Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938 and the U.S. Supreme Court decision to follow the One man, one vote rule, re-apportioned in 1971, and amended in 1974, by the Legislature, 60 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms.

Senate and Assembly districts consisted of approximately the same number of inhabitants, the area being apportioned contiguously without restrictions regarding county boundaries.

Senator, was: Democrats 3,239,000; Republicans 2,525,000; Conservatives 311,000; Liberals 184,000; Communists 25,000; Socialist Workers 16,000; Libertarians 11,000; and Labor 7,000.

On February 14, 1978, Pinny Cooke (Rep.) was elected to fill a vacancy in the Assembly; and on April 11, 1978, Olga A. Méndez (Dem.)

The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 200th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 5, 1977;[2] and recessed indefinitely on July 15.

The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 201st) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1978;[4] and recessed indefinitely on June 24.

[5] On March 14, 1978, Assemblywoman Jean Amatucci had a baby son, becoming the first New York state legislator to give birth during her elected term.