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!
- XIII.7 proposed for 1939 • Section 7: Time of election of certain officers. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIII.8 proposed for 1939 • Section 8: Vacancies in office; how filled. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIII.9 proposed for 1939 • Section 9: Political year and legislative term. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIII.10 proposed for 1939 • Section 10: Removal from office for misconduct. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIII.11 proposed for 1939 • Section 11: When office to be deemed vacant; legislature may declare. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIII.12 proposed for 1939 • Section 12: Compensation of officers. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIV.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Forest preserve to be forever kept wild; certain highways authorized. • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIV.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Reservoirs. • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIV.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Wild life conservation and reforestation. • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIV.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Violations of article; how restrained. • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XV.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Disposition of canals and canal properties prohibited. • In Article XV: Canals ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XV.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Prohibition inapplicable to lands and properties no longer useful; disposition authorized. • In Article XV: Canals ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XV.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: No tolls to be imposed; contracts for work and materials; no extra compensation. • In Article XV: Canals ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVI.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Power of taxation; exemptions from taxation. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVI.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Assessments for taxation purposes. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVI.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Situs of intangible personal property; taxation of. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVI.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Certain corporations not to be discriminated against. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVI.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: Compensation of public officers and employees subject to taxation. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVII.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Public relief and care. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVII.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: State board of social welfare; powers and duties. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVII.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Public health. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVII.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Care and treatment of persons suffering from mental disorder or defect; visitation of institutions for. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVII.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: Institutions for detention of criminals; probation; parole; state commission of correction. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVII.6 proposed for 1939 • Section 6: Visitation and inspection. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XVIII.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Housing for persons of low income; slum clearance. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Idem; powers of legislature in aid of. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Article VII to apply to state debts under this article, with certain exceptions; capital and periodic subsidies. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.4 proposed for 1939 • Section 4: Powers of cities, towns and villages to contract indebtedness in aid of low rent housing and slum clearance projects; restrictions thereon. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.5 proposed for 1939 • Section 5: Liability for certain loans made by the state to certain public corporations. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.6 proposed for 1939 • Section 6: Loans and subsidies; restrictions on and preference in occupancy of projects. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.7 proposed for 1939 • Section 7: Liability arising from guarantees to be deemed indebtedness; method of computing. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.8 proposed for 1939 • Section 8: Excess condemnation. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.9 proposed for 1939 • Section 9: Acquisition of property for purposes of article. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XVIII.10 proposed for 1939 • Section 10: Power of legislature; construction of article. • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1938
- XIX.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Amendments to constitution; how proposed, voted upon and ratified. • In Article XIX: Amendments to Constitution ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIX.2 proposed for 1939 • Section 2: Future constitutional conventions; how called; election of delegates; compensation; quorum; submission of amendments; officers; employees; rules; vacancies. • In Article XIX: Amendments to Constitution ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XIX.3 proposed for 1939 • Section 3: Amendments simultaneously submitted by convention and legislature. • In Article XIX: Amendments to Constitution ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- XX.1 proposed for 1939 • Section 1: Time of taking effect. • In Article XX: When To Take Effect ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- Signature proposed for 1939 • Section : Signature • In Article Signature: ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938
- I.9 proposed for 1940 • Section 9: Right to assemble and petition; divorce; lotteries; pool-selling and gambling; laws to prevent. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1939