Amendments to the New York Constitution
Since 1777, the New York Constitution has been amended over 200 times. Some amendments affected more than one section of the constitution. Each square below represents when a section was changed by an amendment.
Scroll through the timeline to view amendments to the constitution by year and historical context for significant amendments.
Each block on this histogram represents a change—e.g., a substantive change, repeal & replace, or renumbering—to an individual section rather than an amendment. Some amendments result in multiple changes, resulting in multiple blocks being attributed to one amendment. Likewise, a section may be amended more than once in an year, but these amendments will only appear as one block on the histogram. When a block or blocks are marked red in a specific year, that means that a new constitution went into effect that year.
The New York Constitution & Its Amendments
Since 1777, New York has held eight constitutional conventions. Five of these conventions proposed significant changes to the entire constitution, while others proposed discrete constitutional amendments. Between conventions, voters have also adopted hundreds of amendments proposed by the legislature. The state has also regularly convened constitutional commissions to consider further amendments or prepare for conventions and convention votes.
The New York Constitution can be amended in two ways. First, the state legislature can refer proposed amendments to voters by passing them in two successive terms. The state’s voters can then choose to enact the proposals by majority vote. Second, New Yorkers have an opportunity every 20 years to vote on whether to call a constitutional convention, and the legislature can place a convention question on the ballot at other times as well. If voters approve the convention call, and the convention then proposes amendments or an entirely new constitution, those proposals are put on the ballot for New Yorkers to accept or reject by majority vote.
* Scholarly and government sources frequently refer to New York as having adopted four, or five, constitutions. However, the post-1777 constitutions were never presented to voters as a new constitution; instead, these changes were proposed to voters as collections of amendments following constitutional conventions. At times, courts have referred to these post-convention changes as amendments; at other times, courts have described them as new constitutions. For more information, see 1821, 1846, 1846, 1894, and 1938.
New York State Capitol. Bluefill.
In 2025 the Constitution was Changed 1 Time
In 2021 the Constitution was Changed 2 Times
In 2018 the Constitution was Changed 1 Time
2015
Under the original 1848 constitution, the legislature established by statute the process for selecting the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Under its system, judicial candidates specifically ran and were elected to the position of chief justice. In 1889, the constitution was amended to assign the position to the most senior justice. This system remained in place until 2015, when the people ratified an amendment requiring the chief justice “be elected for a term of 2 years by a majority of the justices then serving on the court.” Proponents argued that this amendment would promote collegiality within the court, while opponents responded it would do just the opposite and merely aimed to remove Shirley Abrahamson from her position as chief justice. Shortly after the 2015 amendment was ratified, the court, dividing along ideological lines, elected Patience Roggensack as the new chief justice in place of Abrahamson.
Interior view of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Daderot.
In 2014 the Constitution was Changed 4 Times
Article III. Legislature Section 4.
Readjustments and reapportionments; when federal census to control
Article III. Legislature Section 5.
Apportionment of assemblymen; creation of assembly districts
Article III. Legislature Section 5-b.
Independent redistricting commission
Article III. Legislature Section 14.
Manner of passing bills; message of necessity for immediate vote
In 2013 the Constitution was Changed 2 Times
In 2009 the Constitution was Changed 1 Time
2008
In 2008, voters once again amended the governor’s partial veto power of appropriations bills prevent the governor from rejecting parts of two or more sentences to create a new sentence.
For more information, see 1930.
In 2001 the Constitution was Changed 50 Times
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 1.
Rights, privileges and franchise secured; power of legislature to dispense with primary elections in certain cases
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 3.
Freedom of worship; religious liberty
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 6.
Grand jury; waiver of indictment; right to counsel; informing accused; double jeopardy; self-incrimination; waiver of immunity by public officers; due process of law
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 8.
Freedom of speech and press; criminal prosecutions for libel
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 9.
Right to assemble and petition; judicial divorces; gambling, except pari-mutuel betting, prohibited
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 11.
Equal protection of laws; discrimination in civil rights prohibited
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 17.
Labor not a commodity; hours and wages in public work; right to organize and bargain collectively
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 18.
Workers’ compensation
Article II. Suffrage Section 3.
Persons excluded from the right of suffrage
Article II. Suffrage Section 4.
Certain occupations and conditions not to affect residence
Article II. Suffrage Section 6.
Permanent registration
Article II. Suffrage Section 9.
