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!
- III.13 proposed for 1939 • Section 13: Enacting clause of bills; no law to be enacted except by bill. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.14 proposed for 1939 • Section 14: Manner of passing bills; message of necessity for immediate vote. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.15 proposed for 1939 • Section 15: Private or local bills to embrace only one subject, expressed in title. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.16 proposed for 1939 • Section 16: Existing law not to be made applicable by reference. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.17 proposed for 1939 • Section 17: Cases in which private or local bills shall not be passed; restrictions as to certain laws relating to street railroads. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.18 proposed for 1939 • Section 18: Restrictions on the legislature respecting the making or use of profits by municipal corporations operating certain utility services. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.19 proposed for 1939 • Section 19: Private claims not to be audited by legislature; claims barred by lapse of time. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.20 proposed for 1939 • Section 20: Two-thirds bills. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.21 proposed for 1939 • Section 21: Certain sections not to apply to bills recommended by certain commissioners or public agencies. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.22 proposed for 1939 • Section 22: Tax laws to state tax and object distinctly. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.23 proposed for 1939 • Section 23: When yeas and nays necessary; three-fifths to constitute quorum. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- III.24 proposed for 1939 • Section 24: Prison labor; contract system abolished • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- IV.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Executive power; election and terms of governor and lieutenant-governor. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- IV.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Qualifications of governor and lieutenant-governor. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- IV.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Powers and duties of governor; compensation. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- IV.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Reprieves, commutations and pardons; powers and duties of governor relating to grants of. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- IV.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: When lieutenant-governor to act as governor. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- IV.6 proposed for 1939 • Section 6: Duties and compensation of lieutenant-governor; succession to the governorship. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- IV.7 proposed for 1939 • Section 7: Action by governor on legislative bills; reconsideration after veto. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- IV.8 proposed for 1939 • Section 8: Departmental rules and regulations; filing; publication. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- V.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Comptroller and attorney-general; payment of state moneys without audit void. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- V.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Civil departments in the state government. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- V.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Assignment of functions; new departments prohibited. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- V.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Department heads. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- V.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: Certain offices abolished. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- V.6 proposed for 1939 • Section 6: Civil service appointments and promotions. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- V.7 proposed for 1939 • Section 7: Membership in retirement systems; benefits not to be diminished nor impaired. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- VI.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Supreme court; how constituted; judicial districts. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Judicial departments; appellate divisions, how constituted; Governor to designate justices; jurisdiction, time and place of holding courts; attendants. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Appellate terms in first and second departments; appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Terms of office; vacancies, how filled. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: Court of appeals; organization; designations. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.6 proposed for 1939 • Section 6: Court of appeals; vacancies, how filled. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.7 proposed for 1939 • Section 7: Jurisdiction of court of appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.8 proposed for 1939 • Section 8: Appeals from judgment or order; new trial. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.9 proposed for 1939 • Section 9: Removal of judges and justices. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.10 proposed for 1939 • Section 10: Trial of impeachments. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.11 proposed for 1939 • Section 11: County courts; jurisdiction. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.12 proposed for 1939 • Section 12: Special county judge or surrogate. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938
- VI.13 proposed for 1939 • Section 13: Surrogates' court; surrogates, their powers and jurisdiction; relief of. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1938