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.7 proposed for 1822 • Section 7: When president of senate to act as governor. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.1 proposed for 1822 • Section 1: Militia officers, how chosen. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.2 proposed for 1822 • Section 2: Governor to appoint certain militia officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.3 proposed for 1822 • Section 3: Legislature to regulate elections of militia officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.4 proposed for 1822 • Section 4: Commissioned officers; how commissioned and removed. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.5 proposed for 1822 • Section 5: Legislature may prescribe other modes of appointment and removal. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.6 proposed for 1822 • Section 6: State officers; how appointed. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.7 proposed for 1822 • Section 7: Governor to appoint judicial officers, except justices of the peace. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.8 proposed for 1822 • Section 8: Sheriffs, clerks, and registers; election and removal. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.9 proposed for 1822 • Section 9: District attorneys and clerks of courts; appointment and removal. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.10 proposed for 1822 • Section 10: Mayors, how appointed. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.11 proposed for 1822 • Section 11: Coroners, election and removal. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.12 proposed for 1822 • Section 12: Masters, examiners, and registers in chancery. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.13 proposed for 1822 • Section 13: Officers of other courts, how chosen. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.14 proposed for 1822 • Section 14: Justices’ courts in New York. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.15 proposed for 1822 • Section 15: Other officers, how chosen. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- IV.16 proposed for 1822 • Section 16: Duration of offices not herein provided for. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- V.1 proposed for 1822 • Section 1: Court of impeachment, and for correction of errors. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- V.2 proposed for 1822 • Section 2: Assembly may impeach civil officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- V.3 proposed for 1822 • Section 3: Chancellor and supreme court justices, official term. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- V.4 proposed for 1822 • Section 4: Supreme court, how constituted. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- V.5 proposed for 1822 • Section 5: Judicial circuits. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- V.6 proposed for 1822 • Section 6: County judges and recorders. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- V.7 proposed for 1822 • Section 7: Chancellor and supreme court judges to hold no other office. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VI.1 proposed for 1822 • Section 1: Official oath. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.1 proposed for 1822 • Section 1: Rights of citizens. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.2 proposed for 1822 • Section 2: Trial by jury preserved. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.3 proposed for 1822 • Section 3: Religious toleration. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.4 proposed for 1822 • Section 4: Clergymen not eligible to office. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.5 proposed for 1822 • Section 5: Militia to be maintained; who may be excused from service. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.6 proposed for 1822 • Section 6: Habeas corpus, when writ may be suspended. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.7 proposed for 1822 • Section 7: Rights of accused in criminal cases; taking private property for public use. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.8 proposed for 1822 • Section 8: Freedom of speech and press; evidence in libel cases. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.9 proposed for 1822 • Section 9: Two-thirds bills. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.10 proposed for 1822 • Section 10: Common school funds; canals; salt springs. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.11 proposed for 1822 • Section 11: Lotteries prohibited. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.12 proposed for 1822 • Section 12: Indian lands. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.13 proposed for 1822 • Section 13: Common law continued. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VII.14 proposed for 1822 • Section 14: Royal grants and charters preserved. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822
- VIII.1 proposed for 1822 • Section 1: Constitution, how amended. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1822