Presidential elections; special voting procedures authorized
Article III. Legislature Section 2.
Number and terms of senators and assemblymen
Article III. Legislature Section 6.
Compensation, allowances and traveling expenses of members
Article IV. Executive Section 1.
Executive power; election and terms of governor and lieutenant governor
Article IV. Executive Section 2.
Qualifications of governor and lieutenant-governor
Article IV. Executive Section 3.
Powers and duties of governor; compensation
Article IV. Executive Section 4.
Reprieves, commutations and pardons; powers and duties of governor relating to grants of
Article IV. Executive Section 5.
When lieutenant-governor to act as governor
Article IV. Executive Section 6.
Duties and compensation of lieutenant-governor; succession to the governorship
Article IV. Executive Section 7.
Action by governor on legislative bills; reconsideration after veto
Article V. Officers and Civil Departments Section 1.
Comptroller and attorney-general; payment of state moneys without audit void
Article VI. Judiciary Section 2.
Court of appeals; organization; designations; vacancies, how filled; commission on judicial nomination
Article VI. Judiciary Section 3.
Court of appeals; jurisdiction
Article VI. Judiciary Section 4.
Judicial departments; appellate divisions, how constituted; governor to designate justices; temporary assignments; jurisdiction
Article VI. Judiciary Section 20.
Judges and justices; qualifications; eligibility for other office or service; restrictions
Article VI. Judiciary Section 22.
Commission on judicial conduct; composition; organization and procedure; review by court of appeals; discipline of judges or justices
Article VI. Judiciary Section 23.
Removal of judges
Article VI. Judiciary Section 24.
Court for trial of impeachments; judgment
Article VI. Judiciary Section 25.
Judges and justices; compensation; retirement
Article VI. Judiciary Section 26.
Temporary assignments of judges and justices
Article VI. Judiciary Section 27.
Supreme court; extraordinary terms
Article VI. Judiciary Section 28.
Administrative supervision of court system
Article VI. Judiciary Section 35.
Certain courts abolished; transfer of judges, court personnel, and actions and proceedings to other courts
Article VII. State Finances Section 1.
Estimates by departments, the legislature and the judiciary of needed appropriations; hearings
Article VII. State Finances Section 2.
Executive budget
Article VII. State Finances Section 3.
Budget bills; appearances before legislature
Article VII. State Finances Section 4.
Action on budget bills by legislature; effect thereof
Article VII. State Finances Section 8.
Gift or loan of state credit or money prohibited; exceptions for enumerated purposes
Article VII. State Finances Section 15.
Sinking funds; how kept and invested; income therefrom and application thereof
Article IX. Local Governments Section 1.
Bill of rights for local governments
Article IX. Local Governments Section 2.
Powers and duties of legislature; home rule powers of local governments; statute of local governments
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 3.
Vacancies in office; how filled; boards of education
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 7.
Compensation of officers
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 13.
Law enforcement and other officers
Article XVI. Taxation Section 5.
Compensation of public officers and employees subject to taxation
Article XVI. Taxation Section 6.
Public improvements or services; contract of indebtedness; creation of public corporations
Article XVII. Social Welfare Section 4.
Care and treatment of persons suffering from mental disorder or defect; visitation of institutions for
Article XIX. Amendments to Constitution Section 1.
Amendments to constitution; how proposed, voted upon and ratified; failure of attorney-general to render opinion not to affect validity
Article XIX. Amendments to Constitution Section 2.
Future constitutional conventions; how called; election of delegates; compensation; quorum; submission of amendments; officers; employees; rules; vacancies
In 1995 the Constitution was Changed 4 Times
Article II. Suffrage Section 1.
Qualifications of voters
Article II. Suffrage Section 5.
Registration and election laws to be passed
Article II. Suffrage Section 8.
Bi-partisan registration and election boards
Article VII. State Finances Section 9.
Short term state debts in anticipation of taxes, revenues and proceeds of sale of authorized bonds
In 1993 the Constitution was Changed 5 Times
Article VII. State Finances Section 11.
State debts generally; manner of contracting; referendum
Article VII. State Finances Section 12.
State debts generally; how paid; contribution to sinking funds; restrictions on use of bond proceeds
Article VII. State Finances Section 13.
Refund of state debts
Article VII. State Finances Section 16.
Payment of state debts; when comptroller to pay without appropriation
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 2.
