The outgoing government was a majority of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by Minister-President Georg-August Zinn.

Modifications to the electoral system saw the SPD deprived of its majority despite only minor losses, and the party formed a coalition with the GB/HBE.

48 members were elected in single-member constituencies via first-past-the-post voting, and 48 then allocated using compensatory proportional representation.

In the previous election held on 19 November 1950, the SPD won a majority of seats with 44% of the vote.

The Communist Party (KPD) narrowly fell below the 5% threshold and lost its seats.