View source for New York State Legislature

{{short description|Bicameral legislature of New York State}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = New York State Legislature
| coa-pic            = Seal_of_New_York_(state).svg
| coa_caption        = [[Great Seal of the State of New York]]
| house_type         = Bicameral
| houses             = [[New York State Senate|Senate]] <br>[[New York State Assembly|Assembly]]
| preceded_by        = [[New York General Assembly|General Assembly of New York]]
| leader1_type       = [[Lieutenant Governor of New York|President of the Senate]]
| leader1            = [[Antonio Delgado]]
| party1             = ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election1          = May 25, 2022
| leader2_type       = [[Majority Leader of the New York State Senate|Temporary President of the Senate]]
| leader2            = [[Andrea Stewart-Cousins]]
| party2             = ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election2          = January 2, 2019
| leader3_type       = [[Speaker of the New York State Assembly|Speaker of the Assembly]]
| leader3            = [[Carl Heastie]]
| party3             = ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| election3          = February 3, 2015
| members            = 213
| salary             = $142,000/year + per diem
| structure1         = New York State Senate.svg
| structure1_res     = 250
| structure2         = New York State Assembly.svg
| structure2_res     = 250
| political_groups1  = 
'''Majority caucus'''
* {{Color box|#0B24FB|border=darkgray}}&nbsp;[[Democratic Party of New York|Democratic]]&nbsp;(42)
'''Minority caucus'''
* {{Color box|#FC0D1B|border=darkgray}}&nbsp;[[Republican Party of New York|Republican]]&nbsp;(21)
| political_groups2  = 
'''Majority caucus''' 
* {{Color box|#0B24FB|border=darkgray}}&nbsp;[[Democratic Party of New York|Democratic]]&nbsp;(102)
'''Minority caucus'''
* {{Color box|#FC0D1B|border=darkgray}}&nbsp;[[Republican Party of New York|Republican]]&nbsp;(48)
| last_election1     = [[2022 New York state elections|November 8, 2022]]
| next_election1     = [[2026 New York State Assembly election|Nov, 2026]]
| session_room       = NYSCapitolPanorama.jpg
| meeting_place      = [[New York State Capitol]]<br />[[Albany, New York|Albany]]
| website            = {{URL|http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/}}
}}

The '''New York State Legislature''' consists of the [[Bicameralism|two houses]] that act as the [[State legislature (United States)|state legislature]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]]: the [[New York State Senate]] and the [[New York State Assembly]]. The [[Constitution of New York]] does not designate an official term for the two houses together; it says only that the state's legislative power "shall be vested in the senate and assembly".<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York State Constitution |url=https://dos.ny.gov/info/constitution.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207142326/http://www.dos.ny.gov/info/constitution.htm |archive-date=Feb 7, 2016 |website=New York State Department of State}}</ref> [[Session laws]] passed by the Legislature are published in the official ''[[Laws of New York]]''.<ref name=GibsonManz2004p30>{{cite book|title=Gibson's New York Legal Research Guide|first1=Ellen M.|last1=Gibson|first2=William H.|last2=Manz|year=2004|page=30|edition=3rd|publisher=Wm. S. Hein Publishing|isbn=1-57588-728-2|lccn=2004042477|oclc=54455036|url=https://www.wshein.com/media/samples/5268.pdf}}</ref>{{sfn|Gibson|Manz|2004|pp=47–48}} Permanent New York laws of a general nature are [[codification (law)|codified]] in the ''[[Consolidated Laws of New York]]''.<ref name=GibsonManz2004p30/>{{sfn|Gibson|Manz|2004|pp=56–57}} {{As of|2021|Jan}}, the [[New York State Democratic Committee|Democratic Party]] holds [[supermajorities]] in both houses of the New York State Legislature, which is the highest paid state legislature in the country.

Legislative elections are held in November of every even-numbered year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Olivia A. |date=June 23, 2008 |title=A House Divided in Washington Heights |url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/development/4006-a-house-divided-in-washington-heights |website=Gotham Gazette}}</ref> Both Assembly members and Senators serve two-year terms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/new-york-primary-elections-2018-where-when-to-vote-guide|title=Everything You Need to Know About New York's Primary Election on Thursday|website=Vogue|date=September 10, 2018}}</ref>

In order to be a member of either house, one must be a [[citizen of the United States]], a resident of the state of New York for at least five years, and a resident of the district for at least one year prior to election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York State Constitution |url=https://dos.ny.gov/info/constitution.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207142326/http://www.dos.ny.gov/info/constitution.htm |archive-date=Feb 7, 2016 |website=New York State Department of State}} Article III, Section VII.</ref>

The Assembly consists of 150 members; they are each chosen from a [[single-member district]]. The New York Constitution allows the number of Senate seats to vary; {{As of|2014|lc=y}}, the Senate had 63 seats.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKinley |first=Jesse |date=24 February 2014 |title=What Is a Majority Vote in the State Senate? The Answer Goes Beyond Simple Math |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/nyregion/what-is-a-majority-vote-in-the-state-senate-the-answer-goes-beyond-simple-math.html |url-access=limited}}</ref>

