Nation: The Shape of the Legislatures

The vast bulk of the laws under which Americans live are passed not on Capitol Hill but in the state legislatures.

Probably not one voter in 20 can name the state assemblyman from his district; yet the struggle for control of the legislatures produced some of the most remarkable results of the election. For example:

∙NEW YORK. Democrats carried both houses for the first time since 1934. Down to defeat went both G.O.P. Senate Majority Leader Walter Mahoney and Assembly Speaker Joseph Carlino, both of whose names had become synonymous with entrenched power. It all spelled trouble for Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who had only one consolation: Rocky is planning to call a special session of the present legislature in mid-December to redistrict the state and may at least be able to preserve what remains of Republican strength.

∙MAINE. Democrats took control of the senate by a margin of 29 to 5, the same margin the G.O.P. boasted in the last session. Democrats also won the house by a narrow edge, thus capturing both houses for the first time since 1912. In Maine, the legislature elects the secretary of state, the attorney general and treasurer, and undoubtedly there will be some new faces in those places. Moreover, there will be heavy pressure on Republican Governor John H. Reed for such legislation as a higher minimum wage, expanded unemployment security and legalized Sunday sale of liquor.

∙PENNSYLVANIA. Though the senate remains Republican, G.O.P. Governor William Scranton will have to deal with a newly Democratic house (by a margin of 115 to 92). Labor, which played a major role in the Democratic house takeover, has already demanded an investigation of the state’s department of labor and industry, where Scranton eased a number of A.F.L.-C.I.O. officials from high-paying jobs.

∙MICHIGAN. Even in returning Republican George Romney to office, voters gave both houses of the legislature to Democrats for the first time since 1932.

It was only the second time since 1890 that Democrats had captured the senate. Needless to say, it will be tough going for Romney-sponsored legislation.

Democrats rule the house by a majority of 72 to 38, the senate by 23 to 15.

∙WISCONSIN. Voters turned out Democratic Governor John Reynolds and installed Republican Warren Knowles.

But Knowles cannot be entirely confident of a warm reception in the legislature. The senate is Republican, but the house went Democratic.

∙ILLINOIS. Because of failure to redistrict, all 177 house seats were up for grabs in an at-large election. With 118 candidates of each party listed side by side on a bath-towel-sized ballot, most voters predictably took the easy way out, voted a straight ticket and elected all 118 Democrats, a two-thirds majority of the house. The senate, though, still has a Republican majority.

∙NORTH DAKOTA. While re-electing popular Democratic Governor Bill Guy, voters also passed control of the house of representatives to Democrats for the first time ever. Republicans retain a narrow senate margin.

∙INDIANA. The Johnson tide swept Democrats into both houses of the state legislature for the first time since 1936.

Good news for Democratic Governor-elect Roger Branigin.

∙IOWA. Democrats wrested both houses from the G.O.P., promising some smooth sailing for Democratic Governor Harold Hughes in his efforts to pass a reapportionment plan, repeal the state’s right-to-work law, add a cent per gallon to the state gas tax, and abolish capital punishment.

∙TEXAS. Frank Gaboon, a Midland oilman, was elected to the house of representatives and immediately named minority leader. In fact, Cahoon is the minority-the sole Republican elected to the 150-member house, as six G.O.P. incumbents were defeated.