The Current NYS Constitution

The New York constitution is the state’s most fundamental law, listing the rights of New Yorkers, the state government’s setup, the relationship between the state and local government, and much much more!

The current state constitution is made up of provisions that have been changed over time – reaching as far back as 1777, the text and structure of it today is based on the constitution that was proposed to voters by the 1938 constitutional convention. It’s been amended many times since, most recently in 2018 by ballot questions in 2017.

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*note: the pdf version was last updated in 2015, and misses out on 3 newer provisions passed by the voters in 2017

Want to see every constitutional provision ever proposed to the voters? We have that too!

The Current NYS Constitution - last updated in 2018

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III.11 • Section 11: Members not to be questioned for speeches. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
III.12 • Section 12: Bills may originate in either house; may be amended by the other. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
III.13 • Section 13: Enacting clause of bills; no law to be enacted except by bill. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
III.14 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2015
III.15 • Section 15: Private or local bills to embrace only one subject, expressed in title. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
III.16 • Section 16: Existing law not to be made applicable by reference. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
III.17 • Section 17: Cases in which private or local bills shall not be passed • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1964 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1965
III.18 • Section 18: Extraordinary sessions of the legislature; power to convene on legislative initiative • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1975 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1976
III.19 • Section 19: Private claims not to be audited by legislature; claims barred by lapse of time • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1964 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1965
III.20 • Section 20: Two-thirds bills. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
III.21 • Section 21: Certain sections not to apply to bills recommended by certain commissioners or public agencies. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
III.22 • Section 22: Tax laws to state tax and object distinctly; definition of income for income tax purposes by reference to federal laws authorized • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 8 of 1959 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1960
III.23 • Section 23: When yeas and nays necessary; three-fifths to constitute quorum. • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
III.24 • Section 24: Prison labor; contract system abolished • In Article III: Legislature ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 2009 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2010
III.25 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1964
IV.1 • Section 1: Executive power; election and terms of governor and lieutenant-governor • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
IV.2 • Section 2: Qualifications of governor and lieutenant-governor • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
IV.3 • Section 3: Powers and duties of governor; compensation • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
IV.4 • Section 4: Reprieves, commutations and pardons; powers and duties of governor relating to grants of • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
IV.5 • Section 5: When lieutenant-governor to act as governor • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
IV.6 • Section 6: Duties and compensation of lieutenant-governor; succession to the governorship • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
IV.7 • Section 7: Action by governor on legislative bills; reconsideration after veto • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
IV.8 • Section 8: Departmental rules and regulations; filing; publication. • In Article IV: Executive ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
V.1 • Section 1: Comptroller and attorney-general; payment of state moneys without audit void • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
V.2 • Section 2: Civil departments in the state government • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1961 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1962
V.3 • Section 3: Assignment of functions • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1961 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1962
V.4 • Section 4: Department heads • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1961 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1962
V.5 • In Article V: Officers And Civil Departments ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1962 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1963
V.6 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2014
V.7 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2018
VI.1 • Section 1: Unified court system; organization; process • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1962
VI.2 • Section 2: Court of appeals; organization; designations; vacancies, how filled; commission on judicial nomination • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
VI.3 • Section 3: Court of appeals; jurisdiction • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
VI.4 • Section 4: Judicial departments; appellate divisions, how constituted; governor to designate justices; temporary assignments; jurisdiction • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
VI.5 • Section 5: Appeals from judgment or order; new trial • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1962
VI.6 • Section 6: Judicial districts; how constituted; supreme court • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1962
VI.7 • Section 7: Supreme court; jurisdiction • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1977 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1978
VI.8 • Section 8: Appellate terms; composition; jurisdiction • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1977 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1978
VI.9 • Section 9: Court of claims; jurisdiction • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1962
VI.10 • Section 10: County courts; judges • In Article VI: Judiciary ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1961 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1962

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The Current NYS Constitution

The Current NYS Constitution - last updated in 2018

Want to filter or search the constitutional provisions? Click here!

Want to filter or search the constitutional provisions? Click here!

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