1st United States Congress

1789–91 meeting of the U.S. Congress First Continental Congress February 2026 April 2013 1st United States Congress Congress of the Confederation 2nd New York City Hall 1789b.jpg 220px Federal Hall (1789) United States Congress United States March 4, 1789 March 3, 1791 Senate 22–26 Pro-Administration President John Adams (P) President pro tempore John Langdon (P) House of Representatives 59–65 Pro-Administration Speaker Frederick Muhlenberg (P) 1st March 4, 1789 September 29, 1789 2nd January 4, 1790 August 12, 1790 3rd December 6, 1790 March 3, 1791 The 1st United States Congress, comprising 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, with an additional amendment ratified more than two centuries later to become the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution. 2 Major events 1789 in the United States 1790 in the United States 1791 in the United States thumb|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 was unanimously elected President of the United States and John Adams (having received 34 of 69 votes) was elected as Vice President.Senate Journal 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 Gales & Seaton 1820 http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsj&fileName=001/llsj001.db&recNum=4 April 21, 1789: John Adams was inaugurated as the nation's first vice president.https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780306822650 registration john adams new york city vice president inauguration April 20. John Quincy Adams Unger Harlow Giles September 4, 2012 Da Capo Press 9780306821301 71 enVice Presidential Inaugurations Architect of the Capitol https://www.aoc.gov/nations-stage/vice-president-inaugurations Washington, D.C. July 15, 2017 live https://web.archive.org/web/20170731161258/https://www.aoc.gov/nations-stage/vice-president-inaugurations July 31, 2017 April 30, 1789: George Washington was inaugurated as the nation's first president at Federal Hall in New York City. September 2, 1789: Decision of 1789: Power to remove executive officers vested in the position of the President of the United States.New Light on the Decision of 1789 Saikrishna Prakash https://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3034&context=clr https://web.archive.org/web/20160719092508/http://scholarship.law.cornell.edu:80/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3034&context=clr 2016-07-19 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 in the South. Major legislation United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/1st Congress Public Acts of the First Congress List of United States federal legislation, 1789–1901#1st United States Congress thumb|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 23 July 4, 1789: Tariff of 1789, ch. 2, 1 24 July 27, 1789: United States Department of State was established, originally named the Department of Foreign Affairs, ch. 4, 1 28. July 31, 1789: Regulation of the Collection of Duties on Tonnage and Merchandise, ch.5, 1 29, which established the United States Customs Service and its ports of entry. August 7, 1789: Department of War was established, ch. 7, 1 49. September 2, 1789: United States Department of the Treasury was established, ch. 12, 1 65 September 24, 1789: Judiciary Act of 1789, ch. 20, 1 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, 1 101 March 26, 1790: Naturalization Act of 1790, ch. 3, 1 103 April 10, 1790: Patent Act of 1790, ch. 7, 1 109 April 30, 1790: Crimes Act of 1790, ch. 9, 1 112 May 31, 1790: Copyright Act of 1790, ch. 15, 1 124 July 16, 1790: Residence Act, ch. 28, 1 130, established Washington, D.C., as the seat of government of the United States. July 22, 1790: Indian Intercourse Act of 1790, ch. 33, 1 137, regulated commerce with the Indian tribes. August 4, 1790: Funding Act of 1790, ch. 34, 1 138, authorized the "full assumption" of state debts by the federal government. August 4, 1790: Collection of Duties Act, ch.35, 1 145, among its provisions is Sec. 62, 1 175, authorizing establishment of the Revenue-Marine, since 1915 the United States Coast Guard. August 10, 1790: Tariff of 1790, ch. 39, 1 180 Session 3 Held December 6, 1790, through March 3, 1791, at Congress Hall in Philadelphia February 18, 1791: Admission of Vermont postdated to March 4, ch. 10, 1 191 February 25, 1791: First Bank of the United States was established, ch. 10, 1 191 March 3, 1791: Tariff of 1791, ch. 15, 1 199, which triggered the Whiskey Rebellion. Constitutional amendments September 25, 1789: Approved 12 proposed articles of amendment to the United States Constitution to guarantee individual rights and establish limits on federal government power, and dispatched them to the state legislatures for ratification. 1 97: Article one has not been ratified and is still pending before the states. Article two was ratified on May 8, 1992, as the Twenty-seventh Amendment. Articles three through twelve were simultaneously ratified on December 15, 1791. Collectively called the "Bill of Rights," they were enumerated in the Constitution as Amendments I through X. States ratifying Constitution November 21, 1789: North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and thereby re-joined the Union. May 29, 1790: Rhode Island became the 13th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and thereby re-joined the Union. Territories organized May 26, 1790: Territory South of the River Ohio organized from land ceded by North Carolina. 