NY People’s Convention was an opportunity for all citizens to discuss major issues and work together on progressive solutions to restore pride in our government and make New York a policy leader for the nation once again.
Now the focus needs to be on changing Albany. Albany must now provide a new process for the people to amend the State Constitution more efficiently than a once in twenty-year Convention. This can be done by amending the Constitution to provide for Citizen Initiatives, as many other states do.
The Legislature can also pass a law eliminating many of the objections of the convention process. For instance, a law should be passed to ensure that current public officials cannot also run as a delegate, thus eliminating “double-dipping” and bringing new public-spirited citizens into the process.
The State has too many endemic, structural problems to kick constitutional change another twenty years down the road. If we want real, transformative change, then we need to take transformative action. Join us as we continue the fight.
People of New York
Bill Samuels
“The people of New York can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and wait for the dysfunctional status quo to fix itself. The stakes are just too high. We must make a stand now for a People’s Convention.”
Bill SamuelsNew York People’s Convention
Bertha Lewis
"I want to make sure that every New Yorker knows that the New York State Constitutional Convention is for everyone!"
Bertha LewisForward March NYC
"This is a once-in-a-generation moment to proudly take hold of the pen, and to be the co-authors of our state."
Claire Del Mar Chapman, Pres. of Forward March NYNew York Says Yes
ROUSE N.Y.’s SLEEPING POWERS WITH A PEOPLE’S CONVENTION TO FIX OUR BROKEN STATE CONSTITUTION
"I plan to vote yes on this fall’s referendum question about whether New York should hold an official constitutional convention to amend some badly outdated parts of the state Constitution. I hope you’ll do the same."
Errol Louis, Journalist and Television Show HostThe Process
To change the New York State Constitution, an amendment must be passed by two separately elected legislatures to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. The proposed amendment then must be passed as a referendum by New York State voters to become part of the state constitution.
This is considered the most difficult path for constitutional change in the country. Only ten other states have the same procedure. Given how badly dated New York’s bloated constitution is, we need a more efficient way of passing amendments. The constitution should be amended to:
- Allow for the opportunity to have a convention more frequently than once every twenty years, and/or
- Provide for a citizen initiatives to amend the constitution, and/or
- Change the legislative process so that a single elected legislature can bring a proposed amendment as a referendum to the voters.
The Process
To change the New York State Constitution, an amendment must be passed by two separately elected legislatures to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. The proposed amendment then must be passed as a referendum by New York State voters to become part of the state constitution.
This is considered the most difficult path for constitutional change in the country. Only ten other states have the same procedure. Given how badly dated New York’s bloated constitution is, we need a more efficient way of passing amendments. The constitution should be amended to:
- Allow for the opportunity to have a convention more frequently than once every twenty years, and/or
- Provide for a citizen initiatives to amend the constitution, and/or
- Change the legislative process so that a single elected legislature can bring a proposed amendment as a referendum to the voters.
History
Constitutional conventions have been a regular part of New York’s history. Over the last 240 years, New York has held nine (9) such conventions; the longest gap being the 50 years since our last convention. Each one has produced substantial progressive policy changes.
The Convention of 1894 introduced wilderness protections in the Adirondacks laying the foundation for the national park system; the Convention of 1938 introduced provisions to care for the needy and protect workers’ right to organize, paving the way for the federal New Deal reforms.
New York Constitution
The current New York State Constitution was largely written in 1894 with substantive changes made in 1938. Since that time we have popularized the automobile, split the atom, fought a second world war, put a man on the moon, invented the internet, and increased the population of the state by six million people. It’s time about time for an update.
History
Constitutional conventions have been a regular part of New York’s history. Over the last 240 years, New York has held nine (9) such conventions; the longest gap being the 50 years since our last convention. Each one has produced substantial progressive policy changes.
The Convention of 1894 introduced wilderness protections in the Adirondacks laying the foundation for the national park system; the Convention of 1938 introduced provisions to care for the needy and protect workers’ right to organize, paving the way for the federal New Deal reforms.
New York Constitution
The current New York State Constitution was largely written in 1894 with substantive changes made in 1938. Since that time we have popularized the automobile, split the atom, fought a second world war, put a man on the moon, invented the internet, and increased the population of the state by six million people. It’s time about time for an update.