1st United States Congress - wikipedia 1st United States Congress `` First Congress '' redirects here. For the first seating of the Continental Congress, see First Continental Congress. 1st United States Congress 10th Confederation Congress ← → 2nd Federal Hall, site of the first two sessions of this Congress ( 1789 ) March 4, 1789 -- March 4, 1791 Senate President John Adams ( P ) Senate Pres. pro tem John Langdon ( P ) House Speaker Frederick Muhlenberg ( P ) Members 21 -- 26 Senators 59 -- 65 Representatives 0 Non-voting members Senate Majority Pro-Administration House Majority Pro-Administration Sessions 1st : March 4, 1789 -- September 29, 1789 2nd : January 4, 1790 -- August 12, 1790 3rd : December 6, 1790 -- March 3, 1791 The First United States Congress, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, met from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1791, during the first two years of George Washington 's presidency, first at Federal Hall in New York City and later at Congress Hall in Philadelphia. With the initial meeting of the First Congress, the United States federal government officially began operations under the new ( and current ) frame of government established by the 1787 Constitution. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the provisions of Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Constitution. Both chambers had a Pro-Administration majority. Twelve articles of amendment to the Constitution were passed by this Congress and sent to the states for ratification ; the ten ratified as additions to the Constitution on December 15, 1791, are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. Contents 1 Major events 2 Major legislation 2.1 Session 1 2.2 Session 2 2.3 Session 3 3 Constitutional amendments 4 States ratifying Constitution 5 Territories organized 6 Party summary 6.1 Senate 6.2 House of Representatives 7 Leadership 7.1 Senate 7.2 House of Representatives 8 Members 8.1 Senate 8.1. 1 Connecticut 8.1. 2 Delaware 8.1. 3 Georgia 8.1. 4 Maryland 8.1. 5 Massachusetts 8.1. 6 New Hampshire 8.1. 7 New Jersey 8.1. 8 New York 8.1. 9 North Carolina 8.1. 10 Pennsylvania 8.1. 11 Rhode Island 8.1. 12 South Carolina 8.1. 13 Virginia 8.2 House of Representatives 8.2. 1 Connecticut 8.2. 2 Delaware 8.2. 3 Georgia 8.2. 4 Maryland 8.2. 5 Massachusetts 8.2. 6 New Hampshire 8.2. 7 New Jersey 8.2. 8 New York 8.2. 9 North Carolina 8.2. 10 Pennsylvania 8.2. 11 Rhode Island 8.2. 12 South Carolina 8.2. 13 Virginia 9 Changes in membership 9.1 Senate 9.2 House of Representatives 10 Committees 10.1 Senate 10.2 House of Representatives 10.3 Joint committees 11 Employees 11.1 Senate 11.2 House of Representatives 12 See also 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External links Major events Main articles : 1789 in the United States, 1790 in the United States, and 1791 in the United States Congress Hall in Philadelphia, meeting place of this Congress 's third session. April 1, 1789 : House of Representatives first achieved a quorum and elected its officers April 6, 1789 : Senate first achieved a quorum and elected its officers. April 6, 1789 : The House and Senate, meeting in joint session, counted the Electoral College ballots, then certified that George Washington had been unanimously elected President of the United States and John Adams ( having received 34 of 69 votes ) was elected as Vice president. April 30, 1789 : George Washington was inaugurated as the nation 's first president at Federal Hall in New York City January 8, 1790 : President Washington gave the first State of the Union Address June 20, 1790 : Compromise of 1790 : James Madison agreed to not be `` strenuous '' in opposition to the assumption of state debts by the federal government ; Alexander Hamilton agreed to support a national capital site above the Potomac River. Major legislation Wikisource has original text related to this article : Public Acts of the First Congress Wikisource has original text related to this article : Private Acts of the First Congress Main article : List of United States federal legislation § 1st United States Congress Statue of George Washington in front of Federal Hall, where he was first inaugurated as President. Session 1 Held March 4, 1789, through September 29, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City June 1, 1789 : An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths, ch. 