History of the Rockland County Legislature
Rockland County is divided into 17 single-member legislative districts. Currently, there are 12 Democrats and 5 Republicans serving.
Rockland County was created from Orange County on Feb. 23, 1798, by an act of the New York State Legislature. The change was needed due to problems trying to govern a large county that was also physically divided by the Ramapo Mountain Range.
Until 1970, Rockland County was governed by a Board of Supervisors whose members represented each of Rockland’s five towns – Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo and Stony Point. Each of the supervisors had an equal vote, even if one town had a larger population than another.
At the direction of the United States Supreme Court, the County adopted a reapportionment plan, and as a result, an elected County Legislature was created in place of the Board of Supervisors. Each of the 17 legislative districts contains roughly the same number of people, providing for the equal representation of all residents.
Following a referendum held on Nov. 6, 1984, the voters of Rockland County approved a Charter for the government of the County. On Jan. 1, 1986, the Charter and a new Administrative Code went into effect that provided for an elected County Executive and County Legislature.
Under the County Charter, the Legislature has the power to make appropriations, levy taxes, incur indebtedness, adopt the annual budget, and enact, amend or rescind local laws.
Similar to other American communities, while only a few simple laws were necessary at the time of the County’s establishment, the subsequent growth of the community, together with the complexity of modern life, has created the need for new and more detailed legislation for the proper function and governing of the County. The Rockland County Charter and local laws may be viewed online at https://www.ecode360.com/12119265.
More About the Rockland County Legislature
Legislators serve an elected term of four years.
The Legislative Leadership consists of the Chair, Vice Chair, Second Vice Chair, Majority and Minority Leaders and Deputy Majority and Deputy Minority Leaders.
Each Legislator serves on one or more of the seven standing committees: Budget & Finance, Public Safety, Planning & Public Works, Multi-Services, Environment, Economic Development and Government Operations.
The full Legislature meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Committees meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
The Legislature also has special committees that meet on an as-needed basis, including the Special Committee on Transit and the Special Committee on Minority and Women Business Enterprise.