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!
- III.20 proposed for 1870 • Section 20: Term of certain offices, how fixed. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- III.21 proposed for 1870 • Section 21: Political year and legislative term; opening of legislature. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- III.22 proposed for 1870 • Section 22: Certain offices abolished. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- III.23 proposed for 1870 • Section 23: Lotteries prohibited. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- III.24 proposed for 1870 • Section 24: Private and local bills. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- III.25 proposed for 1870 • Section 25: Local and special laws. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.1 proposed for 1870 • Section 1: Governor and lieutenant governor; term of office. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.2 proposed for 1870 • Section 2: Qualifications of governor. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.3 proposed for 1870 • Section 3: Election of governor and lieutenant governor. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.4 proposed for 1870 • Section 4: Governor's general powers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.5 proposed for 1870 • Section 5: When lieutenant governor to act as governor. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.6 proposed for 1870 • Section 6: Governor convening legislature. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.7 proposed for 1870 • Section 7: Governor may grant pardons and reprieves. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.8 proposed for 1870 • Section 8: Role of lieutenant governor; when president pro tem. to act as governor. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.9 proposed for 1870 • Section 9: Lieutenant governor's compensation. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- IV.10 proposed for 1870 • Section 10: Legislature to present bills to governor for his action. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.1 proposed for 1870 • Section 1: State officers; elections. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.2 proposed for 1870 • Section 2: Suspension of treasurer. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.3 proposed for 1870 • Section 3: State officers; compensation. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.4 proposed for 1870 • Section 4: State officers as canal commissioners. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.5 proposed for 1870 • Section 5: Superintendent of public works. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.6 proposed for 1870 • Section 6: Canal appropriations limited. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.7 proposed for 1870 • Section 7: Canal contracts. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.8 proposed for 1870 • Section 8: Court of claims. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.9 proposed for 1870 • Section 9: Solicitor of claims. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- V.10 proposed for 1870 • Section 10: Canal oversight bodies abolished. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1869
- VI.1 proposed for 1870 • Section 1: Assembly may impeach civil officers. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.2 proposed for 1870 • Section 2: Court of appeals. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.3 proposed for 1870 • Section 3: Vacancies, how filled. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.4 proposed for 1870 • Section 4: Transfer of causes; commission of appeals. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.5 proposed for 1870 • Section 5: Vacancies in commission. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.6 proposed for 1870 • Section 6: Supreme court. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.7 proposed for 1870 • Section 7: General and special term; circuits; oyer and terminer. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.8 proposed for 1870 • Section 8: Judge not to sit in review of his own decisions; proceedings in law and equity. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.9 proposed for 1870 • Section 9: Vacancies, in supreme court. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.10 proposed for 1870 • Section 10: Judges not to hold any other office. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.11 proposed for 1870 • Section 11: Removal of judges. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.12 proposed for 1870 • Section 12: Certain local courts continued. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.13 proposed for 1870 • Section 13: Judges, how chosen; term of office. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869
- VI.14 proposed for 1870 • Section 14: Compensation of judges. ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1869