Research

Administrative History

Article 8 of the State Law defines the organization of state senate districts and apportionment of members of the state assembly. Chapter 359 of the Laws of 1943, as amended by Chapter 559 of the Laws of 1944, defined new senate districts and provided for a specific number of assembly seats in each county. These acts also prescribed procedures by which county boards of supervisors in counties allotted more than one assembly seat were to divide their respective counties into separate districts. The New York City Council was authorized to establish assembly districts in the counties comprising the city. Chapter 893 of the Laws of 1953, as amended by Chapter 497 of the Laws of 1954, repealed the existing Article 8 and replaced it with an updated version.

Chapter 11 of the Laws of 1972 once again repealed Article 8 of the State Law and inserted a revised version. In addition to establishing the total number of assembly seats, the new article defined the boundaries of the specific assembly districts throughout the state. The article also granted the Secretary of State authority to order the correction of defects in the description of districts. Orders could be issued at the request of "any aggrieved party or any candidate" affected by the districts as described in the revised article.

Article 7 of the State Law defines the boundaries of the state's congressional districts. Chapter 76 of the Laws of 1972 repealed the existing article and inserted a revised version. In addition to defining new congressional districts, the new article also granted the Secretary of State authority to order the correction of defects in the description of districts. As in the revised version of Article 8, orders could be issued at the request of aggrieved parties or candidates affected by the districts as described in the revised article.