Under the provisions of the
New York Constitution of 1777, the state senators were elected on general tickets in the senatorial districts, and were then divided into four classes. Six senators each drew lots for a term of 1, 2, 3 or 4 years and, beginning at the election in April 1778, every year six Senate seats came up for election to a four-year term. Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole assembly being renewed annually. In March 1786, the legislature enacted that future legislatures meet on the first Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor. No general meeting place was determined, leaving it to each Legislature to name the place where to reconvene, and if no place could be agreed upon, the legislature should meet again where it adjourned. On February 7, 1791, the legislature had re-apportioned the Senate and Assembly districts, according to the figures of the
1790 United States census.
Matthew Clarkson resigned, leaving a vacancy in the Southern District; and
John Williams was elected to Congress, leaving a vacancy in the Eastern District. At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the
Federalists and the
Democratic-Republicans. ==Elections==