==Leaders==
The Assembly is headed by the [[Speaker of the New York State Assembly|speaker]], while the Senate is headed by the president, a post held ''[[ex officio member|ex officio]]'' by the [[Lieutenant Governor of New York|State lieutenant governor]]. the lieutenant governor, as president of the Senate, has only a tie-breaking "[[casting vote]]". More often, the Senate is presided over by the temporary president,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/branches-government-new-york-state|title=Branches of Government in New York State|date=2009-03-25|website=NY State Senate|language=en|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref> or by a senator of the majority leader's choosing.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

The assembly speaker and Senate majority leader control the assignment of committees and leadership positions, along with control of the agenda in their chambers. The two are considered powerful statewide leaders and along with the [[governor of New York]] control most of the agenda of state business in New York.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

==Drafting and research==
The [[Legislative Bill Drafting Commission]] (LBDC) aids in drafting legislation; advises as to the constitutionality, consistency or effect of proposed legislation; conducts research; and publishes and maintains the documents of the Legislature, such as the ''[[Laws of New York]]''.<ref>Legislative Law § 25</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Set the Law Free, Say Council Members Lander, Vacca, Kallos: Legislation to Put Law Online for Free Instead of Behind Paid Subscriptions|first=Ben|last=Kallos|author-link=Ben Kallos|date=9 June 2014|access-date=12 June 2014|url=http://benkallos.com/press-release/set-law-free-say-council-members-lander-vacca-kallos-legislation-put-law-online-free-i}}</ref> The LBDC consists of two commissioners, the commissioner for administration and the commissioner for operations, each appointed jointly by the [[Majority Leader of the New York State Senate|temporary president of the Senate]] and the speaker of the Assembly.<ref>Legislative Law § 24</ref>

==Party control==
In the 2018 elections, Democrats won control of the State Senate and increased their majority in the State Assembly. At the beginning of the 2019–2020 legislative session, the Senate Democratic Conference held 39 of the chamber's 63 seats<ref>{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Jon |date=Jan 9, 2019 |title=History made: Andrea Stewart-Cousins sworn in as NY Senate leader |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2019/01/09/andrea-stewart-cousins-first-woman-majority-leader/2523999002/ |website=lohud.com}}</ref> and the Assembly Democratic Conference held 106 of the 150 seats in that chamber.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Klepper |first1=David |last2=Carola |first2=Chris |date=January 9, 2019 |title=Democrat-controlled NY state Legislature starts 2019 session |url=https://apnews.com/5e6c4a1a69dc48709188847d992bb0c2 |website=AP News}}</ref> The Senate Democratic Conference increased to 40 seats after Democratic senator [[Simcha Felder]] was re-accepted into the Conference.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reisman |first=Nick |date=July 1, 2019 |title=Felder Joins Senate Dem Fold |url=https://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2019/07/felder-joins-senate-dem-fold/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701174628/https://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2019/07/felder-joins-senate-dem-fold/ |archive-date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=2019-10-22 |website=NY State of Politics}}</ref>

[[File:Consolidatedlaw02stagoog wo front matter.pdf|thumb|Title page of volume 1 of the ''[[Consolidated Laws of New York]]'']]

==Constitutional powers==
The Legislature is empowered to make law, subject to the [[Governor of New York|governor's]] power to [[veto]] a bill. However, the veto may be overridden by the Legislature if there is a [[two-thirds vote]] in favor of overriding in each House. Furthermore, it has the power to propose [[New York Constitution]] amendments by a [[majority vote]], and then another majority vote following an election. If so proposed, the amendment becomes valid if agreed to by the voters at a [[referendum]].{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

==History==
The legislature originated in the revolutionary [[New York Provincial Congress]], assembled by rebels when the [[New York General Assembly]]  would not send delegates to the [[Continental Congress]].{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

The New York State Legislature has had several corruption scandals during its existence. These include the [[Black Horse Cavalry]] and [[Canal Ring (New York)|Canal Ring]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Archdeacon|first=Thomas J.|date=1978|title=The Erie Canal Ring, Samuel J. Tilden, and the Democratic Party|journal=New York History|volume=59|issue=4|pages=408–429|issn=0146-437X|jstor=23170015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Giroux|first=Gary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cW2jAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA255|title=Business Scandals, Corruption, and Reform: An Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia|date=2013-07-12|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-4408-0068-9|pages=255|language=en}}</ref>

In the 1840s, New York launched the first great wave of [[Civil procedure in the United States|civil procedure]] reform in the United States by enacting the [[Field Code]].  The Code inspired the enactment of similar codes in 26 other states, and gave birth to the term "[[code pleading]]" for the system of civil procedure it created.<ref name="Hepburn_Page_15">{{cite book |last1=Hepburn |first1=Charles McGuffey |title=The Historical Development of Code Pleading in America and England |date=1897 |publisher=W.H. Anderson & Co. |location=Cincinnati |page=15|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAk-AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA15 |access-date=18 November 2023}}</ref>