Restrictions on indebtedness of local subdivisions; contracting and payment of local indebtedness; exceptions
In 1991 the Constitution was Changed 4 Times
Article X. Corporations Section 8.
Liability of state on bonds of a public corporation to finance new industrial or manufacturing plants in depressed areas
Article XV. Canals Section 1.
Disposition of canals and canal properties prohibited
Article XV. Canals Section 2.
Prohibition inapplicable to lands and properties no longer useful; disposition authorized
Article XV. Canals Section 3.
Contracts for work and materials; special revenue fund
1990
In 1990, voters amended the governor’s partial veto power of appropriations bills to prohibit the governor from forming new words by vetoing individual letters.
For more information, see 1930.
1986
The right to vote under Article III of the Wisconsin Constitution has, for the most part, become more inclusive over time. The original 1848 constitution limited suffrage to specified “classes” of “male person[s],” who were at least 21 and had resided in the state for one year—namely (1) “White citizens of the United States”: (2) “White persons of foreign birth who shall have declared their intention to become citizens conformably to the laws of the United States on the subject of naturalization”; (3) “Persons of Indian blood, who have once been declared by law of Congress to be citizens of the United States”; and (4) “Civilized persons of Indian descent, not members of any tribe.”
The original constitution also authorized the legislature to “extend by law the right of suffrage to persons not herein enumerated” after first submitting the proposed extension “to a vote of the people at a general election” for approval “by a majority of all the votes cast at such election.” Pursuant to this mechanism, Wisconsin voters in 1849 approved a measure extending the franchise to Black men. The validity of this measure was not settled until the state supreme court’s 1865 decision in Gillispie v. Palmer, which ruled in favor of Ezekiel Gillespie after he was turned away from the polls and sued to vindicate his right to vote.
The state has enacted four amendments to the elections Article over the years. The first, in 1882, made only technical corrections. The second was more significant: Whereas the original constitution allowed noncitizens to vote if they declared an intent to become citizens, the 1908 amendment eliminated this option effective in 1912, excluding noncitizens from the franchise. The 1934 women’s suffrage amendment recognized the expansion of suffrage already accomplished through the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Finally, the 1986 amendment repealed Article III entirely and replaced it with a new version. The new text no longer enumerates limited “classes” eligible to vote. Instead, it states that every resident of a state election district over the age of 18 is a qualified elector for state constitutional purposes. In addition, after this amendment, Article III, Section 2 no longer categorically prohibited individuals “under guardianship” or “convicted of treason or felony” “unless restored to civil rights” from voting. Rather, the legislature has the power to exclude these individuals, but it need not do so. The amendment also continues to allow the legislature to expand voting rights subject to approval through a statewide referendum.
Poll workers in Thereas Township, WI (1992). Wisconsin Historical Society.
In 1985 the Constitution was Changed 1 Time
In 1983 the Constitution was Changed 3 Times
1982
Wisconsin’s original constitution, like the Declaration of Independence, declared that “[a]ll men are born equally free and independent” and referred to governments being instituted “among men.” Wis. Const. art. I, § 1. In 1982, voters ratified an amendment that removed or replaced gendered words throughout the constitution and replaced other obsolete provisions. Article I, Section 1 now declares “[a]ll people are born equally free and independent” and omits the words “among men.” The 1982 amendment similarly struck masculine terms from the religious freedom protection in Article I, § 18; the reference to the state superintendent’s office as “his” office in Article X, Section 1; and the use of “her” when referring to the state’s public lands in Article X, Section 2.
Wisconsin State Capitol. Michael Barera
1977
Shortly after the Wisconsin Constitution’s 100-year anniversary then-Attorney General Thomas E. Fairchild, who would go on to become a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, authored an article proposing several amendments to the constitution. Among other amendments, Judge Fairchild proposed replacing the ad hoc system of courts with varying jurisdiction with a unified judiciary having plenary jurisdiction. He believed this change to the state judiciary’s structure would promote more efficient and effective judicial administration.
Nearly 30 years later, some of Judge Fairchild’s suggested amendments were enacted as part of a general overhaul to Wisconsin’s judiciary. The court reorganization amendments rewrote most of Article VII, but changes were also made to parts of Articles I, IV, and XIV as they relate to the judiciary. Some of the notable changes include:
- Clarifying that the Wisconsin Supreme Court holds superintending and administrative authority over the entirety of the state’s judiciary.
