18th New York State Legislature | |||||
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Clinton House, one of the buildings used by the State government during sessions at Poughkeepsie (2007)
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Overview | |||||
Jurisdiction | New York, United States | ||||
Term | July 1, 1794 – June 30, 1795 | ||||
Senate | |||||
Members | 24 | ||||
President | Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt | ||||
Party control | Federalist (14-10) | ||||
Assembly | |||||
Members | 70 | ||||
Speaker | William North (Fed.) | ||||
Party control | Federalist | ||||
Sessions | |||||
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1st | January 6, 1795 – January 14, 1795 |
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2nd | January 20, 1795 – April 9, 1795 |
The 18th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6 to April 9, 1795, during the eighteenth year of George Clinton's governorship, first in Poughkeepsie, then in New York City.
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 re-apportioned the Senate and Assembly districts, according to the figures of the 1790 United States Census.
At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.
The State election was held from April 29 to May 1, 1794. Senators Matthew Clarkson (Southern D.), John Williams (Eastern D.), John Frey and Stephen Van Rensselaer (both Western D.) were re-elected. Assemblymen Richard Hatfield (Southern D.) and John D. Coe (Middle D.) were also elected to the Senate.