N.Y. UCC Law § 3-104

Section 3--104. Form of Negotiable Instruments; "Draft"; "Check";\n "Certificate of Deposit"; "Note".\n (1) Any writing to be a negotiable instrument within this Article must\n (a) be signed by the maker or drawer; and\n (b) contain an unconditional promise or order to pay a sum\n certain in money and no other promise, order, obligation or\n power given by the maker or drawer except as authorized by\n this Article; and\n (c) be payable on demand or at a definite time; and\n (d) be payable to order or to bearer.\n (2) A writing which complies with the requirements of this section is\n (a) a "draft" ("bill of exchange") if it is an order;\n (b) a "check" if it is a draft drawn on a bank and payable on\n demand;\n (c) a "certificate of deposit" if it is an acknowledgment by a\n bank of receipt of money with an engagement to repay it;\n (d) a "note" if it is a promise other than a certificate of\n deposit.\n (3) As used in other Articles of this Act, and as the context may\nrequire, the terms "draft", "check", "certificate of deposit" and "note"\nmay refer to instruments which are not negotiable within this Article as\nwell as to instruments which are so negotiable.\n