- Creating a single court of appeals to serve as an intermediate court of appeal. This was part of a larger effort to unify the judicial system by eliminating a network of courts with different limited jurisdictions.
- Permitting the legislature to establish a uniform retirement age, not less than 70, for judges and justice, and the ability of retired judges to serve on a temporary basis.
In proposing the judicial overhaul, the 1973 Citizens Study Committee on Judicial Organization reported: “It has often been suggested that no court system can work with bad judges, and that good judges can make any system work. Without challenging this piece of ‘conventional wisdom,’ it must also be added that a good court structure will maximize the quality and quantity of judicial output, minimize administrative complexities and costs, and promote confidence in the judicial system.
The changes made by this amendment were ratified in 1977 but did not become effective until August 1,1978.
Aerial view of the Brown County Courthouse. Chris Rand.
In 1977 the Constitution was Changed 5 Times
Article VI. Judiciary Section 7.
Supreme court; jurisdiction
Article VI. Judiciary Section 8.
Appellate terms; composition; jurisdiction
Article VI. Judiciary Section 29.
Expenses of courts
Article VI. Judiciary Section 30.
Legislative power over jurisdiction and proceedings; delegation of power to regulate practice and procedure
Article VI. Judiciary Section 36-a.
Effective date of certain amendments to articles VI and VII
1974
Removal of Judges
The 1848 constitution permitted the legislature, by a two-thirds vote in each house, to remove by address “[a]ny judge of the supreme court or, circuit court.” But the constitution was silent as to county and municipal court judges. To remedy this omission, Article VII, Section 13 was amended in 1974 to apply same removal procedure to “[a]ny judge of the supreme or, circuit, county or municipal court.” This language was further simplified only three years later as a part of the 1977 judicial overhaul. That amendment applied the removal procedure to “[a]ny justice or judge” rather than listing types of courts.
Agricultural Land Exception to Uniform Taxation
Like nearly all state constitutions, Wisconsin’s constitution contains a provision requiring that “taxation shall be uniform.” This requirement was meant to promote fair taxation and prevent preferential treatment for influential property owners. However, over time, there have been many amendments carving out exceptions to the rule of uniformity. These include the 1908 amendment to Article VIII, Section 1 permitting a progressive and graduated income tax, the 1927 amendment permitting non-uniform taxation of forests and embedded minerals meant to aid Wisconsin’s logging industry, the 1941 amendment permitting municipalities to collect property tax payments in installments, and the 1961 amendment permitting non-uniform taxation of merchants’ products and materials to phase out personal property taxation.
The most recent of these amendments in 1974 permitted non-uniform taxation of agricultural and undeveloped land. This amendment permitted the legislature to establish the farmland preservation tax credit, which was aimed at disincentivizing farmland owners from selling their farmland to developers. It also effectively overruled the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s significant decision in Knowlton v. Board of Supervisors, 9 Wis. 410 (1859), which held Janesville’s cap on agricultural property taxes unconstitutional under the Uniformity Clause.
Harvesting hay in Iowa County, WI. Bob Nichols, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
In 1973 the Constitution was Changed 3 Times
Article VI. Judiciary Section 13.
Family court; organization; jurisdiction
Article XIV. Conservation Section 3.
Forest and wild life conservation; use or disposition of certain lands authorized
Article XVII. Social Welfare Section 5.
Institutions for detention of criminals; probation; parole; state commission of correction
In 1969 the Constitution was Changed 4 Times
Article III. Legislature Section 5-a.
Definition of inhabitants
Article XIV. Conservation Section 4.
Protection of natural resources; development of agricultural lands
Article XIV. Conservation Section 5.
Violations of article; how restrained
Article XVII. Social Welfare Section 7.
Loans for hospital construction
1968
The 1882 constitutional amendment that provided for biennial legislative elections also moved the legislature to a biennial session. Accordingly, post-1882 version of Article IV, Section 11 permitted the legislature to meet “once in two years, and no oftener.” The 1968 amendment removed this language, instead permitting the legislature to meet “at such time as shall be provided by law.” Proponents of the 1968 amendment argued hoped that it would permit the legislature to better structure its sessions to prevent backlog at the end of the single session, thus making the legislature more effective at enacting legislation and responsive to the electorate.
Interior of Senate Chamber in the Wisconsin State Capitol. Richard Hurd.
