Amendments are proposed by a majority of the house of representatives, approved by two-thirds of both houses of the next legislature and a majority of the electors at an election.

New York.

The first constitution of this state was formed in 1777; the second in 1821, and adopted in 1822; the present was formed and adopted in 1846.

Electors. Every white male citizen, resident in the state a year, and in the county four months, and thirty days in the district which the person voted for is to represent.  Naturalized persons must have been admitted as citizens ten days before voting.  Colored men must have resided in the state three years, own a freehold of $250 in value over incumbrances, and have paid a tax thereon.

Legislature. Senate, thirty-two members elected in single districts for two years.  Assembly, one hundred and twenty-eight members, apportioned among the counties.  Counties entitled to more than one member are divided into districts and a member is elected in each district.  A census is taken, and a new apportionment made every ten years.  A majority is a quorum to do business.  The final passage of bills requires a majority of all the members.  Bills may be passed against the veto by two-thirds majorities.  They become laws if not returned within ten days, unless their return is prevented by adjournment.

Executive. A governor is elected for two years; a citizen, thirty years of age; a resident of the state five years.  A lieutenant-governor.

Judiciary. A court of appeals, a supreme court, county courts, and courts held by justices of the peace.  There are eight judicial districts, in each of which four justices of the supreme court are elected for eight years, two of them every two years.  The court of appeals is composed of eight judges, four of whom are elected by the electors of the state for eight years, one every two years, and the other four are of the class of justices of the supreme court whose term has most nearly expired.  In each county are held circuit courts and special terms of the supreme court, by one or more justices of the supreme court.  General terms of the supreme court are held in the several districts by three or more of the justices.  A county court is held by a county judge elected for four years, who is also surrogate, called in other states, judge of probate.  In counties having more than 40,000 inhabitants, a separate officer may be chosen as surrogate.  Justices of the peace are elected in the several towns for four years.

Judges of the court of appeals and justices of the supreme court may be removed by the legislature; county judges by the senate on recommendation of the governor.

A secretary of state, a controller, a treasurer, an attorney-general, and a state engineer and surveyor, are chosen for two years; three canal commissioners and three inspectors of state prisons, for three years, one of each every year.