The first African-American elected to the legislature was [[Edward A. Johnson]], a Republican, in 1917.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edward A. Johnson (Edward Austin), 1860-1944 |url=https://docsouth.unc.edu/church/johnson/bio.html |website=Documenting the American South}}</ref> The first women elected to the legislature were Republican [[Ida Sammis]] and Democrat [[Mary Lilly]], both in 1919.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Early Women Elected to the NYS Legislature |url=http://www.northnet.org/stlawrenceaauw/nysleg.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128075833/http://www.northnet.org/stlawrenceaauw/nysleg.htm |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |website=St. Lawrence County Branch}}</ref> The first African-American woman elected to the legislature was [[Bessie A. Buchanan]] in 1955.<ref name="Notable Black American Women">{{cite book|title=Notable Black American Women|editor=Jessie Carney Smith|publisher=Gale Research Inc|location=Detroit Michigan|year=1996|volume=2|pages=73–75|isbn=0-8103-9177-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ssMBzqrUpjwC&pg=PA74 |access-date=8 March 2010}}</ref>

Five assemblymen were expelled in 1920 for belonging to the [[Socialist Party of America|Socialist Party]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/when-the-assembly-expelled-socialists-for-disloyalty/?hp
|title=When the Assembly Expelled Socialists for Disloyalty
|first=Nicholas
|last=Confessore
|publisher=New York Times (blog)
|date=2009-10-21}}</ref>

In 2008, when the U.S. Supreme Court reluctantly affirmed the constitutionality of a statute enacted by the New York legislature, Justice [[John Paul Stevens]] wrote in a [[concurring opinion]]: "[A]s I recall my esteemed former colleague, [[Thurgood Marshall]], remarking on numerous occasions: 'The Constitution does not prohibit legislatures from enacting stupid laws.{{'"}}<ref>''[https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/552/196/ New York State Bd. of Elections v. Lopez Torres]'', 552 U.S. 196, 209 (2008) (Stevens, J., concurring).</ref>

There is said to be a compact to which members of the New York Legislature unofficially adhere a code of silence regarding behavior such as illicit extramarital affairs or other embarrassing behavior.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Al |date=May 16, 2004 |title=Albany Faces Its Sex Problem, and Nobody's Snickering |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/16/nyregion/albany-faces-its-sex-problem-and-nobody-s-snickering.html |url-access=limited}}</ref>

Since January 1, 2025, lawmakers are subject to a limit on outside income set to $35,000. Republican members of both chambers were expected to be majorly impacted by the rule and sued to block it, but [[New York Supreme Court]] justice Alison Napolitano upheld the limit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/politics/2025/03/19/court-upholds-lawmaker-income-limit|title=State Supreme Court ruling upholds outside income limit for New York lawmakers|last=Aprey|first=Jack|date=March 19, 2025|access-date=March 20, 2025|website=[[Spectrum News 1]]}}</ref> It is unclear how the rule will be enforced, roughly 26 assemblymembers and 12 senators would likely have to resign or forfeit their outside income to remain in office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/chaos-judge-upholds-law-limiting-lawmakers-20227481.php|title='Chaos' after judge upholds law limiting outside income for NY lawmakers|date=March 18, 2025|access-date=March 20, 2025|website=[[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]]|last=Lyons|first=Brendon}}</ref>

==Legislative leadership==
===New York State Senate===
*President of the Senate: [[Antonio Delgado]]
*Majority leader: [[Andrea Stewart-Cousins]]
*Minority leader: [[Rob Ortt]]

===New York State Assembly===
*Speaker of the Assembly: [[Carl Heastie]]
*Majority leader of the Assembly: [[Crystal Peoples-Stokes]]
*Minority leader of the Assembly: [[William A. Barclay]]

==See also==
* [[George G. Barnard]]
* ''[[Gibbons v. Ogden]]''
* [[William Sulzer#Governor of New York|The Frawley committee]]
* [[The Hepburn Committee]]
* [[List of New York Legislature members expelled or censured]]
* [[List of New York State legislatures]]
* [[New York Provincial Congress]]
* [[New York State Assembly]]
* [[New York state public-benefit corporations]]
* [[New York State Senate]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite web|title=Compiling the Legislative History of a New York State Law|publisher=[[New York State Library]]|access-date=20 June 2014|url=http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/leghist/leghis.htm|archive-date=December 29, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051229193832/http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/leghist/leghis.htm|url-status=dead}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nysenate.gov/ Official site of the New York Senate]
*[http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/ Official site of the New York Assembly]
*[http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/ Legislative information] from the [[Legislative Bill Drafting Commission]]
*[http://nyslrs.state.ny.us/ Legislative Retrieval System] {{Subscription required}} from the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission
*[http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/nyhs/nystate/ The New York State Legislature Portrait Prints Collection at the New York Historical Society]

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{{New York State Senate}}
{{New York State Assembly}}
{{New York State Legislatures}}
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{{United States legislatures}}
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[[Category:New York State Legislature| ]]
[[Category:Government of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Bicameral legislatures]]