1, 1 Stat. 23 July 4, 1789 : Tariff of 1789, ch. 2, 1 Stat. 24 July 27, 1789 : United States Department of State was established, originally named the Department of Foreign Affairs, ch. 4, 1 Stat. 28. July 31, 1789 : Regulation of the Collection of Duties on Tonnage and Merchandise, ch. 5, 1 Stat. 29, which established the United States Customs Service and its ports of entry. August 7, 1789 : Department of War was established, ch. 7, 1 Stat. 49. September 2, 1789 : United States Department of the Treasury was established, ch. 12, 1 Stat. 65 September 24, 1789 : Judiciary Act of 1789, ch. 20, 1 Stat. 73, which established the federal judiciary and the office of Attorney General Session 2 Held January 4, 1790, through August 12, 1790, at Federal Hall in New York City March 1, 1790 : Made provisions for the first Census, ch. 2, 1 Stat. 101 March 26, 1790 : Naturalization Act of 1790, ch. 3, 1 Stat. 103 April 10, 1790 : Patent Act of 1790, ch. 7, 1 Stat. 109 April 30, 1790 : Crimes Act of 1790, ch. 9, 1 Stat. 112 May 31, 1790 : Copyright Act of 1790, ch. 15, 1 Stat. 124 July 16, 1790 : Residence Act, ch. 28, 1 Stat. 130, established Washington, D.C. as the seat of government of the United States. July 22, 1790 : Indian Intercourse Act of 1790, ch. 33, 1 Stat. 137, regulated commerce with the Indian tribes. August 4, 1790 : Funding Act of 1790, ch. 34, 1 Stat. 138, authorized the `` full assumption '' of state debts by the federal government. August 4, 1790 : Collection of Duties Act, ch. 35, 1 Stat. 145, among its provisions is Sec. 62, 1 Stat. 175, authorizing establishment of the Revenue - Marine, since 1915 the United States Coast Guard. August 10, 1790 : Tariff of 1790, ch. 39, 1 Stat. 180 Session 3 Held December 6, 1790, through March 3, 1791, at Congress Hall in Philadelphia February 25, 1791 : First Bank of the United States, ch. 10, 1 Stat. 191 March 3, 1791 : Whiskey Act, ch. 15, 1 Stat. 199, which triggered the Whiskey Rebellion Constitutional amendments September 25, 1789 : Approved 12 amendments to the United States Constitution establishing specific guarantees of personal freedoms and rights, clear limitations on government power, and submitted them to the state legislatures for ratification. 1 Stat. 97 : Article one has not been ratified and is still pending before the states. Article two was much later ratified on May 7, 1992, as the Twenty - seventh Amendment. Articles three through twelve, known as the `` Bill of Rights, '' were later ratified on December 15, 1791. States ratifying Constitution November 21, 1789 : North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and thereby joined the Union. May 29, 1790 : Rhode Island became the 13th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and thereby joined the Union. Territories organized May 26, 1790 : Territory South of the River Ohio organized from land ceded by North Carolina. Party summary There were no political parties in this Congress. Members are informally grouped into factions of similar interest, based on an analysis of their voting record. Details on changes are shown below in the `` Changes in membership '' section. Senate Senate at the end of the Congress During this congress, two Senate seats were added for North Carolina and Rhode Island when each ratified the Constitution. Faction ( shading shows control ) Total Vacant Anti - Administration ( A ) Pro - Administration ( P ) End of the previous congress 0 0 0 0 Begin 7 13 20 End 8 18 26 0 Final voting share 7001308000000000000 ♠ 30.8 % 7001692000000000000 ♠ 69.2 % Beginning of the next congress 9 16 25 House of Representatives House of Representatives at the end of the Congress During this congress, five House seats were added for North Carolina and one House seat was added for Rhode Island when they ratified the Constitution. Faction ( shading shows control ) Total Vacant Anti - Administration ( A ) Pro - Administration ( P ) End of the previous congress 0 0 0 0 Begin 25 34 59 0 End 28 36 64 Final voting share 7001438000000000000 ♠ 43.8 % 7001563000000000000 ♠ 56.3 % Beginning of the next congress 29 39 68 Leadership Senate President : John Adams ( P ) President pro tempore : John Langdon ( P ) House of Representatives Speaker : Frederick Muhlenberg ( P ) Members This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and Representatives are listed by district. Skip to House of Representatives, below