by Anthony Travia, the Speaker of the State Assembly. Proposed changes included: Expansion of individual citizens' rights Repealing of the 19th Century James G. Blaine Amendment, which prohibited the State from funding parochial schools State takeover of costs for the court system, and the administration of welfare programs Allowing the legislature to incur debt without referendum The addition of a "statute of restrictions", or "two-part constitution", whereby a short Constitution would be enacted, and other provisions would be placed in a separate document that differed from normal statute as it took two years to amend. The proposed changes were bundled into one document, and were met with stiff opposition. Thus, in November 1967, the voters rejected the new Constitution, with no county voting in favor. Amending the Constitution The current New York State Constitution of 1894/1938 can be amended in two main ways: By a proposal of an amendment in the Legislature, subject to voter approval, or Through a Convention, also subject to voter approval, which can be called in one of two ways: By proposal of the Legislature, subject to voter approval Through the automatic referendum every twenty years Any legislative proposal must be approved by two successive Legislatures before being submitted for voter approval. If a convention is called, fifteen at-large members and three members per Senate district will be elected. These members will be compensated on the level of an Assembly member. The Convention will meet continuously in the Capitol until they conclude their work from the first Tuesday of April following their election. Whether or not a limited-call convention dealing with specific issues is constitutional or not remains unclear. Proponents argue that because the Constitution is a limiting, and not a granting, document, then it is. They point to the fact that the 1801 Convention was a limited-call one. Opponents argue that because the Constitution does not expressly provide for such a Convention, any such convention would be unconstitutional. See also Law of New York References External links Constitution (as of 2022) (PDF) Reports of the Proceedings and Debates of the Convention of 1821 Text of the 1777 Constitution Politics of New York (state) New York Legal history of New York (state) John Jay New York (state) law