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!
- XVII.4 proposed for 1916 • Section 4: Constitutional amendments to supersede amendments by Legislature. • In Article XVII: Time of taking effect ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- XVIII.1 proposed for 1916 • Section 1: When Constitution goes into operation. • In Article XVIII: Time of taking effect ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- Signature proposed for 1916 • Section : Signature • In Article Signature: ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1915
- II.1 proposed for 1918 • Section 1: Qualification of Voters. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1917
- VIII.10 proposed for 1918 • Section 10: Limitation of indebtedness of counties, cities, towns and villages; exception as to city of New York. • In Article VIII: Corporations and Charities ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1917
- VII.4 proposed for 1919 • Section 4: Limitation of legislative power to create debts. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1918
- VII.7 proposed for 1919 • Section 7: Forest preserve. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1918
- VII.8 proposed for 1919 • Section 8: Canals, not to be sold; not applied to certain canals; disposition of funds. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1918
- VII.11 proposed for 1919 • Section 11: Payment of State debts. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1918
- I.7 proposed for 1920 • Section 7: Compensation for taking private property; private roads; drainage of agricultural lands; excess condemnation. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1919
- II.1.a proposed for 1920 • Section 1: Absentee voting. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1919
- III.6 proposed for 1920 • Section 6: Pay of members. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1919
- VI.7 proposed for 1920 • Section 7: Court of Appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1919
- VII.2 proposed for 1921 • Section 2: State debts, power to contract. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1920
- VII.4 proposed for 1921 • Section 4: Limitation of legislative power to create debts. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1920
- VII.5 proposed for 1921 • Section 5: Sinking fund, how kept and invested. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1920
- VII.11 proposed for 1921 • Section 11: Payment of State debts. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1920
- VII.12 proposed for 1921 • Section 12: Improvement of highways. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1920
- II.1 proposed for 1922 • Section 1: Qualification of Voters. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1921
- III.6 proposed for 1922 • Section 6: Pay of members. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1921
- III.26 proposed for 1922 • Section 26: Boards of supervisors. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1921
- III.27 proposed for 1922 • Section 27: Local legislative powers. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1921
- V.9 proposed for 1922 • Section 9: Civil service. • In Article V: State Officers; Civil Service ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1921
- VI.18 proposed for 1922 • Section 18: Inferior local courts. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1921
- VII.8.version1 proposed for 1922 • Section 8.version1: Canals, not to be sold; not applied to certain canals; disposition of funds. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1921
- VII.8.version2 proposed for 1922 • Section 8.version2: Canals, not to be sold; not applied to certain canals; disposition of funds. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1921
- VI.7 proposed for 1923 • Section 7: Court of Appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1922
- XII.2 proposed for 1923 • Section 2: Classification of cities ; general and special city laws ; special city laws ; how passed by Legislature and accepted by cities. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1922
- II.1.a proposed for 1924 • Section 1.a: Absentee voting. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1923
- VII.7 proposed for 1924 • Section 7: Forest preserve. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1923
- VII.13 proposed for 1924 • Section 13: Bonus to honorably discharged soldiers, sailors and marines of the World War. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1923
- VIII.10-a proposed for 1924 • Section 10-a: Limitation of indebtedness of counties--change in system of taxation • In Article VIII: Corporations and Charities ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1923
- XII.2 proposed for 1924 • Section 2: Passage of special city laws by Legislature prohibited. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1923
- XII.3 proposed for 1924 • Section 3: Power of cities to enact local laws. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1923
- XII.4 proposed for 1924 • Section 4: Power of Legislature to enact certain local city laws. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1923
- XII.5 proposed for 1924 • Section 5: Power of Legislature to enact general city laws. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1923
- XII.6 proposed for 1924 • Section 6: Election of city officers, when to be held; extension and abridgment ofterms. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1923
- XII.7 proposed for 1924 • Section 7: Existing charters and laws continued in force. • In Article XII: Cities and Villages ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1923
- V.1 proposed for 1926 • Section 1: Comptroller and attorney general. • In Article V: State Officers; Civil Service ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1925
- V.2 proposed for 1926 • Section 2: Civil departments of state government. • In Article V: State Officers; Civil Service ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1925