Senate Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one - third beginning new six - year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, all Senators were newly elected, and Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1790 ; Class 2 meant their term ended with the next Congress, requiring re-election in 1792 ; and Class 3 meant their term lasted through the next two Congresses, requiring re-election in 1794. Connecticut 1. Oliver Ellsworth ( P ) 3. William S. Johnson ( P ) Delaware 1. George Read ( P ) 2. Richard Bassett ( A ) Georgia 2. William Few ( A ) 3. James Gunn ( A ) Maryland 1. Charles Carroll ( P ) 3. John Henry ( P ) Massachusetts 1. Tristram Dalton ( P ) 2. Caleb Strong ( P ) New Hampshire 2. Paine Wingate ( A ) 3. John Langdon ( P ) New Jersey 1. Jonathan Elmer ( P ) 2. William Paterson ( P ), until November 13, 1790 Philemon Dickinson ( P ), from December 6, 1790 New York 1. Philip Schuyler ( P ), from July 27, 1789 3. Rufus King ( P ), from July 25, 1789 North Carolina 2. Samuel Johnston ( P ), from January 29, 1790 3. Benjamin Hawkins ( P ), from January 13, 1790 Pennsylvania 1. William Maclay ( A ) 3. Robert Morris ( P ) Rhode Island 1. Theodore Foster ( P ), from June 25, 1790 2. Joseph Stanton, Jr. ( A ), from June 25, 1790 South Carolina 2. Pierce Butler ( P ) 3. Ralph Izard ( P ) Virginia 1. William Grayson ( A ), until March 12, 1790 John Walker ( P ), April 26, 1790 -- December 6, 1790 James Monroe ( A ), from December 6, 1790 2. Richard Henry Lee ( A ) President of the Senate John Adams President pro tempore John Langdon House of Representatives The names of members of the House of Representatives are listed by their districts. Connecticut See also : List of United States Representatives from Connecticut All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. At - large. Benjamin Huntington ( P ) At - large. Roger Sherman ( P ) At - large. Jonathan Sturges ( P ) At - large. Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. ( P ) At - large. Jeremiah Wadsworth ( P ) Delaware See also : List of United States Representatives from Delaware At - large. John Vining ( P ) Georgia See also : List of United States Representatives from Georgia 1. James Jackson ( A ) 2. Abraham Baldwin ( A ) 3. George Mathews ( A ) Maryland See also : List of United States Representatives from Maryland 1. Michael J. Stone ( A ) 2. Joshua Seney ( A ) 3. Benjamin Contee ( A ) 4. William Smith ( A ) 5. George Gale ( P ) 6. Daniel Carroll ( P ) Massachusetts See also : List of United States Representatives from Massachusetts 1. Fisher Ames ( P ) 2. Benjamin Goodhue ( P ) 3. Elbridge Gerry ( A ) 4. Theodore Sedgwick ( P ) 5. George Partridge ( P ), until August 14, 1790, vacant thereafter 6. George Thatcher ( P ) 7. George Leonard ( P ) 8. Jonathan Grout ( A ) New hampshire See also : List of United States Representatives from New Hampshire All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. At - large. Abiel Foster ( P ), from June 23, 1789 At - large. Nicholas Gilman ( P ) At - large. Samuel Livermore ( A ) New Jersey See also : List of United States Representatives from New Jersey All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. At - large. Elias Boudinot ( P ) At - large. Lambert Cadwalader ( P ) At - large. James Schureman ( P ) At - large. Thomas Sinnickson ( P ) New York See also : List of United States Representatives from New York 1. William Floyd ( A ) 2. John Laurance ( P ) 3. Egbert Benson ( P ) 4. John Hathorn ( A ), from April 23, 1789 5. Peter Silvester ( P ), from April 22, 1789 6. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer ( A ), from May 9, 1789 North Carolina See also : List of United States Representatives from North Carolina 1. John Baptista Ashe ( A ), from March 24, 1790 2. Hugh Williamson ( A ), from March 19, 1790 3. Timothy Bloodworth ( A ), from April 6, 1790 4. John Steele ( P ), from April 19, 1790 5. John Sevier ( P ), from June 16, 1790 Pennsylvania See also : List of United States Representatives from Pennsylvania All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. At - large. George Clymer ( P ) At - large. Thomas Fitzsimons ( P ) At - large. Thomas Hartley ( P ) At - large. Daniel Hiester ( A ) At - large. Frederick Muhlenberg ( P ) At - large. Peter Muhlenberg ( A ) At - large. Thomas Scott ( P ) At - large. Henry Wynkoop ( P ) Rhode Island See also : List of United