Constitution of the State of New York

The Constitution of the State of New York defines the rights of individuals and the structure of the state government. Several provisions function as the core constitutional bases for equality and nondiscrimination in the State of New York. Article I, Section 11 provides equal protection and bars civil rights discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, or religion. In 2024, Proposition 1, was approved, which amended this section to add explicit protections based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex. The amendment states: "No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof. No person shall, because of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed [or], religion, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy, be subjected to any discrimination in their civil rights by any other person or by any firm, corporation, or institution, or by the state or any agency or subdivision of the state, pursuant to law." By embedding these protections in the state constitution rather than only in statute, the amendment gives stronger, more permanent backing for protections against gender‐based discrimination and for reproductive rights, and makes it harder for future legislatures to roll back those protections This expansion went into effect on January 1, 2025.

Article I, Section 17  protects the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively and prohibits labor conditions viewed as oppressive or exploitative. These guarantees support fair treatment in the workplace and reinforce gender equity in employment. Article XI requires the state to maintain a system of free public schools, forming  the constitutional foundation for equal access to education for all children. Article XVII directs the state to provide aid and care to individuals in need, including public assistance and health services. This provision underpins state responsibility to ensure basic social safety net supports that disproportionately impact women and families.

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  • 2025

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Jurisdiction