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

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The Current NYS Constitution - last updated in 2018

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XIII.3 • Section 3: Vacancies in office; how filled; boards of education • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
XIII.4 • Section 4: Political year and legislative term. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1962 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1963
XIII.5 • Section 5: Removal from office for misconduct. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1962 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1963
XIII.6 • Section 6: When office to be deemed vacant; legislature may declare. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1962 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1963
XIII.7 • Section 7: Compensation of officers • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
• Section 8: Election and term of city and certain county officers • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 9 of 1965 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1966
XIII.9 • Section 9: Political year and legislative term. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1962 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1963
XIII.10 • Section 10: Removal from office for misconduct. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1962 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1963
XIII.11 • Section 11: When office to be deemed vacant; legislature may declare. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1962 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1963
XIII.12 • Section 12: Compensation of officers. • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1962 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1963
XIII.13 • Section 13: Law enforcement and other officers • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
XIII.14 • Section 14: Employees of, and contractors for, the state and local governments; wages, hours and other provisions to be regulated by legislature • In Article XIII: Public Officers ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1963 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1964
XIV.1.merged • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2014
XIV.1 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2018
XIV.2 • Section 2: Reservoirs • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 9 of 1953 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1954
XIV.3 • Section 3: Forest and wild life conservation; use or disposition of certain lands authorized • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 7 of 1973 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1974
XIV.4 • Section 4: Protection of natural resources; development of agricultural lands • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1969 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1970
XIV.5 • Section 5: Violations of article; how restrained • In Article XIV: Conservation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 3 of 1969 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1970
XIV.6 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2018
XV.1 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1992
XV.2 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1992
XV.3 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1992
XV.4 • Section 4: Lease or transfer to federal government of barge canal system authorized • In Article XV: Canals ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1959 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1960
XVI.1 • Section 1: Power of taxation; exemptions from taxation. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
XVI.2 • Section 2: Assessments for taxation purposes. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
XVI.3 • Section 3: Situs of intangible personal property; taxation of. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
XVI.4 • Section 4: Certain corporations not to be discriminated against. • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
XVI.5 • Section 5: Compensation of public officers and employees subject to taxation • In Article XVI: Taxation ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 2001 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
XVI.6 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
XVII.1 • Section 1: Public relief and care. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
XVII.2 • Section 2: State board of social welfare; powers and duties. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
XVII.3 • Section 3: Public health. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
XVII.4 • 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 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 2002
XVII.5 • Section 5: Institutions for detention of criminals; probation; parole; state commission of correction • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 5 of 1973 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1974
XVII.6 • Section 6: Visitation and inspection. • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by Constitutional Convention ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1938 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1939
XVII.7 • Section 7: Loans for hospital construction • In Article XVII: Social Welfare ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 1 of 1969 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1970
XVIII.1 • Section 1: Housing and nursing home accommodations for persons of low income; slum clearance • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1965 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1966
XVIII.2 • Section 2: Idem; powers of legislature in aid of • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 4 of 1965 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1966
XVIII.3 • Section 3: Article VII to apply to state debts under this article, with certain exceptions; amortization of state debts; capital and periodic subsidies • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 2 of 1957 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1958
XVIII.4 • Section 4: Powers of cities, towns and villages to contract indebtedness in aid of low rent housing and slum clearance projects; restrictions thereon • In Article XVIII: Housing ◦ Proposed by the Legislature ◦ On the ballot as proposed amendment 6 of 1949 ◦ Went into effect on January 1, 1950

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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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