Flag of the state of New York

The state of New York, like our national government, is governed by a constitution. 

A constitution is a document, or written plan, that tells how the government will work.  The first  Constitution of New York was written over two hundred and twenty-five years ago, in 1777.  At that time, the colonies had just declared their independence from Great Britain, and each new state was faced with the task of writing their own constitution. 

The convention of men who wrote the first Constitution of New York decided that the voters should have the right to change, or amend, it every twenty years. In 1777, only free white men who owned property were allowed to vote.  New York's Constitution has been revised nine times since it was written. Men who didn't own property, women, Native Americans, and African Americans, were given the right to vote in later amendments.

In 1821, the Constitution of New York added amendments called a
Bill of Rights.

In the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights gave citizens certain rights and freedoms.
                         (See http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/valsamdeml.cfm
                            and http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/c/documentsl.cfm.)
The Bill of Rights in New York's Constitution also guaranteed the rights of New York's citizens. They gave individual's the freedom to say and write what they want and to worship as they please.  These are known as the freedoms of  "speech, press, and religion."  The Bill of Rights also gives us the freedom to assemble, or gather together peacefully for meetings. It gives individuals the right to be treated fairly and equally under the law.

Our county, town, and city are also regulated, or governed, by important documents and laws.

      Map of counties of New York State                                       Map of Oswego County

There are 62 counties in the state of New York.  We live in the Oswego County. The city of Oswego is the county seat, where the county offices and one of the county's two courthouses are located. The county government writes important local policies, makes laws, and manages the affairs and services of the county. The government provides public services and protects the safety of citizens. Representatives called legislators are elected by the citizens throughout the county to serve on the county legislature, the governing agency in the county. It takes many legal documents to manage the county government.

The city government's legal documents are important, and its laws
must agree with county, state and national laws.

Oswego County is a large county, divided up into many towns, villages and cities, each with its own special laws and governing body.  The city of Oswego elects council members called aldermen and a mayor.  The mayor is the head of the council known in Oswego as the Common Council.  Together they make the policies and laws that are in effect in the city of Oswego. These written documents are very important to our city government. Like the county government, the city government provides services. In Oswego these services include managing the city's budget, water and sewage treatment, and street and highway repairs. They also protect the safety of Oswegonians by providing the citizens with police and fire departments.