Constitutions and Constitutional Conventions
New York's first state constitution preceded and influenced the development of the United States Constitution. In drafting state constitutions prior to the ratification of the national constitution, New York and its fellow original states established a tradition of dual constitutionalism that endures to this day. In establishing the basic framework of state government and protecting the rights of individuals, state constitutions serve functions parallel to the national constitution. However, as is the case with New York, sta
