Decision 1997: Constitutional Change in New YorkFew citizens know much about the constitution of their state. Some don't even know there is one. Yet state constitutions are basic instruments of our democracy. They structure state and local government and stipulate the rights of citizenship. In New York State, as in others, the Constitution mandates a periodic vote on whether the state Constitution should be revised. In New York, a mandatory ballot question is put before the voters every twenty years--"Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same?" Seven months prior to the next such vote--which will be held on Election Day, November 4, 1997--the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government is publishing companion books on the New York State Constitution--one a sourcebook on constitutional change in New York, the other a rich history of the last constitutional convention held in New York State, that in 1967. |
Contents
Why State Constitutions Matter | 1 |
Richard Briffault | 3 |
A Brief Overview Richard Briffault | 21 |
Robert F Williams | 29 |
Robert F Williams | 45 |
Constitutional Structure and the Process of Government | 53 |
Gerald Benjamin | 57 |
Robert P Kerker | 81 |
William R Ginsberg | 317 |
Amendment and Revision Process Experience and Issues | 329 |
Burton C Agata | 331 |
Peter J Galie | 351 |
Learning the Right Lessons From the Magnificent Failure Henrik N Dullea | 367 |
Prepared by Michael Leu Owens | 381 |
Gerald Benjamin and Melissa Cusa | 385 |
The Delegate Selection Process | 405 |
David I Wells | 105 |
A Work in Progress Frederick Miller | 127 |
Joseph F Zimmerman | 147 |
Richard Briffault | 155 |
A Framework for Analysis Richard Briffault | 181 |
Jeffrey M Stonecash | 193 |
Gerald Benjamin | 217 |
Individual Liberties and Positive Rights | 233 |
Burton C Agata | 235 |
Burton C Agata | 255 |
Robert D Stone | 281 |
Gerald Benjamin with Melissa Cusa | 301 |
The Delegate Selection Process Interim Report of the Temporary State Commission on Constitutional Revision | 407 |
Burton C Agata | 435 |
Richard Briffault | 445 |
Constitutional Convention Some Alternatives Richard Briffault | 473 |
Michael J Malbin | 491 |
Temporary State Commission on Constitutional Revision | 501 |
Commission Members | 503 |
Commission Biographies | 505 |
Commission Staff | 511 |
Author Biographies | 513 |
519 | |
Other editions - View all
Decision 1997: Constitutional Change in New York Gerald Benjamin,Henrik N. Dullea Limited preview - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
1967 Constitutional Convention adopted appointed approved areas argue Article VII Article XIX Assembly at-large attorney authority ballot access Bill of Rights Blaine Amendment budget campaign candidates chapter Commission Committee consti constitutional amendment constitutional change constitutional provisions constitutionally convention delegates corporation Court of Appeals criminal justice cumulative voting debt limits delegate selection Democratic district lines effect election administration election law electoral established executive federal Constitution finance funds Galie gerrymandering governor home rule issues judges judicial judiciary jurisdiction legislative legislature limited voting majority ment minority multimember districts party percent petition political procedures prohibition proposed protection question reapportionment redistricting referendum reform Republican restrictions Revision seats Section Senate districts single-member districts specific state's statewide statute Supreme Court tion tional tutional U.S. Constitution veto voters Voting Rights Act York City York Constitution York State Constitution York's