Common law and acts of the state legislatures
Official text rightpowerlimitif conditionlegal term
Such parts of the common law, and of the acts of the legislature of the colony of New York, as together did form the law of the said colony, on the nineteenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred seventy-five, and the resolutions of the congress of the said colony, and of the convention of the State of New York, in force on the twentieth day of April, one thousand seven hundred seventy-seven, which have not since expired, or been repealed or altered; and such acts of the legislature of this state as are now in force, shall be and continue the law of this state, subject to such alterations as the legislature shall make concerning the same. But all such parts of the common law, and such of the said acts, or parts thereof, as are repugnant to this constitution, are hereby abrogated.
Simplified explanation
Parts of the common law and colonial acts that formed the law of the colony on April 19, 1775, colonial congress and convention resolutions in force on April 20, 1777, and acts of the legislature now in force continue as state law, subject to legislative alteration. Parts repugnant to this constitution are abrogated.