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New York State LegislatureFiled Under: State | StatewideThe following section provides contact information and outlines the basics of New York State government, including the legislature, executive branch and state agencies involved with environmental protection.  New York Legislative Office Building: Albany, NY
New York State Senate New York State Assembly (518) 455-7545 or (800) 342-9860 The New York State Legislature was established as a lawmaking body in 1777 under the state's first Constitution. The State Legislature, composed of the Senate (upper house) and an Assembly (lower house), has the power to make laws in all areas except those which have been reserved for federal or local government jurisdiction. New York State is divided into 61 Senatorial districts and 150 Assembly districts. Both Senate and Assembly members serve two-year terms with election on even years. There are no term limits. New York City has 35 Senatorial districts (10th-34th) and 61 Assembly districts (23rd-83rd). * Bronx County has six Senatorial districts (28th, 30th-34th) and 10 Assembly districts (74th-83rd) * Kings County (Brooklyn) has nine Senatorial districts (12th, 17th-23rd, 25th) and 20 Assembly districts (39th - 58th) * New York County (Manhattan) has six Senatorial districts (25th-30th) and 12 Assembly districts (62nd-73rd) * Queens County has seven Senatorial districts (10th-16th) and 16 Assembly districts (23rd-38th) * Richmond County (Staten Island) has two Senatorial districts (23rd-24th) and three Assembly districts (59th-61st) (Redistricting occurs every ten years after Census figures are finalized. The next redistricting will be in 2011. The legislature will hold statewide public hearings prior to their final decision. The redistricting plan must then be approved by the United State Justice Department, which will ensure that the plans comply with the Federal Voting Rights Act. The Justice Department may approve the state plan in its entirety or send back select districts for revisions. The legislative session in Albany begins the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January (after the Governor's State of the State address), and usually continues to July 4th. At that time the two houses may recess and return later in the year, or adjourn; in which case the Governor can call them back for a special session. Legislators typically spend two days a week in Albany at the start of session, stretching to three or four later on. Legislators' base pay is $79,500, plus reimbursable expenses and stipends (called "lulus") for committee chairs and leadership posts. Service in the Assembly and Senate has historically been considered a part-time job. Since 1965 and 1975 respectively, the Senate majority has been Republican; the Assembly overwhelmingly Democratic. The Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker of the Assembly are elected by their respective houses' members and by far have the most power of all the legislators. Individually, they often dictate what their party will and will not do when it comes to legislation; they each appoint committee chairpersons (see below); they control the central staffs of each house and other services and resources legislators depend on; and they head up the campaign committees which can finance (or not) candidates' campaigns. (As events of past years have shown, attempts to buck the leadership can lead to severe penalties.) Finally, together with the Governor, they control budget negotiations, which in recent years have dragged on into the spring and summer, leaving little time for non-budget concerns to be addressed. |
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