New York State Assembly

New York State Assembly
source
Name	New York State Assembly
Legislature	New York State Legislature
House type	Lower house
Body	New York
Term limits	None
Foundation	1777
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Carl Heastie
Party1	(Democratic)
Election1	February 3, 2015
Leader2 type	Speaker pro tempore
Leader2	Jeffrion Aubry
Party2	(Democratic)
Election2	February 3, 2015
Leader3 type	Majority Leader
Leader3	Crystal Peoples-Stokes
Party3	(Democratic)
Election3	January 9, 2019
Leader4 type	Minority Leader
Leader4	William Barclay
Party4	(Republican)
Election4	June 10, 2020
Members	150
Political groups1	Majority (102), Democratic (102), Minority (48), Republican (48)
Term length	2 years
Authority	Article III, New York Constitution
Salary	$142,000/year + per diem
Last election1	November 8, 2022
Next election1	November 5, 2024
Meeting place	Assembly Chamber, New York State Capitol, Albany, New York
Website	https://nyassembly.gov

New York State Assembly. It is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, functioning alongside the New York State Senate within the New York State Capitol in Albany, New York. The Assembly consists of 150 members elected from districts across the state for two-year terms, with no term limits. As a critical part of the state's bicameral system, it holds primary responsibility for initiating all bills for raising revenue and plays a central role in shaping the state's budget, laws, and public policy.

History

The Assembly traces its origins to the colonial Province of New York and was formally established by the first New York Constitution in 1777. Key historical developments include the Dorr Rebellion's influence on apportionment debates and the 1894 constitutional convention which capped its membership at 150. The body was the scene of significant political battles, such as the impeachment of Governor William Sulzer in 1913. Throughout the 20th century, it was dominated by powerful leaders from Tammany Hall and later figures like Oswald D. Heck, Stanley Steingut, and Stanley Fink, often operating in a "three men in a room" dynamic with the Governor of New York and the Senate Majority Leader.

Membership and elections

Members are elected from single-member districts that are redrawn every decade following the United States Census by the New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, United States citizens, and residents of their district for at least one year prior to the election. Elections are held in even-numbered years, coinciding with gubernatorial or presidential elections. Vacancies are filled by special election, as authorized by the New York State Election Law. The Democratic Party has held a majority of seats since the 1970s, with recent strongholds including New York City, Westchester County, and parts of Long Island.

Powers and legislative process

The Assembly possesses all traditional legislative powers, with the exclusive constitutional authority to originate all bills for raising revenue. The legislative process requires a bill to pass both the Assembly and the New York State Senate before being sent to the Governor of New York for approval or veto. The body also shares the power to propose amendments to the New York Constitution, which must be passed by two successively elected legislatures before going to a statewide referendum. Other significant powers include the ability to initiate impeachment proceedings against state officials, which are then tried by the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments, and to advise on and consent to certain gubernatorial appointments.

Leadership and committees

The presiding officer is the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, elected by the full membership; the current speaker is Carl Heastie. Other key leaders include the Speaker pro tempore (Jeffrion Aubry), the Majority Leader (Crystal Peoples-Stokes), and the Minority Leader (William Barclay). The Speaker appoints chairs and members of all standing committees, which are essential for reviewing and shaping legislation. Powerful committees include Ways and Means, which handles the budget, and Codes, which reviews criminal justice legislation. The Rules Committee controls the flow of bills to the floor.

Current session and composition

The 2023-2024 legislative session is the 246th session of the Assembly. Following the 2022 New York State Assembly election, the partisan composition is 102 Democrats and 48 Republicans, giving Democrats a supermajority. This session has considered major legislation on areas such as housing, climate change via the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and criminal justice reform. The current majority allows Democrats to override gubernatorial vetoes without Republican support and to pass constitutional amendments independently.

Relationship with other entities

The Assembly interacts continuously with the upper house, the New York State Senate, to pass identical legislation. It operates under the oversight of the state's judiciary, particularly the New York Court of Appeals, which can rule on the constitutionality of its statutes. The body works with the executive branch headed by the Governor of New York, who presents an annual executive budget for legislative modification and approval. On the federal level, it may pass memorializing resolutions to petition the United States Congress or comment on federal actions. It also interacts with local governments, including the New York City Council, on matters of state policy affecting municipalities. Category:New York State Assembly Category:State lower houses in the United States Category:Government of New York (state)