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!
- III.20 proposed for 1875 • Section 20: Tax law to state amount and object of tax. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1874
- III.21 proposed for 1875 • Section 21: Three-fifths bills. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1874
- III.22 proposed for 1875 • Section 22: Boards of supervisors. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1874
- III.23 proposed for 1875 • Section 23: Powers of boards of supervisors. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1874
- III.24 proposed for 1875 • Section 24: Extra compensation prohibited. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1874
- III.25 proposed for 1875 • Section 25: Statutory revision commission bills excepted from §§ 17 and 18. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1874
- IV.1 proposed for 1875 • Section 1: Governor and lieutenant governor; term of office. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1874
- IV.2 proposed for 1875 • Section 2: Qualifications of governor and lieutenant governor. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1874
- IV.4 proposed for 1875 • Section 4: Governor's general powers; compensation. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1874
- IV.8 proposed for 1875 • Section 8: Lieutenant governor's compensation. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1874
- IV.9 proposed for 1875 • Section 9: Executive consideration of bills; subsequent legislative action. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1874
- VII.3 proposed for 1875 • Section 3: Canal revenues. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1874
- VII.6 proposed for 1875 • Section 6: Canals not to be disposed of; expenditures and revenues. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1874
- VII.13 proposed for 1875 • Section 13: State sinking funds to be kept separate. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1874
- VII.14 proposed for 1875 • Section 14: Restriction on allowance of claims against state. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1874
- VIII.4 proposed for 1875 • Section 4: Savings banks. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1874
- VIII.10 proposed for 1875 • Section 10: No state aid to individuals or corporations. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1874
- VIII.11 proposed for 1875 • Section 11: Municipal aid prohibited, except for public purposes. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1874
- X.9 proposed for 1875 • Section 9: Constitutional officers not to receive extra compensation. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 8 of 1874
- XII.1 proposed for 1875 • Section 1: Oath of office. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 9 of 1874
- XV.1 proposed for 1875 • Section 1: Bribery of public officers. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 10 of 1874
- XV.2 proposed for 1875 • Section 2: Bribery, how punished. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 10 of 1874
- XV.3 proposed for 1875 • Section 3: Accused a competent witness in his own behalf. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 10 of 1874
- XV.4 proposed for 1875 • Section 4: Delinquent district attorney may be removed from office. ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 10 of 1874
- XVI.1 proposed for 1875 • Section 1: When amendments to take effect ◦ A Constitutional Commission proposed it to the Legislature which proposed to the voters ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 11 of 1874
- V.3 proposed for 1877 • Section 3: Superintendent of public works. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1876
- V.4 proposed for 1877 • Section 4: Superintendent of state prisons. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1876
- VI.6 proposed for 1880 • Section 6: Supreme court. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1879
- VI.12 proposed for 1881 • Section 12: City Courts. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1880
- VI.13 proposed for 1881 • Section 13: Justice of the Supreme Court or Judges of City Courts, how chosen— Term of office— Restriction as to age ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1880
- VII.3 proposed for 1883 • Section 3: No tolls to be imposed— Annual tax for expenses— Canal debt— Work and materials— No extra compensation to contractors. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1882
- VII.5 proposed for 1883 • Section 5: Annual tax to pay interest impose extinguish canal debt — Legislature may impose tax for fiscal year beginning October 1, 1883, sufficient to pay debt — Provision for retirement of debt. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1882
- VII.6 proposed for 1883 • Section 6: Certain Canals of the State not to be leaaed or sold — Funds from leases or sale, how applied. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1882
- VI.28.misnumbered proposed for 1883 • Section 28.misnumbered: Legislature to provide for not more than five general terms — Election of additional justices — When justices to be invested with office. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1882
- VIII.11 proposed for 1885 • Section 11: Counties, cities, towns and villages not to give money or property or loan their money or credit — Their power to contract debts limited. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1884
- VI.6 proposed for 1889 • Section 6: Supreme Court — Jurisdiction — Justices — Judicial Districts, number of Justices in ; may be altered without increasing number. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1888
- III.10 proposed for 1893 ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1892
- VI.12 proposed for 1893 ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1892
- VII.7 proposed for 1893 ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1892
- Preamble proposed for 1895 • Section : Preamble • In Article Preamble: ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894