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!
- XVI.6 proposed for 2002 • Section 6: Public improvements or services; contract of indebtedness; creation of public corporations • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- XVII.4 proposed for 2002 • Section 4: Care and treatment of persons suffering from mental disorder or defect; visitation of institutions for • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- XIX.1 proposed for 2002 • Section 1: Amendments to constitution; how proposed, voted upon and ratified; failure of attorney-general to render opinion not to affect validity • In Article XIX: Amendments to Constitution ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- XIX.2 proposed for 2002 • Section 2: Future constitutional conventions; how called; election of delegates; compensation; quorum; submission of amendments; officers; employees; rules; vacancies • In Article XIX: Amendments to Constitution ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001
- VIII.5 proposed for 2004 • In Article VIII: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2003
- VIII.4 proposed for 2004 • In Article VIII: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 2003
- IV.7 proposed for 2006 • In Article IV: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005
- VII.1 proposed for 2006 • In Article VII: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005
- VII.2 proposed for 2006 • In Article VII: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005
- VII.3 proposed for 2006 • In Article VII: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005
- VII.4 proposed for 2006 • In Article VII: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005
- VII.5 proposed for 2006 • In Article VII: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005
- VII.6 proposed for 2006 • In Article VII: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005
- VII.17 proposed for 2006 • In Article VII: ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2005
- XIV.1 proposed for 2008 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2007
- V.6 proposed for 2009 • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2008
- XIV.1 proposed for 2010 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2009
- III.24 proposed for 2010 • Section 24: Prison labor; contract system abolished • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 2009
- I.9 proposed for 2014 • Section 9: Right to assemble and petition; divorce; lotteries; pool-selling and gambling; laws to prevent; pari-mutuel 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 2013
- V.6 proposed for 2014 • Section 6: Civil service appointments and promotions; veterans’ credits • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 2013
- VIII.5 proposed for 2014 • Section 5: Ascertainment of debt-incurring power of counties, cities, towns and villages; certain indebtedness to be excluded • In Article VIII: Local Finances ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 2013
- XIV.1.version1 proposed for 2014 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 2013
- XIV.1.version2 proposed for 2014 • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 2013
- XIV.1.merged proposed for 2014 • Section 1.merged: Forest preserve to be forever kept wild; authorized uses and exceptions • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment of #N/A
- XIV.1.merged proposed for 2014 • Section 1.merged: Forest preserve to be forever kept wild; authorized uses and exceptions • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment of #N/A
- VI.2 proposed for 2014 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 2013
- VI.25 proposed for 2014 • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 2013
- III.4 proposed for 2015 • Section 4: Readjustments and reapportionments; when federal census to control • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2014
- III.5 proposed for 2015 • Section 5: Apportionment of assemblymen; creation of assembly districts • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2014
- III.5-b proposed for 2015 • Section 5-b: Independent redistricting commission • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2014
- III.14 proposed for 2015 • Section 14: Manner of passing bills; message of necessity for immediate vote • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 2014
- V.7 proposed for 2018 • Section 7: Membership in retirement systems; benefits not to be diminished nor impaired. • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 2017
- XIV.1 proposed for 2018 • Section 1: Forest preserve to be forever kept wild; authorized uses and exceptions • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 2017
- XIV.6 proposed for 2018 • Section 6: Highways and utilities in forest preserves • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 2017