By virtue of its importance, York was regularly represented in Parliament from an early date: it had been required to send delegates to the assembly of 1265, but no actual returns survive until the end of the 13th century.

The structure of the civic government of the city provided the basis by which it elected its Parliamentary representatives.

In the years following the city's Royal Charter, granted in the 1150s, power was held by a Lord Mayor and associated bailiffs.

Subsequently, other tiers of governance, such as the probi homines and the communitas, would eventually provide the bodies for the election of MPs.

In the first stage, member of the common chamber of the council and 50 freeholders cast votes and the top four contenders would progress to a second ballot.

In 1597 this process was reduced to a single ballot whereby all of those in both the commons and assembly of York would cast two votes.

Following their review of parliamentary representation in North Yorkshire, the Boundary Commission for England recommended the creation of two new seats for the City of York.