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!
- X.2 proposed for 1847 • Section 2: Local officers, how chosen. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- X.3 proposed for 1847 • Section 3: Duration of certain offices, how fixed. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- X.4 proposed for 1847 • Section 4: Legislature to prescribe time of elections. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- X.5 proposed for 1847 • Section 5: Vacancies. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- X.6 proposed for 1847 • Section 6: Political year and legislative term; opening of legislature. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- X.7 proposed for 1847 • Section 7: Removal of officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- X.8 proposed for 1847 • Section 8: Legislature may determine vacancies. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XI.1 proposed for 1847 • Section 1: Militia. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XI.2 proposed for 1847 • Section 2: Militia officers, how chosen. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XI.3 proposed for 1847 • Section 3: Governor to appoint certain militia officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XI.4 proposed for 1847 • Section 4: Election of militia officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XI.5 proposed for 1847 • Section 5: Commissioned officers; removal. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XI.6 proposed for 1847 • Section 6: Method of choosing militia officers may be changed. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XII.1 proposed for 1847 • Section 1: Oath of office. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIII.1 proposed for 1847 • Section 1: Constitution, how amended. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIII.2 proposed for 1847 • Section 2: Constitutional conventions. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.1 proposed for 1847 • Section 1: First election of legislature under this Constitution. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.2 proposed for 1847 • Section 2: First election of governor and lieutenant governor. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.3 proposed for 1847 • Section 3: State officers continued until expiration of term. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.4 proposed for 1847 • Section 4: First election of judges. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.5 proposed for 1847 • Section 5: Transfer of business of certain courts. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.6 proposed for 1847 • Section 6: Chancellor and supreme court to complete certain business. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.7 proposed for 1847 • Section 7: Governor to fill vacancies. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.8 proposed for 1847 • Section 8: Certain judicial offices abolished. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.9 proposed for 1847 • Section 9: Incumbents of abolished offices eligible to new office. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.10 proposed for 1847 • Section 10: County officers to continue until expiration of term. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.11 proposed for 1847 • Section 11: Judicial officers may continue to receive certain fees. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.12 proposed for 1847 • Section 12: Local courts continued. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- XIV.13 proposed for 1847 • Section 13: When Constitution to take effect. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- Signature proposed for 1847 • Section : Signature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1846
- II.1.alternate proposed for 1847 • Section 1.alternate: Qualifications of voters. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1846
- II.1 proposed for 1847 • Section 1: Qualifications of voters. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1846
- VII.3 proposed for 1854 • Section 3: Canal revenues. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1854
- II.1 proposed for 1864 • Section 1: Qualification of voters. ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1864
- Preamble proposed for 1870 • Section : Preamble. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- I.1 proposed for 1870 • Section 1: Rights of citizens. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- I.2 proposed for 1870 • Section 2: Trial by jury preserved. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- I.3 proposed for 1870 • Section 3: Religious liberty. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- I.4 proposed for 1870 • Section 4: When writ of habeas corpus not to be suspended. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- I.5 proposed for 1870 • Section 5: Excessive bail, fines, and punishment prohibited; rights of witness. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869