On June 15, 1964, the United States Supreme Court handed down several decisions declaring unconstitutional the apportionment plans in several states, including New York. In response, on July 12, Governor Nelson Rockefeller appointed a seven-member committee to study legal and governmental implications of certain questions relating to reapportionment in New York State.
Known as the Mulligan Committee for its chair, William Hughes Mulligan, the Committee studied such questions as: if reapportionment should be embodied in a constitutional amendment or statute; if a constitutional convention should be convened to consider a new reapportionment plan; how to measure population and whether a special census was needed; and whether to maintain or increase the length of term of legislators and the number of legislators.
The Committee studied these and related issues from July 23 until December 1, 1964, when it submitted its final report to the Governor. Among the Committee's recommendations were: an increase in the size of the legislature; an increase in the length of Senators' terms from two to four years; use of residents, citizens, or voters as measure of population for apportionment; Senate and Assembly district lines to be drawn by the legislature, respecting county lines where possible to comply with the Supreme Court requirement for population equality among districts; and changes in the Election Law and election procedures.
From the description of Correspondence, research, and report file, 1964. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 82403427