In 1965 the Constitution was Changed 4 Times
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 1.
Gift or loan of property or credit of local subdivisions prohibited; exceptions for enumerated purposes
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 8.
Election and term of city and certain county officers
Article XVIII. Housing Section 1.
Housing and nursing home accommodations for persons of low income; slum clearance
Article XVIII. Housing Section 2.
Idem; powers of legislature in aid of
In 1964 the Constitution was Changed 3 Times
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 7.
Just compensation for taking private property; private roads; drainage of agricultural lands
Article III. Legislature Section 17.
Cases in which private or local bills shall not be passed
Article III. Legislature Section 19.
Private claims not to be audited by legislature; claims barred by lapse of time
In 1963 the Constitution was Changed 7 Times
Article II. Suffrage Section 2.
Absentee voting
Article III. Legislature Section 9.
Powers of each house
Article III. Legislature Section 25.
Emergency governmental operations; legislature to provide for]
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 12.
Powers of local governments to be restricted; further limitations on contracting local indebtedness authorized
Article IX. Local Governments
Local Governments
Article IX. Local Governments Section 3.
Existing laws to remain applicable; construction; definitions
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 14.
Employees of, and contractors for, the state and local governments; wages, hours and other provisions to be regulated by legislature
In 1962 the Constitution was Changed 15 Times
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 10.
Repealed
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 10.
Repealed
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 13.
Repealed
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 13.
Repealed
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 15.
Repealed
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 15.
Repealed
Article III. Legislature Section 3.
Senate districts
Article V. Officers and Civil Departments Section 5.
Repealed
Article V. Officers and Civil Departments Section 5.
Repealed
Article XII. Defense
Defense
Article XII. Defense Section 1.
Defense; militia
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 2.
Duration of term of office
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 4.
Political year and legislative term
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 5.
Removal from office for misconduct
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 6.
When office to be deemed vacant; legislature may declare
In 1961 the Constitution was Changed 22 Times
Article V. Officers and Civil Departments Section 2.
Civil departments in the state government
Article V. Officers and Civil Departments Section 3.
Assignment of functions
Article V. Officers and Civil Departments Section 4.
Department heads
Article VI. Judiciary
Judiciary
Article VI. Judiciary Section 1.
Unified court system; organization; process
Article VI. Judiciary Section 5.
Appeals from judgment or order; new trial
Article VI. Judiciary Section 6.
Judicial districts; how constituted; supreme court
Article VI. Judiciary Section 9.
Court of claims; jurisdiction
Article VI. Judiciary Section 10.
County courts; judges
Article VI. Judiciary Section 12.
Surrogate’s courts; judges; jurisdiction
Article VI. Judiciary Section 14.
Discharge of duties of more than one judicial office by same judicial officer
Article VI. Judiciary Section 17.
Town, village and city courts; jurisdiction; judges
Article VI. Judiciary Section 18.
Trial by jury; trial without jury; claims against state
Article VI. Judiciary Section 19.
Transfer of actions and proceedings
Article VI. Judiciary Section 21.
Vacancies; how filled
Article VI. Judiciary Section 31.
Inapplicability of article to certain courts
Article VI. Judiciary Section 32.
Custodians of children to be of same religious persuasion
Article VI. Judiciary Section 33.
Existing laws; duty of legislature to implement article
Article VI. Judiciary Section 34.
Pending appeals, actions and proceedings; preservation of existing terms of office of judges and justices
Article VI. Judiciary Section 36.
Pending civil and criminal cases
Article VI. Judiciary Section 37.
Effective date of article
Article X. Corporations Section 7.
Liability of state for obligations of the port of New York authority for railroad commuter cars; limitations
In 1959 the Constitution was Changed 2 Times
In 1957 the Constitution was Changed 3 Times
Article VII. State Finances Section 19.
State debt for expansion of state university
Article XVIII. Housing Section 3.
Article VII to apply to state debts under this article, with certain exceptions; amortization of state debts; capital and periodic subsidies
Article XVIII. Housing Section 5.
Liability for certain loans made by the state to certain public corporations
In 1955 the Constitution was Changed 1 Time
In 1953 the Constitution was Changed 3 Times
In 1951 the Constitution was Changed 2 Times
In 1949 the Constitution was Changed 2 Times
In 1943 the Constitution was Changed 2 Times
Article III. Legislature Section 7.
