The 156th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4 to October 19, 1933, during the first year of Herbert H. Lehman's governorship, in Albany.

Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, re-apportioned in 1917, 51 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts; senators for a two-year term, assemblymen for a one-year term. The senatorial districts consisted either of one or more entire counties; or a contiguous area within a single county. The counties which were divided into more than one senatorial district were New York (nine districts), Kings (eight), Bronx (three), Erie (three), Monroe (two), Queens (two) and Westchester (two). The Assembly districts were made up of contiguous area, all within the same county.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Socialist Party, the Communist Party and the Socialist Labor Party also nominated tickets. The Prohibition Party adopted at this time the name Law Preservation Party: to emphasize that Prohibition should be preserved while encountering rampant opposition to it. They endorsed the "dry" Republicans and nominated own candidates in many districts where "wet" Republicans were running.

Elections The 1932 New York state election, was held on November 8. Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States; Lieutenant Governor Herbert H. Lehman was elected Governor; and M. William Bray was elected Lieutenant Governor; all three Democrats. Of the other six statewide elective offices, five were carried by Democrats and one by a Republican judge with Democratic endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 2,660,000; Republicans 1,812,000; Socialists 103,000; Law Preservation 83,000; Communists 26,000; and Socialist Labor 7,000.

Assemblywoman Rhoda Fox Graves (Rep.), of Gouverneur, a former school teacher who after her marriage became active in women's organisations and politics, ran for the State Senate in the 34th district, but was defeated in the Republican primary by the incumbent Warren T. Thayer. No women were elected to the 156th Legislature.

Sessions The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1933;LEGISLATURE OPENS WITH RUSH OF BILLS in The New York Times on January 5, 1933 (subscription required) and adjourned on April 10.TIRED LEGISLATORS HAIL FINAL GAVELS in The New York Times on April 11, 1933 (subscription required)

Joseph A. McGinnies (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker.

John J. Dunnigan (Dem.) was elected Temporary President of the State Senate.

On June 27, a state convention met to ratify the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution which proposed to repeal Prohibition.

The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on July 26;GOV. LEHMAN CALLS THE EXTRA SESSION NEXT WEDNESDAY in The New York Times on July 20, 1933 (subscription required) and adjourned on August 24.LEGISLATURE QUITS; LIQUOR BILLS PASS; Recovery, Mortgage Relief and Anti-Gangster Measures Approved in Stormy Close in The New York Times on August 25, 1933 (subscription required)

The Legislature met for another special session at the State Capitol in Albany on October 18;Leaders at Odds as Lehman Sets Special Session for Wednesday in The New York Times on October 14, 1933 (subscription required) and adjourned on the next day.HARMONY IS LIKELY AT EXTRA SESSION in The New York Times on October 18, 1933 (subscription required)

State Senate

Districts

Members The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Joseph A. Esquirol and Samuel Mandelbaum changed from the Assembly to the Senate.

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."

District Senator Party Notes1stGeorge L. Thompson* Republicanre-elected2ndJoseph D. Nunan Jr.* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Civil Service3rdFrank B. Hendel* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Public Printing4thPhilip M. Kleinfeld* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Excise5thJohn J. Howard* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Penal Institutions6thMarcellus H. Evans* Democratre-elected; Chairman of General Laws7thGeorge Blumberg Republican8thJoseph A. Esquirol* DemocratChairman of Public Health9thHenry L. O'Brien* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Labor and Industry10thJeremiah F. Twomey* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Finance11thJames J. Crawford* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Pensions12thElmer F. Quinn* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Codes13thThomas F. Burchill* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Public Service14thSamuel Mandelbaum* DemocratChairman of Cities15thJohn L. Buckley* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Taxation and Retrenchment16thJohn J. McNaboe* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Conservation; and of Re-Apportionment17thAlbert Wald DemocratChairman of Revision; and of Printed and Engrossed Bills18thJohn T. McCall* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Banks19thDuncan T. O'Brien* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Insurance20thA. Spencer Feld* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Public Education21stHenry G. Schackno* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Judiciary; on November 7, 1933, elected to the City Court (Bronx); resigned his seat on November 21SCHACKNO RESIGNS FROM SENATE SEAT in NYT on November 22, 1933 (subscription required)22ndJulius S. Berg* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Privileges and Elections23rdJohn J. Dunnigan* Democratre-elected; elected Temporary President; Chairman of Rules24thHarry J. Palmer* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Internal Affairs25thWalter W. Westall* Republicanre-elected26thSeabury C. Mastick* Rep./Law P.re-elected; contested by Richard E. FitzGibbons (D)DEMOCRATS MOVE TO OUST MASTICK in The New York Times on February 17, 1933 (subscription required)27thThomas C. Desmond* Republicanre-elected28thJ. Griswold Webb* Republicanre-elected29thArthur H. Wicks* Rep./Law P.re-elected30thWilliam T. Byrne* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Agriculture31stOgden J. Ross DemocratChairman of Military Affairs32ndAlexander G. Baxter* Rep./Law P.re-elected33rdBenjamin F. Feinberg Republican34thWarren T. Thayer* Republicanre-elected35thHenry I. Patrie* Rep./Law P.re-elected36thMichael J. Kernan DemocratChairman of Affairs of Villages37thPerley A. Pitcher* Republicanre-elected38thGeorge R. Fearon* Republicanre-elected; Minority Leader39thWalter W. Stokes Republican40thBert Lord* Rep./Law P.re-elected41stFrank A. Frost* Rep./Law P.re-elected42ndCharles J. Hewitt* Republicanre-elected43rdEarle S. Warner Republican44thJoe R. Hanley* Rep./Law P.re-elected45thCosmo A. Cilano* Republicanre-elected46thFred J. Slater* Republicanre-elected47thWilliam H. Lee Republican48thLawrence G. Williams Republican49thStephen J. Wojtkowiak* Democratre-elected; Chairman of Commerce and Navigation50thNelson W. Cheney* Republicanre-elected51stLeigh G. Kirkland* Rep./Law P.re-elected

Employees Clerk: Patrick H. O'Connell,EXPECT LEONARD APPOINTEES WILL NOT BE DISTURBED in The Saratogan, of Saratoga Springs, on February 3, 1933 died on June 22, 1933O'CONNELL FUNERAL PLANS in The New York Times on June 23, 1933 (subscription required)

State Assembly

Assemblymen

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."