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!
- XL proposed for 1777 • Section : Militia. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- XLI proposed for 1777 • Section : Trial by jury preserved. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- XLII proposed for 1777 • Section : Naturalization. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- Signature proposed for 1777 • Section : Signature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- Am.Preamble proposed for 1801 • Section : Preamble ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- IV proposed for 1801 • Section : Assembly, how constituted. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- V proposed for 1801 • Section : Census; reapportionment of assembly. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- X proposed for 1801 • Section : Senate, how constituted. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- XI proposed for 1801 • Section : Senators' term and classification. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- XII proposed for 1801 • Section : Senate districts. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- XVI proposed for 1801 • Section : Limitation of number of members. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- XXIII proposed for 1801 • Section : Officers, how appointed. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- Am.Signature proposed for 1801 • Section : Signature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ adopted without a vote
- Preamble proposed for 1822 • Section : Preamble ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.1 proposed for 1822 • Section 1: Legislative power. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.2 proposed for 1822 • Section 2: Senate and assembly, how constituted. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.3 proposed for 1822 • Section 3: Special powers of two houses. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.4 proposed for 1822 • Section 4: Journal of proceedings; public sessions; adjournments. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.5 proposed for 1822 • Section 5: Senate districts. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.6 proposed for 1822 • Section 6: Census; reapportionment of senators. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.7 proposed for 1822 • Section 7: Apportionment of members of assembly. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.8 proposed for 1822 • Section 8: Bills may originate in either house. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.9 proposed for 1822 • Section 9: Compensation of members. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.10 proposed for 1822 • Section 10: Members not to receive civil appointment. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.11 proposed for 1822 • Section 11: Disqualification of members. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.12 proposed for 1822 • Section 12: Governor to approve bills. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.13 proposed for 1822 • Section 13: Removals by legislature. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.14 proposed for 1822 • Section 14: Political year; meeting of legislature. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.15 proposed for 1822 • Section 15: Elections, when held. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- I.16 proposed for 1822 • Section 16: Commencement of official term after first election. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- II.1 proposed for 1822 • Section 1: Qualifications of voters. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- II.2 proposed for 1822 • Section 2: Exclusion from right of suffrage. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- II.3 proposed for 1822 • Section 3: Registration of voters. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- II.4 proposed for 1822 • Section 4: Elections to be by ballot. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- III.1 proposed for 1822 • Section 1: Governor and lieutenant governor; term of office. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- III.2 proposed for 1822 • Section 2: Qualifications of governor. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- III.3 proposed for 1822 • Section 3: Governor and lieutenant governor, election of. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- III.4 proposed for 1822 • Section 4: Governor's general powers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- III.5 proposed for 1822 • Section 5: Governor may grant pardons and reprieves. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- III.6 proposed for 1822 • Section 6: When lieutenant governor to act as governor. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822