Qualifications of members; prohibitions on certain civil appointments; acceptance to vacate seat
Article VII. State Finances Section 17.
Authorizing the legislature to establish a fund or funds for tax revenue stabilization reserves; regulating payments thereto and withdrawals therefrom
In 1938 the Constitution was Changed 71 Times
Constitution
1938
Preamble
Preamble
Article I. Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 2.
Trial by jury; how waived
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 4.
Habeas corpus
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 5.
Bail; fines; punishments; detention of witnesses
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 12.
Security against unreasonable searches, seizures and interceptions
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 14.
Common law and acts of the state legislatures
Article I. Bill of Rights Section 16.
Damages for injuries causing death
Article II. Suffrage
Suffrage
Article II. Suffrage Section 7.
Manner of voting; identification of voters
Article III. Legislature
Legislature
Article III. Legislature Section 1.
Legislative power
Article III. Legislature Section 8.
Time of elections of members
Article III. Legislature Section 10.
Journals; open sessions; adjournments
Article III. Legislature Section 11.
Members not to be questioned for speeches
Article III. Legislature Section 12.
Bills may originate in either house; may be amended by the other
Article III. Legislature Section 13.
Enacting clause of bills; no law to be enacted except by bill
Article III. Legislature Section 15.
Private or local bills to embrace only one subject, expressed in title
Article III. Legislature Section 16.
Existing law not to be made applicable by reference
Article III. Legislature Section 20.
Two-thirds bills
Article III. Legislature Section 21.
Certain sections not to apply to bills recommended by certain commissioners or public agencies
Article III. Legislature Section 23.
When yeas and nays necessary; three-fifths to constitute quorum
Article IV. Executive
Executive
Article IV. Executive Section 8.
Departmental rules and regulations; filing; publication
Article V. Officers and Civil Departments
Officers and Civil Departments
Article VII. State Finances
State Finances
Article VII. State Finances Section 5.
Restrictions on consideration of other appropriations
Article VII. State Finances Section 6.
Restrictions on content of appropriation bills
Article VII. State Finances Section 7.
Appropriation bills
Article VII. State Finances Section 10.
State debts on account of invasion, insurrection, war and forest fires
Article VIII. Local Finances
Local Finances
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 3.
Restrictions on creation and indebtedness of certain corporations
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 4.
Limitations on local indebtedness
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 6.
Debt-incurring power of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse; certain additional indebtedness to be excluded
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 7-a.
Debt-incurring power of New York city; certain indebtedness for railroads and transit purposes to be excluded
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 8.
Indebtedness not to be invalidated by operation of this article
Article VIII. Local Finances Section 9.
When debt-incurring power of certain counties shall cease
Article X. Corporations
Corporations
Article X. Corporations Section 1.
Corporations; formation of
Article X. Corporations Section 2.
Dues of corporations
Article X. Corporations Section 4.
Corporations; definition; right to sue and be sued
Article X. Corporations Section 5.
Public corporations; restrictions on creation and powers; accounts; obligations of
Article XI. Education
Education
Article XI. Education Section 1.
Common schools
Article XI. Education Section 2.
Regents of the University
Article XI. Education Section 3.
Use of public property or money in aid of denominational schools prohibited; transportation of children authorized
Article XIII. Public Officers
Public Officers
Article XIII. Public Officers Section 1.
Oath of office; no other test for public office
Article XIV. Conservation
Conservation
Article XV. Canals
Canals
Article XVI. Taxation
Taxation
Article XVI. Taxation Section 1.
Power of taxation; exemptions from taxation
Article XVI. Taxation Section 2.
Assessments for taxation purposes
Article XVI. Taxation Section 3.
Situs of intangible personal property; taxation of
Article XVI. Taxation Section 4.
Certain corporations not to be discriminated against
Article XVII. Social Welfare
Social Welfare
Article XVII. Social Welfare Section 1.
Public relief and care
Article XVII. Social Welfare Section 2.
State board of social welfare; powers and duties
Article XVII. Social Welfare Section 3.
Public health
Article XVII. Social Welfare Section 6.
Visitation and inspection
Article XVIII. Housing
Housing
Article XVIII. Housing Section 6.
Loans and subsidies; restrictions on and preference in occupancy of projects
Article XVIII. Housing Section 7.
Liability arising from guarantees to be deemed indebtedness; method of computing
Article XVIII. Housing Section 8.
