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.

), of Staten Island; Pinny Cooke (Rep.), of Rochester; Joan B. Hague (Rep.), of Glens Falls; Rhoda S. Jacobs (Dem.

The legislature met for the first regular session (the 204th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1981;[2] and recessed indefinitely on July 10.

[6] The legislature met again on December 3, 1981, to override Governor Carey's veto of a new property tax bill.

[7] The legislature met for the second regular session (the 205th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1982;[8] and recessed indefinitely on July 3.

Ward and Vincent L. Broderick, ordered the legislature to re-apportion the legislative districts by April 16.

[10] On April 19, the federal judges noted that the legislature had not agreed upon a re-apportionment, and announced that they would appoint somebody to elaborate a proposal.

[13] On June 23, the feral judges ordered Special Master Robert P. Patterson Jr. to revise the new apportionment proposed by the legislature.

[15] The legislature met for a special session from December 13[16] to 22, 1982, to consider again measures to balance the budget and to keep the mass transit fare in New York City down.