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 1992 by the Legislature, 61 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.

The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. president, was: Democrats 3,650,000; Republicans 1,739,000; Reform 503,000; Conservatives 183,000; Liberals 107,000; Green 76,000; Right to Life 24,000; Libertarians 12,000; Tax Cut Now 11,000; Natural Law 5,000; Workers World 3,500; and Socialist Workers 3,000.

), of Mamaroneck; Mary Lou Rath (Rep.), of Williamsville; Nellie R. Santiago (Dem.

), of Queens; and Assemblywomen Patricia Acampora (Rep.), of Mattituck; Carmen E. Arroyo (Dem.

), of the Bronx; Nancy Calhoun (Rep.), of Blooming Grove; Joan Christensen (Dem.

), of Brooklyn; Donna Ferrara (Rep.), a lawyer of Westbury; Sandy Galef (Dem.

), of Queens; Debra J. Mazzarelli (Rep.), of Patchogue; Patricia McGee (Rep.), of Franklinville; Catherine Nolan (Dem.

), of Queens; Chloe Ann O'Neil (Rep.), an elementary school teacher of Parishville; Audrey Pheffer (Dem.

The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 220th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 8, 1997;[1] and recessed indefinitely on August 4.

The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 221st) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1998;[3] and recessed indefinitely on June 19.

[4] The Assembly met again on July 29, 1998, to enact a bill on parole which had been approved by the Senate during the regular session.