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!
- VIII.10 proposed for 1986 • Section 10: Limitations on amount to be raised by real estate taxes for local purposes; exceptions • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1985
- V.6 proposed for 1988 • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1987
- XIV.1 proposed for 1988 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1987
- XIII.13 proposed for 1990 • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1989
- XIV.1 proposed for 1992 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1991
- XV.1 proposed for 1992 • Section 1: Disposition of canals and canal properties prohibited • In Article XV: Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1991
- XV.2 proposed for 1992 • Section 2: Prohibition inapplicable to lands and properties no longer useful; disposition authorized • In Article XV: Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1991
- XV.3 proposed for 1992 • Section 3: Contracts for work and materials; special revenue fund • In Article XV: Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1991
- VII.11 proposed for 1994 • Section 11: State debts generally; manner of contracting; referendum • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1993
- VII.12 proposed for 1994 • Section 12: State debts generally; how paid; contribution to sinking funds; restrictions on use of bond proceeds • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1993
- VII.13 proposed for 1994 • Section 13: Refund of state debts • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1993
- VIII.2 proposed for 1994 • Section 2: Restrictions on indebtedness of local subdivisions; contracting and payment of local indebtedness; exceptions • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1993
- VII.16 proposed for 1994 • Section 16: Payment of state debts; when comptroller to pay without appropriation • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1993
- VI.15 proposed for 1996 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1995
- VI.16 proposed for 1996 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1995
- II.1 proposed for 1996 • Section 1: Qualifications of voters • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1995
- II.5 proposed for 1996 • Section 5: Registration and election laws to be passed • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1995
- II.6 proposed for 1996 • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1995
- II.8 proposed for 1996 • Section 8: Bi-partisan registration and election boards • In Article II: Suffrage ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1995
- VII.1 proposed for 1996 • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1995
- VII.2 proposed for 1996 • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1995
- VII.10 proposed for 1996 • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1995
- VII.11 proposed for 1996 • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1995
- VII.16 proposed for 1996 • In Article VII: State Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1995
- XIV.1 proposed for 1996 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1995
- VI.15 proposed for 1998 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1997
- VI.16 proposed for 1998 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1997
- V.6 proposed for 1998 • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1997
- VI.26 proposed for 2000 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1999
- I.1 proposed for 2002 • Section 1: Rights, privileges and franchise secured; power of legislature to dispense with primary elections in certain cases • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- I.3 proposed for 2002 • Section 3: Trial by jury; how waived • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- I.6 proposed for 2002 • Section 6: Grand jury; protection of certain enumerated rights; duty of public officers to sign waiver of immunity and give testimony; penalty for refusal • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- I.8 proposed for 2002 • Section 8: Freedom of speech and press; criminal prosecutions for libel • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- I.9 proposed for 2002 • Section 9: Right to assemble and petition; divorce; lotteries; pool-selling and gambling; laws to prevent; pari-mutual betting on horse races permitted; games of chance, bingo or lotto authorized under certain restrictions • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- I.11 proposed for 2002 • Section 11: Equal protection of laws; discrimination in civil rights prohibited • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- I.17 proposed for 2002 • Section 17: Labor not a commodity; hours and wages in public work; right to organize and bargain collectively • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- ? proposed for 2004 • In Article ?: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2003
- I.18 proposed for 2002 • Section 18: Workers' compensation • In Article I: Bill Of Rights ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- V.6 proposed for 2004 • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 2003
- #N/A proposed for 2006 • In Article : ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005