The 56th Legislative Assembly consisted of a Senate with 49 senators and a House of Representatives with 98 representatives. The 56th Legislative Assembly organized December 8-10, 1998, and convened in regular session Tuesday, January 5, 1999.

Generally, the senators from odd-numbered districts were elected to four-year terms at the 1998 general election and the senators from even-numbered districts were elected to four-year terms at the November 1996 general election.

Two representatives were elected from each of 49 senatorial districts. Generally, the representatives from odd-numbered districts were elected to four-year terms at the 1998 general election and the representatives from even-numbered districts were elected to four-year terms at the November 1996 general election.