New York State Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution

The New York State Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution was established on July 1, 1986 (Chapter 261, Laws of 1986) to promote and coordinate activities to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution and of New York State's role in its ratification. Membership consisted of educators, state legislators, historians, and judges. Sol Wachtler, Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, was chairman of the commission. Stephen L. Schecter was the executive director, Shirley Rice was associate director, and state historian Paul Scudiere was the administrative officer. Commission members represented the state at federal commemorative activities, and reported to the governor annually.

The commission's central function was to coordinate commemorative activity and act as the state's clearinghouse for event information and federal and state funds. It operated a local assistance grant program, but had no research function other than to encourage and subsidize publication of scholarly works on the constitution. Educational and promotional activities included production of classroom aids, and public outreach through exhibits, lectures, and newsletters. The major outreach program, "Critical Choices: New York and the Constitution," included scholarly lectures; issues forums; a reunion of living delegates to the 1938 State Constitutional Convention; and a statewide convention of community constitutional representatives held at Poughkeepsie, New York, on July 25-26, 1988, to reenact the ratification.

Initial legislation required the commission to cease operations on December 31, 1989, but subsequent appropriations enabled it to continue until March 31, 1990.