Provisions
NY’s first state Constitutional Convention in 1777 adopted a founding document to establish the state, declare its sovereignty, and develop its laws.
Since then, a proposal to amend part or completely rewrite the constitution had to be sent to the voters for their approval by ballot question in order to join the constitution.
We’re tracking every time the voters weighed in on a proposed amendment.
Check out the lists below – click on a provision to get its full text and even more info, or click on the ballot question link to see how we voted on it!
And come back soon for even more NY Constitution fresh-squeezed! We’re in the process of breaking down each provision by policy issue and getting data to help understand what have been the big issues in state constitutional history.
This way we can ask ourselves: does the constitution reflect what *we* believe is important in New York’s basic law, or do we need to change it?
Every Proposed State Constitutional Provision Ever Sent to NYS Voters
Want to filter or search the constitutional provisions? Click here!
- VI.15 proposed for 1870 • Section 15: County courts. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.16 proposed for 1870 • Section 16: Special county judge and surrogate. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.17 proposed for 1870 • Section 17: People may determine that judges shall be appointed. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.18 proposed for 1870 • Section 18: Justices of the peace. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.19 proposed for 1870 • Section 19: Inferior local courts. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.20 proposed for 1870 • Section 20: Clerk of court of appeals; clerks of supreme court. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.21 proposed for 1870 • Section 21: Fees to judicial officers prohibited. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.22 proposed for 1870 • Section 22: Judgments of inferior courts may be removed to court of appeals. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.23 proposed for 1870 • Section 23: Publication of statutes; supreme court reporters. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.24 proposed for 1870 • Section 24: First election of judges. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.25 proposed for 1870 • Section 25: Certain officers to continue until expiration of term. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.26 proposed for 1870 • Section 26: Special sessions. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.27 proposed for 1870 • Section 27: Surrogates courts for probate. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VII.1 proposed for 1870 • Section 1: Election and removal of certain county officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VII.2 proposed for 1870 • Section 2: Local officers, how chosen. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VII.3 proposed for 1870 • Section 3: Boards of supervisors. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VII.4 proposed for 1870 • Section 4: Local officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VII.5 proposed for 1870 • Section 5: Local officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VII.6 proposed for 1870 • Section 6: Cities and villages. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VII.7 proposed for 1870 • Section 7: Cities and villages. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VII.8 proposed for 1870 • Section 8: Cities and villages. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.1 proposed for 1870 • Section 1: Canal sinking fund. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.2 proposed for 1870 • Section 2: Canal appropriations; state debts. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.3 proposed for 1870 • Section 3: Canal revenues. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.4 proposed for 1870 • Section 4: Canal revenues. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.5 proposed for 1870 • Section 5: Enforcement of state claims against corporations. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.6 proposed for 1870 • Section 6: Canals not to be disposed of. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.7 proposed for 1870 • Section 7: State moneys not to be expended without appropriation. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.8 proposed for 1870 • Section 8: No state aid to individuals or corporations; Three-fifths bills. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.9 proposed for 1870 • Section 9: When state may contract debt ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.10 proposed for 1870 • Section 10: Debts for state defense. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.11 proposed for 1870 • Section 11: How other debts authorized. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.12 proposed for 1870 • Section 12: Tax law to state amount and object of tax. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.13 proposed for 1870 • Section 13: Limits on deficiency loans. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.14 proposed for 1870 • Section 14: Use of treasury money. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.15 proposed for 1870 • Section 15: Uniform property tax and assessment. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1869
- VIII.16 proposed for 1870 • Section 16: Bounty debt. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.17 proposed for 1870 • Section 17: State not to invest in corporations. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VIII.18 proposed for 1870 • Section 18: Salt springs not to be disposed of. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IX.1 proposed for 1870 • Section 1: Education funds preserved; how applied. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869