The Empire State Capital Area Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) was organized in 1942 as a discussion group of twenty-five persons to address the lack of professionalism and training in the newly expanded state government. The chapter (known until July 1989 as the Capital District Chapter) was officially chartered on December 5, 1945. The objectives and goals were to foster an "exchange of knowledge and results of experience of persons interested in the field of public administration", "to encourage the collection, compilation and dissemination of information on matters relating to public administration", and "to advance generally the science, processes and art of public administration" [Constitution of the American Society for Public Administration (National Chapter)]. On July 1, 1989, the chapter changed its name to the Empire State Capital Area Chapter in order to distinguish it from other "capital area" chapters and to more accurately define the area it covers.

The chapter was instrumental in creating the Albany Graduate Program in Public Administration in September 1947. The school was originally co-sponsored by Syracuse University and New York University but is now part of Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, SUNY (hereafter, "SUNYA"). With the help of the Capital District ASPA, an internship program was initiated in 1947 to give practical experience to the newly graduated professionals. In 1950, a trainee program was begun to train people who were already in state service and who were not necessarily studying for graduate degrees.

The national chapter conducts studies and distributes policy statements to 126 local ASPA chapters across the country. These policy statements serve as guides for the local chapters. The chapters do no lobbying; instead, national and local chapters try to improve government through the sponsorship of seminars and workshops. During the 1980s, the society's main area of concentration has been ethics in government.