States Representatives from Rhode Island At - large. Benjamin Bourne ( P ), from December 17, 1790 South Carolina See also : List of United States Representatives from South Carolina 1. William L. Smith ( P ), from April 13, 1789 2. Aedanus Burke ( A ) 3. Daniel Huger ( P ) 4. Thomas Sumter ( A ) 5. Thomas Tudor Tucker ( A ) Virginia See also : List of United States Representatives from Virginia 1. Alexander White ( P ) 2. John Brown ( A ) 3. Andrew Moore ( A ) 4. Richard Bland Lee ( P ) 5. James Madison ( A ) 6. Isaac Coles ( A ) 7. John Page ( A ) 8. Josiah Parker ( A ) 9. Theodorick Bland ( A ), until June 1, 1790 William B. Giles ( A ), from December 7, 1790 10. Samuel Griffin ( P ) Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania Changes in membership There were no political parties in this Congress. Members are informally grouped into factions of similar interest, based on an analysis of their voting record. New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island, were the last states to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and because of their late ratification, were unable to send full representation at the beginning of this Congress. Five Senators and nine Representatives were subsequently seated from these states during the sessions as noted. Senate See also : List of special elections to the United States Senate There was 1 resignation, 1 death, 1 replacement of a temporary appointee, and 6 new seats. The Anti-Administration Senators picked up a 1 - seat net gain and the Pro-Administration Senators picked up 4 seats. State ( class ) Vacator Reason for change Successor Date of successor 's formal installation New York ( 3 ) New seats State legislature failed to choose Senator until after Congress began. Rufus King ( P ) July 25, 1789 New York ( 1 ) Philip John Schuyler ( P ) July 27, 1789 North Carolina ( 3 ) North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21, 1789. Benjamin Hawkins ( P ) Elected November 27, 1789 North Carolina ( 2 ) Samuel Johnston ( P ) Virginia ( 1 ) William Grayson ( A ) Died March 12, 1790. John Walker ( P ) Appointed March 31, 1790 Rhode Island ( 1 ) New seats Rhode Island ratified the constitution on May 29, 1790. Theodore Foster ( P ) Elected June 7, 1790 Rhode Island ( 2 ) Joseph Stanton, Jr. ( A ) Virginia ( 1 ) John Walker ( P ) James Monroe was elected to the seat of Senator William Grayson. James Monroe ( A ) Elected November 9, 1790 New Jersey ( 2 ) William Paterson ( P ) Resigned November 13, 1790, having been elected Governor of New Jersey. Philemon Dickinson ( P ) Elected November 23, 1790 House of Representatives See also : List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives There was 2 resignations, 1 death, and 6 new seats. Anti-Administration members picked up 3 seats and Pro-Administration members picked up 2 seats. District Vacator Reason for change Successor Date successor seated New Hampshire At - Large Benjamin West ( P ) Declined to serve Abiel Foster ( P ) June 23, 1789 North Carolina 1st New seats North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21, 1789. John Baptista Ashe ( A ) March 24, 1790 North Carolina 2nd Hugh Williamson ( A ) March 19, 1790 North Carolina 3rd Timothy Bloodworth ( A ) April 6, 1790 North Carolina 4th John Steele ( P ) April 19, 1790 North Carolina 5th John Sevier ( P ) June 16, 1790 Rhode Island At - large New seat Rhode Island ratified the constitution on May 29, 1790. Benjamin Bourne ( P ) December 17, 1790 Virginia 9th Theodorick Bland ( A ) Died June 1, 1790. William B. Giles ( A ) December 7, 1790 Massachusetts 5th George Partridge ( P ) Resigned August 14, 1790. Remained vacant until next Congress Committees Lists of committees and their party leaders. Senate Whole House of Representatives Elections Rules ( Select ) Ways and Means Whole Joint committees Enrolled Bills Employees Senate Secretary : Samuel A. Otis, elected April 8, 1789 Doorkeeper : James Mathers, elected April 7, 1789 Chaplain : Samuel Provoost ( Episcopalian ), elected April 25, 1789 William White ( Episcopalian ), elected December 9, 1790 House of Representatives Clerk : John J. Beckley Sergeant at Arms : Joseph Wheaton Doorkeeper : Gifford Dalley Chaplain : William Linn ( Presbyterian ), elected May 1, 1789 Samuel Blair ( Presbyterian ), elected January 4, 1790 Reading Clerks : ( Data unknown / missing. You can help ! ) See also