Research

Scope and Content Note

The series consists of records showing the commission's work to examine whether a constitutional convention should be held, what issues should be examined, and the rules and procedures it should follow. A decision whether to hold a convention is mandated by the state constitution and comes before the people for a vote every 20 years. The records document work to plan for the 1997 ballot question, and the possibility of a subsequent constitutional convention in 2017 and later years as the recurring ballot question arises.

The records include meeting agendas and minutes; draft and final versions of iterim and final reports; transcripts, copies of testimony, and working notes from six public hearings held around the state in 1994; correspondence of chairman Peter Goldmark, director of communications Pauline Toole, and other staff with state legislators, government officials, interest groups and others; study reports prepared by consultants to the commission on possible procedures and issues for a convention to follow and examine; copies of commission brochures, newsletters (four published in 1994-1995), press releases, and a briefing book publicizing and promoting commission work;

the script of a video presentation prepared by the commission for distribution to New York public television and other public access television stations; speeches of the chairman and news clippings concerning the commission and issues relevant to its work.