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!
- XI.4 proposed for 1963 • In Article XI: Education ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1962
- XII.1 proposed for 1963 • Section 1: Defense; militia • In Article XII: Defense ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1962
- XII.2 proposed for 1963 • In Article XII: Defense ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1962
- XII.3 proposed for 1963 • In Article XII: Defense ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1962
- XII.4 proposed for 1963 • In Article XII: Defense ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1962
- XII.5 proposed for 1963 • In Article XII: Defense ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1962
- XII.6 proposed for 1963 • In Article XII: Defense ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1962
- III.3 proposed for 1963 • Section 3: Senate districts • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1962
- II.2 proposed for 1964 • Section 2: Absentee voting • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1963
- II.9 proposed for 1964 • Section 9: Presidential elections; special voting procedures authorized. • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1963
- IV.3 proposed for 1964 • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1963
- IV.5 proposed for 1964 • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1963
- IV.6 proposed for 1964 • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1963
- III.9 proposed for 1964 • Section 9: Powers of each house • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1963
- XIII.7 proposed for 1964 • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1963
- III.25 proposed for 1964 • Section 25: Emergency governmental operations; legislature to provide for • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1963
- I.7 proposed for 1964 • Section 7: Compensation for taking private property; private roads; drainage of agricultural lands. • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- III.18 proposed for 1964 • 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 the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- VIII.12 proposed for 1964 • Section 12: Powers of local governments to be restricted; further limitations on contracting local indebtedness authorized • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- XIII.13 proposed for 1964 • Section 13: Law enforcement and other officers • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- XIII.14 proposed for 1964 • Section 14: Employees of, and contractors for, the state and local governments; wages, hours and other provisions to be regulated by legislature • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.1 proposed for 1964 • Section 1: Bill of rights for local governments. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.2 proposed for 1964 • Section 2: Powers and duties of legislature; home rule powers of local governments; statute of local governments. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.3 proposed for 1964 • Section 3: Existing laws to remain applicable; construction; definitions. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.4 proposed for 1964 • Section 4: Further powers of local legislation and administration for counties; county auditors. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.5 proposed for 1964 • Section 5: Sheriffs; clerks of counties; district attorneys; registers; power of approval. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.6 proposed for 1964 • Section 6: Removal of district attorney for failure to prosecute; expenses in prosecutions of bribery. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.7 proposed for 1964 • Section 7: Appointment or election of county officers when not provided for by the constitution. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.8 proposed for 1964 • Section 8: Powers of the city of New York over certain county officers; restrictions on legislature; appointment or election of officers generally when not provided for by constitution. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.9 proposed for 1964 • Section 9: Cities and villages; organization; powers to be restricted. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.10 proposed for 1964 • Section 10: Extra compensation prohibited. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.11 proposed for 1964 • Section 11: Passage of special city laws prohibited; exceptions. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.12 proposed for 1964 • Section 12: Power of cities to enact local laws relating to property, affairs or government. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.13 proposed for 1964 • Section 13: Existing laws to remain applicable; reservation of power in legislature over certain matters. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.14 proposed for 1964 • Section 14: Annexation of territory of cities. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.15 proposed for 1964 • Section 15: Election of city officers and certain county officers to be held in odd-numbered years. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- IX.16 proposed for 1964 • Section 16: Villages of five thousand or more; home rule for; duty of and restrictions on legislature respecting. • In Article IX: Local Governments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963
- VIII.5 proposed for 1964 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1963
- VIII.1 proposed for 1964 • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1963
- XIV.1 proposed for 1964 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1963