The New York State Constitution

This fully updated new edition of The New York State Constitution provides an outstanding constitutional and historical account of the state's governing charter. In addition to an overview of New York's constitutional history, it provides an in-depth, section-by-section analysis of the entire constitution, detailing the many significant changes that have been made since its initial drafting. This treatment, along with a table of cases, index, and bibliography provides an unsurpassed reference guide for students, scholars, and practitioners of New York's constitution.

The New York State Constitution provides ready access to material that will help scholars, judges, lawyers, students and the general public to understand the historical background to the New York Constitution, the intent of the framers, and the evolution and current meaning of its provisions.


The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States is an important series that reflects a renewed international interest in constitutional history and provides expert insight into each of the 50 state constitutions. Each volume in this innovative series contains a historical overview of the state's constitutional development, a section-by-section analysis of its current constitution, and a comprehensive guide to further research.

Under the expert editorship of Professor G. Alan Tarr, Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University, this series provides essential reference tools for understanding state constitutional law. Books in the series can be purchased individually or as part of a complete set, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.

Peter J. Galie is Professor of Political Science at Canisius College, Buffalo, New York. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1970. He has published numerous articles in the area of state constitutional law, including Ordered Liberty: A Constitutional History of New York (1996).

Professor Galie was is the recipient of a John R. Oishei Foundation Three Year Teaching Professorship, "Rewriting the New York State Constitution," 1999-2002. He was also selected as the Wilson College Olive Garvey White Outstanding Teacher in 1967, and was the recipient of the Kenneth L. Koessler Distinguished Professor Award, Canisius College, 1998.

Christopher Bopst is a Partner at the Law Firm of Goldberg Segalla LLP in Buffalo, New York,where he practices in the areas of commercial and constitutional litigation. He is a graduate of Canisius College and Notre Dame Law School, both with honors. Mr. Bopst was named a Florida Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine in 2009 and 2011, as well as a Florida Legal Elite "Up and Comer" for the year 2011. He has authored or co-authored numerous articles on a variety of legal topics, with a concentration on state constitutional law and history.