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!
- IX.1 proposed for 1895 • Section 1: Provision for maintenance of free schools. • In Article IX: Education ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- IX.2 proposed for 1895 • Section 2: University of the State of New York. • In Article IX: Education ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- IX.3 proposed for 1895 • Section 3: Common school, literature and United States deposit funds. • In Article IX: Education ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- IX.4 proposed for 1895 • Section 4: Property, credit or public money, not to be used. • In Article IX: Education ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.1 proposed for 1895 • Section 1: Sheriffs, clerks of counties, register and clerk of New York, coroners and district attorneys — Governor may remove. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.2 proposed for 1895 • Section 2: Officers, how chosen or appointed. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.3 proposed for 1895 • Section 3: Duration of office. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.4 proposed for 1895 • Section 4: Time of election. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.5 proposed for 1895 • Section 5: Vacancies in office, how filled. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.6 proposed for 1895 • Section 6: Political year. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.7 proposed for 1895 • Section 7: Removal from office. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.8 proposed for 1895 • Section 8: When office deemed vacant. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- X.9 proposed for 1895 • Section 9: Compensation of certain officers. • In Article X: Local Officers; General Provisions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XI.1 proposed for 1895 • Section 1: Militia. • In Article XI: Militia ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XI.2 proposed for 1895 • Section 2: Provisions for enlistment. • In Article XI: Militia ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XI.3 proposed for 1895 • Section 3: Organization and maintenance of militia. • In Article XI: Militia ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XI.4 proposed for 1895 • Section 4: Officers to be appointed by the Governor. • In Article XI: Militia ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XI.5 proposed for 1895 • Section 5: Commissioned and non-commissioned, how chosen. • In Article XI: Militia ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XI.6 proposed for 1895 • Section 6: Officers, how commissioned. • In Article XI: Militia ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XII.1 proposed for 1895 • Section 1: Provision for organization of cities, incorporated villages, etc. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XII.2 proposed for 1895 • Section 2: Classification of cities, etc. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XII.3 proposed for 1895 • Section 3: Elections, how held. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIII.1 proposed for 1895 • Section 1: Oath of office. • In Article XIII: Official Oath; Bribery; Passes ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIII.2 proposed for 1895 • Section 2: Bribery and corruption. • In Article XIII: Official Oath; Bribery; Passes ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIII.3 proposed for 1895 • Section 3: Offer of bribery a felony. • In Article XIII: Official Oath; Bribery; Passes ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIII.4 proposed for 1895 • Section 4: Witness. • In Article XIII: Official Oath; Bribery; Passes ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIII.5 proposed for 1895 • Section 5: Free passes of transportation, a misdemeanor. • In Article XIII: Official Oath; Bribery; Passes ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIII.6 proposed for 1895 • Section 6: Removal of district attorney. • In Article XIII: Official Oath; Bribery; Passes ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIV.1 proposed for 1895 • Section 1: Amendments. • In Article XIV: Amendments and Conventions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIV.2 proposed for 1895 • Section 2: Constitutional Convention. • In Article XIV: Amendments and Conventions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XIV.3 proposed for 1895 • Section 3: Constitutional amendments to supersede amendments by Legislature. • In Article XIV: Amendments and Conventions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- XV.1 proposed for 1895 • Section 1: When Constitution goes into operation. • In Article XV: When Constitution to Take Effect ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- Signature proposed for 1895 • Section : Signature • In Article Signature: ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1894
- VII.7 proposed for 1897 • Section 7: Forest preserve. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1896
- III.26 proposed for 1900 • Section 26: Boards of supervisors. • In Article III: The Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1899
- VI.2 proposed for 1900 • Section 2: Judicial departments; appellate division, how constituted; Governor to designate justices; reporter; time and place of holding; courts. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1899
- VI.7 proposed for 1900 • Section 7: Court of Appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1899
- VIII.10 proposed for 1900 • Section 10: Counties, cities, and towns not to give money or credit; limitation of indebtedness. • In Article VIII: Corporations and Charities ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1899
- III.18 proposed for 1902 • Section 18: Cases in which private and local bills shall not be passed ; restrictions as to laws authorizing street railroads. • In Article III: The Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1901
- VI.1 proposed for 1906 • Section 1: Supreme Court ; how constituted ; judicial districts. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1905