United States elections, 1789 ( elections leading to this Congress ) United States presidential election, 1789 United States Senate elections, 1788 and 1789 United States House of Representatives elections, 1788 and 1789 United States elections, 1790 ( elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress ) United States Senate elections, 1790 and 1791 United States House of Representatives elections, 1790 References Jump up ^ `` Journal of the First Session of the Senate of The United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of New York, March 4, 1789, And In The Thirteenth Year of the Independence of the Said States ''. Senate Journal. Gales & Seaton. 1820. ^ Jump up to : Martis, Kenneth C. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. Further reading Bickford, Charlene Bangs, and Kenneth R. Bowling. Birth of the nation : the First Federal Congress, 1789 - 1791 ( Rowman & Littlefield, 1989 ) Bordewich, Fergus M. The First Congress : How James Madison, George Washington, and a Group of Extraordinary Men Invented the Government ( 2016 ) Bowling, Kenneth R. Politics in the first Congress, 1789 - 1791 ( Taylor & Francis, 1990 ) Christman, Margaret C.S. The first federal congress, 1789 - 1791 ( Smithsonian Inst Pr, 1989. ) Currie, David P. `` The Constitution in Congress : Substantive Issues in the First Congress, 1789 - 1791. '' The University of Chicago Law Review 61 ( 1994 ) : 775 - 865. online Jillson, Calvin C., and Rick K. Wilson. Congressional Dynamics : Structure, Coordination, and Choice in the First American Congress, 1774 - 1789 ( Stanford University Press, 1994 ) Martis, Kenneth C. ( 1989 ). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York : Macmillan Publishing Company. Martis, Kenneth C. ( 1982 ). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York : Macmillan Publishing Company. External links Wikisource has original text related to this article : Public Acts of the 1st United States Congress Wikisource has original text related to this article : Private Acts of the 1st United States Congress 1st Federal Congress Project Statutes at Large, 1789 -- 1875 Senate Journal, First Forty - three Sessions of Congress House Journal, First Forty - three Sessions of Congress Biographical Directory of the United States Congress House History from the U.S. House of Representatives Statistics & Lists from the U.S. Senate United States Congresses ( and year convened ) 1 ( 1789 ) 2 ( 1791 ) 3 ( 1793 ) 4 ( 1795 ) 5 ( 1797 ) 6 ( 1799 ) 7 ( 1801 ) 8 ( 1803 ) 9 ( 1805 ) 10 ( 1807 ) 11 ( 1809 ) 12 ( 1811 ) 13 ( 1813 ) 14 ( 1815 ) 15 ( 1817 ) 16 ( 1819 ) 17 ( 1821 ) 18 ( 1823 ) 19 ( 1825 ) 20 ( 1827 ) 21 ( 1829 ) 22 ( 1831 ) 23 ( 1833 ) 24 ( 1835 ) 25 ( 1837 ) 26 ( 1839 ) 27 ( 1841 ) 28 ( 1843 ) 29 ( 1845 ) 30 ( 1847 ) 31 ( 1849 ) 32 ( 1851 ) 33 ( 1853 ) 34 ( 1855 ) 35 ( 1857 ) 36 ( 1859 ) 37 ( 1861 ) 38 ( 1863 ) 39 ( 1865 ) 40 ( 1867 ) 41 ( 1869 ) 42 ( 1871 ) 43 ( 1873 ) 44 ( 1875 ) 45 ( 1877 ) 46 ( 1879 ) 47 ( 1881 ) 48 ( 1883 ) 49 ( 1885 ) 50 ( 1887 ) 51 ( 1889 ) 52 ( 1891 ) 53 ( 1893 ) 54 ( 1895 ) 55 ( 1897 ) 56 ( 1899 ) 57 ( 1901 ) 58 ( 1903 ) 59 ( 1905 ) 60 ( 1907 ) 61 ( 1909 ) 62 ( 1911 ) 63 ( 1913 ) 64 ( 1915 ) 65 ( 1917 ) 66 ( 1919 ) 67 ( 1921 ) 68 ( 1923 ) 69 ( 1925 ) 70 ( 1927 ) 71 ( 1929 ) 72 ( 1931 ) 73 ( 1933 ) 74 ( 1935 ) 75 ( 1937 ) 76 ( 1939 ) 77 ( 1941 ) 78 ( 1943 ) 79 ( 1945 ) 80 ( 1947 ) 81 ( 1949 ) 82 ( 1951 ) 83 ( 1953 ) 84 ( 1955 ) 85 ( 1957 ) 86 ( 1959 ) 87 ( 1961 ) 88 ( 1963 ) 89 ( 1965 ) 90 ( 1967 ) 91 ( 1969 ) 92 ( 1971 ) 93 ( 1973 ) 94 ( 1975 ) 95 ( 1977 ) 96 ( 1979 ) 97 ( 1981 ) 98 ( 1983 ) 99 ( 1985 ) 100 ( 1987 ) 101 ( 1989 ) 102 ( 1991 ) 103 ( 1993 ) 104 ( 1995 ) 105 ( 1997 ) 106 ( 1999 ) 107 ( 2001 ) 108 ( 2003 ) 109 ( 2005 ) 110 ( 2007 ) 111 ( 2009 ) 112 ( 2011 ) 113 ( 2013 ) 114 ( 2015 ) 115 ( 2017 ) 116 ( 2019 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1st_United_States_Congress&oldid=796300919 '' Categories : 1st United States Congress Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from April 2013 Data missing Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Deutsch Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands Polski Română Simple English Svenska 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 19 August 2017, at 21 : 47. 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Question: when did congress meet for the first time
Answer: March 4, 1789