The 1st Legislative Yuan election was held in China between 21 and 23 January 1948. This election, and the preceding 1947 National Assembly election are the first elections of under the newly ratified 1947 Constitution of the Republic of China. Under this constitution, the Legislative Yuan is a standing legislature when the National Assembly is not in session. At the time most of Chinese territory was under the control of the government of the Republic of China, using a direct voting system elected 759 Legislative Representatives. Using the Republic's then 461 million population to calculate, on average 600,000 people elected one representative in the Legislative Yuan. The election along with the one held for the National Assembly also made China the largest democracy at the time.

The newly elected Legislative Yuan met for the first time on 21 May. Over a year later, the Communists overran the mainland, forcing the Nationalist government to flee to Taiwan. To date, the 1948 election is the last contested election held on the mainland until 1992 in ROC-controlled Kinmen and Matsu; as well as 2012 in the communist-controlled city of Wukan, Guangdong during the Wukan protests.

In 1928, the Nationalist government completed the Northern Expedition and after achieving unification in the name of China, initiated the "Political Tutelage" period and created the Legislative Yuan. But the Legislative Representatives at the time were not elected, but appointed by the Nationalist government for a 2-year term. There were initially 49 seats, but it was increased to the 194 seats before the Second Sino-Japanese War. However, during the Second World War, the 194 Legislative Representatives selected in 1934's terms were extended until after WWII in 1947.

On 1 January 1947, the Constitution of the Republic of China was published, and in the same year on 25 December promulgated. In April 1947, according to the Political Consultative Conference, the National Government was reorganized to allow other political parties (e.g. Youth Party, Democratic Socialist Party) to enter. In the beginning of 1948, according to the Constitution's Article 64, the first Constitutional Legislative Election was held. Because of the large size of the provinces, not all of the elections in the various provinces were held on the same date. The starting and ending dates were from 21 to 23 January.

Because of the problems that took place during the 1947 National Assembly election (i.e. party candidates were not nominated by their political parties, but by self-gathering voter signatures), the Nationalist Party Central Government strengthened the requirements for party member candidates.

In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of China, members of the Legislative Yuan shall be elected in accordance with the following provisions:

The number of women to be elected under the provinces, municipalities, and other items shall be prescribed by law. Based on the census calculations, at the time the citizen population of China numbered at 461 million, in this election 773 representatives were elected. Their numbers are as follows

Legislative Election and Recall Law, article XII, when generating the candidates for the election, once a candidate has over 3000 voters' signatures or has been nominated by the party as a candidate, they may begin campaigning. Those who have failed will not be allowed to campaign. Overseas Chinese and occupational groups can only campaign if they have the required number of voters. Because the constitution had just been promulgated, opposition was small, and most of the nominated candidates were from the Nationalist Party.