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!
- V.3 proposed for 1926 • Section 3: Legislature to provide for assignment of duties of civil departments. • In Article V: State Officers; Civil Service ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1925
- V.4 proposed for 1926 • Section 4: Comptroller and attorney general as department heads. • In Article V: State Officers; Civil Service ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1925
- V.5 proposed for 1926 • Section 5: Certain offices abolished. • In Article V: State Officers; Civil Service ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1925
- V.6 proposed for 1926 • Section 6: Civil service. • In Article V: State Officers; Civil Service ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1925
- VI.1 proposed for 1926 • Section 1: Supreme court; how constituted; judicial districts. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.2 proposed for 1926 • Section 2: Appellate division. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.3 proposed for 1926 • Section 3: Appellate term. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.4 proposed for 1926 • Section 4: Vacancies in supreme court. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.5 proposed for 1926 • Section 5: Court of appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.6 proposed for 1926 • Section 6: Vacancies in court of appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.7 proposed for 1926 • Section 7: Jurisdiction of court of appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.8 proposed for 1926 • Section 8: Appellate process. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.9 proposed for 1926 • Section 9: Removal of judges. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.10 proposed for 1926 • Section 10: Impeachments. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.11 proposed for 1926 • Section 11: County Courts. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.12 proposed for 1926 • Section 12: Local judicial officers; Special county judge and surrogate. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.13 proposed for 1926 • Section 13: Surrogates' courts. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.14 proposed for 1926 • Section 14: Court of general sessions of New York City continued. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.15 proposed for 1926 • Section 15: City court of New York City is continued. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.16 proposed for 1926 • Section 16: Judicial vacancies in New York City. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.17 proposed for 1926 • Section 17: Justices of the peace. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.18 proposed for 1926 • Section 18: Inferior local courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction may be established by the Legislature, but no inferior local court hereafter created shall be a court of record. Except as herein provided the Legislature shall not hereafter confer upon any inferior or local court of its creation, any equity jurisdiction or any greater jurisdiction in other respects than is conferred upon County Courts by or under this article. The legislature may establish children's courts, and courts of domestic relations, as separate courts, or as parts of existing courts or courts hereafter to be created, and may confer upon them such jurisdiction as may be necessary for the correction, protection, guardianship and disposition of delinquent, neglected or dependent minors, and for the punishment and correction of adults responsible for or contributing to such delinquency, neglect or dependency, and to compel the support of a wife, child or poor relative by persons legally chargeable therewith who abandon or neglect to support) any of them. In conferring such jurisdiction the legislature shall provide that whenever a child is committed to an institution or is placed in the custody of any person by parole, placing out, adoption or guardianship, it shall be so committed or placed, when practicable, to an institution governed by persons, or in the custody of a person, of the same religious persuasion as the child. In the exercise of such jurisdiction such courts may hear and determine such causes, with or without a jury, except those involving a felony. Except as herein otherwise provided, all judicial officers shall be elected or appointed at such times and in such manner as the Legislature may direct. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.19 proposed for 1926 • Section 19: Compensation for judges, justices, and surrogates. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.20 proposed for 1926 • Section 20: Testimony, jurisdiction, and proceedings in law and equity cases. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.21 proposed for 1926 • Section 21: Clerks of courts. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.22 proposed for 1926 • Section 22: Publication of statutes; court reports. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VI.23 proposed for 1926 • Section 23: Claims against the state. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1925
- VII.14 proposed for 1926 • Section 14: Legislature may provide for debt to eliminate railroad crossings. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1925
- VII.15 proposed for 1926 • Section 15: Process for legislature creating debts. • In Article VII: State Finance; Forest Preserve; Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1925
- VIII.11 proposed for 1926 • Section 11: State Board of Charities. • In Article VIII: Corporations and Charities ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1925
- I.7 proposed for 1928 • 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 8 of 1927
- III.2 proposed for 1928 • Section 2: Senate, number of — Assembly, number of. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1927
- III.6 proposed for 1928 • Section 6: Pay of members. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1927
- IV-A.1 proposed for 1928 • Section 1: Heads of departments to submit budget requests to governor. • In Article IV-A: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1927
- IV-A.2 proposed for 1928 • Section 2: Governor to submit budget proposal to legislature. • In Article IV-A: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1927
- IV-A.3 proposed for 1928 • Section 3: Governor and heads of departments to be heard by legislature re appropriations. • In Article IV-A: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1927
- IV-A.4 proposed for 1928 • Section 4: Legislature may propose appropriations after action on governor's bills. • In Article IV-A: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1927
- IV.1 proposed for 1928 • Section 1: Executive power, how vested. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1927
- IV.4 proposed for 1928 • Section 4: Duties and powers of Governor — His compensation. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1927
- IV.8 proposed for 1928 • Section 8: Compensation of Lieutenant-Governor. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1927