shall not in time of peace exceed thirty thousand. It shall be always armed, equipped and disciplined. All enrolled persons not belonging to the national guard shall…

    Read more
  •  
  • XII.3 proposed for 1870

    • Section 3: Selection of certain militia officers.

    The governor shall appoint the chiefs of the several staff departments, his aids-de-camp and military secretary, all of whom shall hold office during his pleasure, their commissions to expire with the term for which the governor shall have been elected ; and he shall nominate, and with the consent of the senate, appoint all major-generals. All officers responsible for the…

    Read more
  •  
  • XII.4 proposed for 1870

    • Section 4: Commissioned officers; removal.

    General officers shall appoint their staff officers, who shall hold office during the pleasure of such general officers ; but their commissions shall expire with the commissions of the officers appointing them. All officers of the militia shall be commissioned by the governor, and no commissioned officers, except those who hold office during his pleasure, or that of the general…

    Read more
  •  
  • XII.5 proposed for 1870

    • Section 5: Militia officers, how chosen.

    The commissioned and non-commissioned officers of companies shall be chosen by the written votes of the members, and field officers of regiments and separate battalions, by the written votes of the commissioned officers of their respective regiments or separate battalions, and brigadier-generals, by the field officers of their respective brigades; but whenever the militia shall be in active service, such…

    Read more
  •  
  • XII.6 proposed for 1870

    In the organization of the National Guard, the Legislature shall provide for reserve officers, to be composed of officers of the National Guard of not less than ten years’ service in the same grade, and of officers honorably discharged from the volunteer service of the United States who are citizens of this State. They may, upon application, be commissioned by…

    Read more
  •  
  • XIII.1 proposed for 1870

    • Section 1: Officials inflenced by bribery.

    Any person holding office under the laws of this State, who except in payment or his legal salary, fees or perquisites, receives or consents to receive, directly or indirectly, anything of value or of personal advantage, or the promise there of, for performing or omitting to perform, any official act, or with the express or implied understanding that this official…

    Read more
  •  
  • XIII.2 proposed for 1870

    • Section 2: Offering bribes.

    Any person offering a bribe, if it shall be accepted, shall not be liable to civil or criminal prosecution therefor. But any person who offers or promises a bribe, if it shall be rejected by the officer to whom it is tendered, shall be deemed guilty of an attempt to bribe, which is hereby declared to be a felony, and…

    Read more
  •  
  • XIII.3 proposed for 1870

    • Section 3: Receiving bribes.

    Any person charged with receiving a bribe, or with offering or promising a bribe that is rejected, shall be permitted to testify in his own behalf in any civil or criminal prosecution therefor.

    Read more
  •  
  • XIII.4 proposed for 1870

    • Section 4: District attorneys handling bribery.

    Any district attorney, who shall fail faithfully to prosecute the violation in his county of any provision of this article which may come to his knowledge, shall be removed from office by the governor, after due notice and an opportunity of being heard in his defence. The expenses which shall be incurred by any county in investigating and prosecuting any…

    Read more
  •  
  • XIV.1 proposed for 1870

    • Section 1: Oath of office.

    Members of the Legislature, and all officers, executive and judiciary, except such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, before they enter on the duties of their respective offices, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: “I do solemnly swear [or affirm], that I will support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of the…

    Read more
  •  
  • XIV.2 proposed for 1870

    • Section 2: Offices to continue.

    Except as herein otherwise provided, existing offices and the terms of persons in office, shall continue as is now or hereafter may be provided by law.

    Read more
  •  
  • XIV.3 proposed for 1870

    • Section 3: Constitution, how amended.

    Amendments to this constitution may be proposed in the senate or assembly ; and if agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each house, such amendments shall be entered on the journals thereof, with the yeas and nays, and be referred to the next Legislature, and published for three months previous to the next general election ;…

    Read more
  •  
  • XIV.4 proposed for 1870

    • Section 4: Constitutional conventions.

    At the general election to be held in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight, and in each twentieth year thereafter, and also at such other time as the Legislature may prescribe, the question shall be submitted to the people, “Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution?” and in case a majority of the electors voting on…

    Read more
  •