New York State Department of State Reapportionment Orders

Article 8 of the State Law defines the organization of state senate districts and apportionment of members of the state assembly. Chapter 359 of the Laws of 1943, as amended by Chapter 559 of the Laws of 1944, defined new senate districts and provided for a specific number of assembly seats in each county. These acts also prescribed procedures by which county boards of supervisors in counties allotted more than one assembly seat were to divide their respective counties into separate districts. The New York City Council was authorized to establish assembly districts in the counties comprising the city. Chapter 893 of the Laws of 1953, as amended by Chapter 497 of the Laws of 1954, repealed the existing Article 8 and replaced it with an updated version.

Chapter 11 of the Laws of 1972 once again repealed Article 8 of the State Law and inserted a revised version. In addition to establishing the total number of assembly seats, the new article defined the boundaries of the specific assembly districts throughout the state. The article also granted the Secretary of State authority to order the correction of defects in the description of districts. Orders could be issued at the request of "any aggrieved party or any candidate" affected by the districts as described in the revised article.

Article 7 of the State Law defines the boundaries of the state's congressional districts. Chapter 76 of the Laws of 1972 repealed the existing article and inserted a revised version. In addition to defining new congressional districts, the new article also granted the Secretary of State authority to order the correction of defects in the description of districts. As in the revised version of Article 8, orders could be issued at the request of aggrieved parties or candidates affected by the districts as described in the revised article.

This series consists of original certificates, filed with the Department of State by county boards of supervisors, describing the boundaries of state assembly districts in counties allotted more than one assembly seat. In the case of New York City, certificates are endorsed by the New York City Council. These certificates were filed pursuant to Article 8 of the State Law and are divided into two sets: certificates submitted as required by law in 1944 and those submitted in 1954.

The series also contains original orders, signed by the Secretary of State, approving applications for the correction of defects in the description of assembly and congressional districts. Most of the orders present pertain to assembly districts and were issued pursuant to Article 8 of the State Law, as enacted by Chapter 11 of the Laws of 1972. Orders include the name of applicant and a corrected description of the relevant district or districts.

The series also includes original certificates, submitted to the governor by the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, indicating the number of seats allotted to New York by virtue of the most recent federal census. These certificates bear the seal of the House of Representatives and were forwarded to the Department of State by the Executive Chamber. Certificates are dated 1941, 1961, and 1971.

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