Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1846, 32 Senators were elected in single-seat senatorial districts for a two-year term, the whole Senate being renewed biennially. The senatorial districts (except those in New York City) were made up of entire counties. 128 Assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts to a one-year term, the whole Assembly being renewed annually. The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards, forming a contiguous area, all in the same county. The City and County of New York was divided into four senatorial districts, and 16 Assembly districts.
On September 27, the Legislative passed "An Act to provide for the election of a Lieutenant Governor", to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Addison Gardiner.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Whig Party. The Democratic Party was split into two factions: the "Barnburners" and the "Hunkers." The radical abolitionists appeared as the Liberty Party. The Anti-Rent Party nominated some candidates, but mostly cross-endorsed Whigs or Democrats, according to their opinion on the rent issue. The Native American Party (later better known as "Know Nothings") also ran.
Elections
The New York state election, 1847 was held on November 3. Hamilton Fish (W) was elected Lieutenant Governor; and all the other eleven statewide elective offices were won by the Whigs.
24 Whigs and 8 Democrats were elected to the State Senate. 93 Whigs and 35 Democrats were elected to the Assembly.
Sessions
The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1848; and adjourned on April 12.
Amos K. Hadley (W) was elected Speaker with 89 votes against 22 for Henry Wager (D).
Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.
Members
The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Valentine Treadwell and William J. Cornwell changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Party affiliations follow the vote on Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms.[1]
Deputy Clerks: Edgar A. Barber, William E. Mills, Friend W. Humphrey
Sergeant-at-Arms: Samuel H. Marks
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: William Van Olinda
Doorkeeper: John Davies
First Assistant Doorkeeper: Samuel Merclean
Second Assistant Doorkeeper: Erasmus D. S. Strong
Doorkeeper for the Gentlemen's Gallery: Isaac Betticker
Dorrkeeper for the Ladies' Gallery: Alexander Hamilton Stoutenburgh
Porter: George Fonda
Librarians: Ira Dubois, John T. Diossey
Messengers: William Freeman, George W. Weed, Peter Craff, Edward Martin, James Whelpley, Seymour Daley, Harris Fellows, Peter Drum, Andrew Ryan, Penfield Strong, Webster Gardiner, Eugene Rearden, A. W. Baker
The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [pg. 109 for Senate districts; pg. 136 for senators; pg. 148–157 for Assembly districts; pg. 234ff for assemblymen]
