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!
- I.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Rights, privileges and franchise secured. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Trial by jury; how waived. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Freedom of worship; religious liberty. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Habeas corpus. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: Bail; fines; punishments; detention of witnesses. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.6 proposed for 1939 • Section 6: Grand jury; protection of certain enumerated rights; waiver of immunity by public officers required. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.7 proposed for 1939 • Section 7: Compensation for taking private property; private roads; drainage of agricultural lands; excess condemnation. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.8 proposed for 1939 • Section 8: Freedom of speech and press; criminal prosecutions for libel. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.9 proposed for 1939 • Section 9: Right to assemble and petition; divorce; lotteries; pool-selling and gambling; laws to prevent. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.10 proposed for 1939 • Section 10: Ownership of lands; allodial tenures; escheats. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.11 proposed for 1939 • Section 11: Equal protection of laws; discrimination in civil rights prohibited. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.12 proposed for 1939 • Section 12: Security against unreasonable searches, seizures and interceptions. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.13 proposed for 1939 • Section 13: Purchase of lands of Indians. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.14 proposed for 1939 • Section 14: Common law and acts of the colonial and state legislatures. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.15 proposed for 1939 • Section 15: Certain grants of lands and of charters made by the king of Great Britain and the state; obligations and contracts not to be impaired. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.16 proposed for 1939 • Section 16: Damages for injuries causing death. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.17 proposed for 1939 • Section 17: Labor not a commodity; hours and wages in public work; right to organize and bargain collectively. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1938
- I.18 proposed for 1939 • Section 18: Workmen's compensation. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Qualifications of voters. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Absentee voting. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Persons excluded from the right of suffrage. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Certain occupations and conditions not to affect residence. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: Registration and election laws to be passed. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.6 proposed for 1939 • Section 6: Permanent registration. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.7 proposed for 1939 • Section 7: Manner of voting; identification of voters. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.8 proposed for 1939 • Section 8: Bi-partisan registration and election boards. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- II.9 proposed for 1939 • Section 9: Ban on proportional representation. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1938
- III.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Legislative power. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Number and terms of senators and assemblymen. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1938
- III.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Senate districts. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1938
- III.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Readjustments and reapportionments. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1938
- III.4.continued proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Readjustments and reapportionments. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1938
- III.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: Apportionment of assemblymen; creation of assembly districts. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1938
- III.6 proposed for 1939 • Section 6: Compensation and traveling expenses of members. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.7 proposed for 1939 • Section 7: Members; qualifications; not to receive certain civil appointments; acceptance to vacate seat. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.8 proposed for 1939 • Section 8: Time of elections of members. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.9 proposed for 1939 • Section 9: Powers of each house. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.10 proposed for 1939 • Section 10: Journals; open sessions; adjournments. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.11 proposed for 1939 • Section 11: Members not to be questioned for speeches. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.12 proposed for 1939 • Section 12: Bills may originate in either house; may be amended by the other. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938