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!
- VII.14 proposed for 1942 • Section 14: State debt for elimination of railroad crossings at grade; expenses; how borne; construction and reconstruction of state highways and parkways • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1941
- III.2 proposed for 1942 • Section 2: Senate, number of — Assembly, number of. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1941
- XIX.1 proposed for 1942 • Section 1: Amendments to constitution; how proposed, voted upon and ratified. • In Article XIX: Amendments to Constitution ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1941
- XIV.1 proposed for 1942 • Section 1: Forest preserve to be forever kept wild; certain highways authorized. • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1941
- V.2 proposed for 1944 • Section 2: Civil departments in the state government. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1943
- VII.17 proposed for 1944 • Section 17: Authorizing the legislature to establish a fund or funds for tax revenue stabilization reserves; regulating payments thereto and withdrawals therefrom • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1943
- III.5 proposed for 1944 • Section 5: Apportionment of assemblymen; creation of assembly districts. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1943
- II.1 proposed for 1944 • Section 1: Qualifications of voters. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1943
- III.7 proposed for 1944 • Section 7: Qualifications of members; prohibitions on certain civil appointments; acceptance to vacate seat • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1943
- VI.7 proposed for 1944 • Section 7: Jurisdiction of court of appeals. • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1943
- IV.1 proposed for 1946 • Section 1: Executive power; election and terms of governor and lieutenant-governor. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1945
- IV.6 proposed for 1946 • Section 6: Duties and compensation of lieutenant-governor; succession to the governorship. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1945
- II.1 proposed for 1946 • Section 1: Qualifications of voters. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1945
- III.4 proposed for 1946 • Section 4: Readjustments and reapportionments; when federal census to control. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1945
- III.5 proposed for 1946 • Section 5: Apportionment of assemblymen; creation of assembly districts. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1945
- IX.1 proposed for 1946 • Section 1: Counties; organization and government; restrictions on legislature with respect to laws affecting. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1945
- V.6 proposed for 1946 • Section 6: Civil service appointments and promotions. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1945
- VII.18 proposed for 1948 • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1947
- II.2 proposed for 1948 • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1947
- III.6 proposed for 1948 • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1947
- VI.9-a proposed for 1948 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1947
- VI.1 proposed for 1948 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1947
- XIV.1 proposed for 1948 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1947
- IV.5 proposed for 1950 • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1949
- VII.18 proposed for 1950 • Section 18: Bonus on account of service of certain veterans in World War II • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1949
- VI.23 proposed for 1950 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1949
- I.6 proposed for 1950 • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1949
- V.6 proposed for 1950 • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1949
- XVIII.4 proposed for 1950 • 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 the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1949
- VIII.2 proposed for 1950 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1949
- VIII.5 proposed for 1950 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1949
- VIII.7 proposed for 1950 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1949
- VIII.10 proposed for 1950 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 8 of 1949
- VIII.10-a proposed for 1950 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 8 of 1949
- VIII.11 proposed for 1950 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 8 of 1949
- II.1 proposed for 1952 • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1951
- II.5 proposed for 1952 • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1951
- VII.8 proposed for 1952 • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1951
- X.6 proposed for 1952 • Section 6: Liability of state for payment of bonds of public corporation to construct state thruways; use of state canal lands and properties • In Article X: Corporations ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1951
- VI.7 proposed for 1952 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1951