New York State Facts & Fun
Another Capital Journey...
From a Bill to a Law in Six Easy Steps!! This example begins in the Senate, but bills may be introduced in either the Senate or the Assembly.
1. A Senator introduces a new bill.
2. A Senate Committee reports favorably on the bill.
3. The Senate passes the bill.
4. The bill is approved by an Assembly Committee.
5. The Assembly passes the same bill the Senate did.
6. The Governor signs the bill into law.
That bill was lucky. Most bills do not become laws. Some bills are re-written one or more times before they ever get out of committee. Other bills are the subject of public hearings in Albany and around the state before a committee vote is even taken. Sometimes, one legislator�s bill is very similar to another legislator's bill, but only one of these bills can be considered. So many bills are introduced that most never make it out of committee. The journey from a bill to a law is not always an easy road for a new bill to travel. ______________________________________________________________________________
Let�s Tour New York State
Albany -- New York State�s Capital
Buffalo -- once the home of former U.S. President and former New York State Governor Grover Cleveland
Lake Placid -- site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics
Syracuse -- site of the annual New York State Fair
Niagara Falls -- a breathtaking waterfall 1,100 ft. wide and 183 ft. high
Lake George -- where you can ride several types of boats, including a steamship
West Point -- home of the U.S. Military Academy
Jones Beach -- a great place for fun in the sun
The Finger Lakes -- made of 11 lakes which are shaped like fingers
Saratoga -- site of the nation�s oldest thoroughbred horse racing track (founded in 1863)
The Catskill Mountains -- home to bears and other wild animals
The Erie Canal -- runs between Albany and Buffalo linking Lake Erie to the Hudson River
The Thousand Islands -- which are really made up of 1,870 islands
Lake Erie -- one of the five Great Lakes, a popular site for boating and other water fun
The Adirondack Mountains -- a fun spot for camping and home of the state�s highest mountain, Mount Marcy
Woodstock -- the 1969 rock festival took place here
The Statue of Liberty -- 150 ft. high, celebrated its centennial (100 years) in 1986
Lake Ontario -- another one of the five Great Lakes, a popular site for fishing and other water activities
Watkins Glen -- visit a 10,000 year-old natural gorge and the Professional Auto Raceway
Cooperstown -- home of the Baseball Hall of Fame
The Empire State Building -- a 1,454 ft. skyscraper
Coney Island -- famous for its amusement park and hot dogs
Montauk -- a lighthouse built by order of George Washington
Lake Champlain -- named after the French explorer and colonizer Samuel de Champlain
Rochester -- host to numerous professional golf tournaments ______________________________________________________________________________
The State Seal -- What does it all mean?
Eagle -- The American eagle is a symbol of strength, independence and freedom.
Globe -- The globe points to the Atlantic Ocean and North America, showing New York's place in the world.
Mountains -- New York's mountain ranges (the Catskills, the Adirondacks and the Alleghenys) are shown.
Sun -- The sun, with a smiling face, is seen rising over the three mountain ranges.
Boats -- A ship and a sloop are shown about to pass each other.
River -- The river represents New York�s great waterways and shows how commerce began in the state.
Lady Liberty -- Lady Liberty, on the left, represents freedom for the people of New York. High on a staff in her right hand is a peasant cap representing democratic rule by the people. Her left foot is stepping on a crown, representing the rejection of the monarchy.
Lady Justice -- Lady Justice, on the right, is blind-folded to prevent discrimination against anyone. The balanced scales of justice in her left hand give equal weight to both sides of all issues. The sword in her right hand represents swift and powerful enforcement of the law.
Excelsior -- The state motto, meaning �Ever Upward,� is on a ribbon below the state seal. ______________________________________________________________________________
Facts About New York State
State Capital -- Albany
State Motto -- Excelsior (Ever Upward)
Population -- 18,976,457 (2000 U.S. Census), ranks 3rd among states
Largest City -- New York City
Land Area -- 47,224 square miles, ranks 30th among states From West to East -- 440 miles, including Long Island From North to South -- 310 miles
Highest Mountain -- Mount Marcy, 5,344 feet
Longest River -- Hudson, 300 miles
Highest Waterfall -- Taughannock, 215 feet
Lakes & Ponds -- 4,000
Longest Toll Expressway in the World -- Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway, 559 miles
Barge Canal System -- 800 miles, including lakes and rivers ______________________________________________________________________________
State Song:�I Love New York� Words and Music by Steve Karmen
I Love New York (Repeat 3 times)
There isn�t another like it
No matter where you go
And nobody can compare it
It�s win and place and show
New York is special
New York is different
'Cause there�s no place else on earth
Quite like New York and that�s why
I Love New York (Repeat 3 times) ______________________________________________________________________________
Capitol Facts
* The Capitol Building in Albany took about 30 years to build and was completed in 1899.
* New York State�s Capitol Building is one of the few in the nation without a dome.
* The statue in front of the building is of General Philip Sheridan, who fought in the Civil War.
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#121 9/03_________________________________________________________
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