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!
- XI.12 proposed for 1916 • Section 12: Local contracting of debt. • In Article XI: Corporations; municipal debts; boards and commissions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XI.13 proposed for 1916 • Section 13: State Board of Charities. • In Article XI: Corporations; municipal debts; boards and commissions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XI.14 proposed for 1916 • Section 14: Same subject. • In Article XI: Corporations; municipal debts; boards and commissions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XI.15 proposed for 1916 • Section 15: Inspection of institutions. • In Article XI: Corporations; municipal debts; boards and commissions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XI.16 proposed for 1916 • Section 16: Maintenance of charitable institutions. • In Article XI: Corporations; municipal debts; boards and commissions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XI.17 proposed for 1916 • Section 17: Commissioners, terms of office, etc. • In Article XI: Corporations; municipal debts; boards and commissions ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XII.1 proposed for 1916 • Section 1: Provision for maintenance of free schools. • In Article XII: Education ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XII.2 proposed for 1916 • Section 2: University of the State of New York. • In Article XII: Education ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XII.3 proposed for 1916 • Section 3: Common school, literature and United States deposit funds. • In Article XII: Education ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XII.4 proposed for 1916 • Section 4: Property, credit or public money, not to be used. • In Article XII: Education ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.1 proposed for 1916 • Section 1: Sheriffs, clerks of counties, register and clerk of New York, coroners and district attorneys — Governor may remove. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.2 proposed for 1916 • Section 2: Officers, how chosen or appointed. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.3 proposed for 1916 • Section 3: Duration of office. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.4 proposed for 1916 • Section 4: Time of election. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.5 proposed for 1916 • Section 5: Vacancies in office, how filled. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.6 proposed for 1916 • Section 6: Removal from office. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.7 proposed for 1916 • Section 7: When office deemed vacant. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.8 proposed for 1916 • Section 8: Compensation of certain officers. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.9 proposed for 1916 • Section 9: Certain offices abolished. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIII.10 proposed for 1916 • Section 10: Civil service. • In Article XIII: Officers generally ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIV.1 proposed for 1916 • Section 1: Militia. • In Article XIV: Military ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIV.2 proposed for 1916 • Section 2: Provisions for enlistment. • In Article XIV: Military ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIV.3 proposed for 1916 • Section 3: Organization and maintenance of militia. • In Article XIV: Military ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIV.4 proposed for 1916 • Section 4: Officers to be appointed by the Governor. • In Article XIV: Military ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIV.5 proposed for 1916 • Section 5: Commissioned and non-commissioned, how chosen. • In Article XIV: Military ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XIV.6 proposed for 1916 • Section 6: Officers, how commissioned. • In Article XIV: Military ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XV.1 proposed for 1916 • Section 1: Organization of cities and villages. • In Article XV: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XV.2 proposed for 1916 • Section 2: Organization of cities and villages. • In Article XV: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XV.3 proposed for 1916 • Section 3: Local control of cities. • In Article XV: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XV.4 proposed for 1916 • Section 4: Classification of cities ; general and special city laws ; special city laws ; how passed by Legislature and accepted by cities. • In Article XV: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XV.5 proposed for 1916 • Section 5: Elections, how held. • In Article XV: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVI.1 proposed for 1916 • Section 1: Oath of office. • In Article XVI: Official corruption ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVI.2 proposed for 1916 • Section 2: Bribery and corruption. • In Article XVI: Official corruption ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVI.3 proposed for 1916 • Section 3: Offer of bribery a felony. • In Article XVI: Official corruption ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVI.4 proposed for 1916 • Section 4: Witness. • In Article XVI: Official corruption ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVI.5 proposed for 1916 • Section 5: Free passes of transportation, a misdemeanor. • In Article XVI: Official corruption ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVI.6 proposed for 1916 • Section 6: Removal of district attorney. • In Article XVI: Official corruption ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVII.1 proposed for 1916 • Section 1: Amendments. • In Article XVII: Constitutional amendments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVII.2 proposed for 1916 • Section 2: Constitutional Convention. • In Article XVII: Constitutional amendments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVII.3 proposed for 1916 • Section 3: Right to contest validity of election of proposed amendments in supreme court. • In Article XVII: Time of taking effect ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915