Excess condemnation
Article XVIII. Housing Section 9.
Acquisition of property for purposes of article
Article XVIII. Housing Section 10.
Power of legislature; construction of article
Article XIX. Amendments to Constitution
Amendments to Constitution
Article XIX. Amendments to Constitution Section 3.
Amendments simultaneously submitted by convention and legislature
Article XX. When to Take Effect
When to Take Effect
Article XX. When to Take Effect Section 1.
Time of taking effect
1934
Wisconsin’s journey to women’s suffrage spanned decades. In 1912, Wisconsin voters rejected a hard-fought women’s suffrage amendment to the state constitution. Less than a decade later, however, Wisconsin was the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which made women’s suffrage the law of the land. In 1934, Wisconsin formally eliminated the male-only voting restriction in its constitution as an “obsolete provision.”
Members of the Oshkosh Equal Suffrage League on July 4, 1912. Wisconsin Historical Society.
1930
In 1911, the Wisconsin legislature ended its practice of passing individual appropriation bills and began enacting omnibus spending bills. This put the governor in the position of either vetoing the spending bill in its entirety or signing it into law notwithstanding any objections. The legislature sought to alleviate this problem by amending Article V, Section 10 to grant the governor a partial veto power, which the people ratified in 1930. That amendment gave the governor the ability to veto appropriations bills “in part.” The partial veto was amended in 1990 to prevent the governor from forming new words in bills by vetoing individual letters (a practice sometimes called the “Vanna White veto” after the game show “Wheel of Fortune”). Article V, Section 10 was again amended in 2008 to prohibit the governor from forming new sentences by vetoing portions of two or more separate sentences (a practice sometimes called the “Frankenstein veto”). For more information, see the Legislative Reference Bureau’s report detailing the history of the governor’s partial veto power.
People gathered outside the Wisconsin State Capitol as a part of the 2011 Wisconsin Budget Protests. Justin Ormont.
1925
On the heels of Wisconsin’s progressive movement, led by governor and U.S. Senator Robert La Follette at the turn of the twentieth century, Wisconsin voters in 1925 adopted a recall provision in Article XIII, Section 12 of the state constitution.
At the time of Wisconsin’s amendment states and municipalities across the country were instituting voter-initiated recalls as a way of giving the voters a greater and more direct voice in government affairs. The amendment permitted voters to petition for the recall of any elected official of the state, county, congress, judiciary, or legislature after the official’s first year of service. As Senator La Follette wrote in a campaign essay entitled “Shall the People Rule?,” the recall was part of “a movement to make the people’s representatives more responsive to the people’s welfare,” for “[u]nder such a law, the public official will no longer betray his constituency.”
The voters ratified the amendment by fewer than 5,000 votes. The recall process was amended in 1981 to create a primary election and prevent candidates from winning office with a plurality rather than a majority of the votes. In 2012, Wisconsin became the third state to initiate a recall election against the governor, and the first to have a governor survive the recall.
Recall rally in the state capitol. Peter Patau.
1910
Until the early twentieth century, Article IV, Section III of the Wisconsin Constitution required the state to conduct a statewide census every 10 years on the years ending in “5” to provide an interim population count midway between each federal census. It also required lawmakers to establish new state legislative districts during their first session following both the federal census and the census—that is, every five years. Wisconsinites amended the Constitution in 1910 to eliminate the mid-decade state census and to require apportionment only after completion of the federal census.
Map of Wisconsin state senate districts in 1923. Wisconsin Blue Book (1923).
1882
Under the original constitution of 1848, the legislature was elected on an annual basis, with members of the assembly elected once each year and senators elected every two years. A set of amendments adopted in 1882 shifted the legislature to biennial elections, such that elections would be held every two years and coincide with federal congressional elections, with assembly members now serving two-year terms and senators serving four-year terms. This shift was billed as a cost saving measure, as it eliminated the need to hold annual elections. Some also made a good governance argument for the shift, predicting that less frequent elections would discourage sudden and rapid changes in the laws. These amendments also replaced the per diem compensation scheme for legislators with an annual salary.
Entrance to the Assembly Chamber in the Wisconsin State Capitol. Richard Hurd.
In 1870 the Constitution was Changed 2 Times
In 1864 the Constitution was Changed 1 Time
In 1854 the Constitution was Changed 1 Time
1848
In 1848, Wisconsin voters ratified the state constitution.