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!
- XIV.1 proposed for 1958 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1957
- IX.1 proposed for 1959 • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1958
- IX.2 proposed for 1959 • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1958
- IX.3 proposed for 1959 • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1958
- IX.4 proposed for 1959 • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1958
- IX.5 proposed for 1959 • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1958
- IX.8 proposed for 1959 • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1958
- IX.9 proposed for 1959 • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1958
- IX.13 proposed for 1959 • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1958
- VII.9 proposed for 1959 • Section 9: Short term state debts in anticipation of taxes, revenues and proceeds of sale of authorized bonds • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1958
- V.2 proposed for 1960 • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1959
- XIV.1 proposed for 1960 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1959
- I.6 proposed for 1960 • Section 6: Rights, privileges and franchise secured; power of legislature to dispense with primary elecftions in certain cases. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1959
- VIII.7 proposed for 1960 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1959
- I.1 proposed for 1960 • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1959
- XV.4 proposed for 1960 • Section 4: Lease or transfer to federal government of barge canal system authorized • In Article XV: Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1959
- VIII.1.version1 proposed for 1960 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1959
- III.22 proposed for 1960 • Section 22: Tax laws to state tax and object distinctly; definition of income for income tax purposes by reference to federal laws authorized • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 8 of 1959
- VIII.1.version2 proposed for 1960 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 9 of 1959
- VI.1 proposed for 1962 • Section 1: Unified court system; organization; process • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.2 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.3 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.4 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.5 proposed for 1962 • Section 5: Appeals from judgment or order; new trial • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.6 proposed for 1962 • Section 6: Judicial districts; how constituted; supreme court • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.7 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.8 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.9 proposed for 1962 • Section 9: Court of claims; jurisdiction • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.10 proposed for 1962 • Section 10: County courts; judges • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.11 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.12 proposed for 1962 • Section 12: Surrogate's courts; judges; jurisdiction • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.13 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.14 proposed for 1962 • Section 14: Discharge of duties of more than one judicial office by same judicial officer • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.15 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.16 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.17 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.18 proposed for 1962 • Section 18: Trial by jury; trial without jury; claims against state • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.19 proposed for 1962 • Section 19: Transfer of actions and proceedings • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.20 proposed for 1962 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961
- VI.21 proposed for 1962 • Section 21: Vacancies; how filled • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961