1 123 Party summary section's faction tables faction labels are not aligned with their proper columns. July 2023 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. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress Martis Kenneth C. Details on changes are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section. Senate During this congress, two Senate seats were added for North Carolina and Rhode Island when each ratified the Constitution. Faction (shading indicates faction control) Total Anti-Administration(A) Pro-Administration(P) Vacant BeginMarch 4, 1789 7 13 20 2 July 25, 1789newyork In New York: the state legislature failed to choose Senators until after Congress began. 14 21 1 July 27, 1789newyork 15 22 0 November 27, 1789In North Carolina, the state ratified the Constitution and elected two Senators. 17 24 March 12, 1790In Virginia, William Grayson died. 6 23 1 March 31, 1790In Virginia, John Walker was appointed to fill the vacancy created when William Grayson died. 18 24 0 June 7, 1790In Rhode Island, the state ratified the Constitution and elected two Senators. 7 19 26 November 9, 1790In Virginia, James Monroe was elected to fill the vacancy created when William Grayson died. 8 18 November 13, 1790In New Jersey, William Paterson resigned, having been elected Governor of New Jersey. 17 25 1 November 23, 1790In New Jersey, Philemon Dickinson was elected to fill the vacancy created when William Paterson resigned. 18 26 0 Final voting share 30.8% 69.2% Beginning of thenext Congress 8 17 25 1 House of Representatives 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 indicates faction control) Total Anti-Administration(A) Pro-Administration(P) Vacant BeginMarch 4, 1789 23 31 54 5 April 13, 1789In SC 1 A, William Loughton Smith was seated late after a contested election. 32 55 4 April 22, 1789In NY 5 A, Peter Silvester arrived late. 33 56 3 April 23, 1789In NY 4 A, John Hathorn arrived late. 24 57 2 May 9, 1789In NY 6 A, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer arrived late. 25 58 1 June 23, 1789In NH AL A, Abiel Foster was elected after Benjamin West refused to take his seat. 34 59 0 March 19, 1790nclate North Carolina ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789, and elected five members. 26 60 March 24, 1790nclate 27 61 April 6, 1790nclate 28 62 April 19, 1790nclate 35 63 June 1, 1790In VA 9 A, Theodorick Bland died. 27 62 1 June 16, 1790nclate 36 63 August 14, 1790In MA 5 A, George Partridge resigned. 35 62 2 December 7, 1790In VA 9 A, William Branch Giles was elected to fill the vacancy created when Theodorick Bland died. 28 63 1 December 17, 1790Rhode Island ratified the constitution May 29, 1790 and elected one member. 36 64 Final voting share 43.7% 56.3% Beginning of thenext Congress 25 37 62 3 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 List of United States senators in the 1st Congress 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 Pro-Administration Party (US)1. Oliver Ellsworth (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)3. William Samuel Johnson (P) Delaware Pro-Administration Party (US)1. George Read (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)2. Richard Bassett (A) Georgia Anti-Administration Party (US)2. William Few (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)3. James Gunn (A) Maryland Pro-Administration Party (US)1. Charles Carroll of Carrollton (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)3. John Henry (P) Massachusetts Pro-Administration Party (US)1. Tristram Dalton (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)2. Caleb Strong (P) New Hampshire Anti-Administration Party (US)2. Paine Wingate (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)3. John Langdon (P) New Jersey Pro-Administration Party (US)1. Jonathan Elmer (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)2. William Paterson (P), until November 13, 1790 Pro-Administration Party (US)Philemon Dickinson (P), from December 6, 1790 New York Pro-Administration Party (US)1. Philip Schuyler (P), from July 27, 1789 Pro-Administration Party (US)3. Rufus King (P), from July 25, 1789 North Carolina Pro-Administration Party (US)2. Samuel Johnston (P), from November 27, 1789 Pro-Administration Party (US)3. Benjamin Hawkins (P), from November 27, 1789 Pennsylvania Anti-Administration Party (US)1. William Maclay (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)3. Robert Morris (P) Rhode Island Pro-Administration Party (US)1. Theodore Foster (P), from June 25, 1790 Anti-Administration Party (US)2. Joseph Stanton Jr. (A), from June 25, 1790 South Carolina Pro-Administration Party (US)2. Pierce Butler (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)3. Ralph Izard (P) Virginia Anti-Administration Party (US)1. William Grayson (A), until March 12, 1790 Pro-Administration Party (US)John Walker (P), March 31, 1790 – November 9, 1790 Anti-Administration Party (US)James Monroe (A), from November 9, 1790 Anti-Administration Party (US)2. Richard Henry Lee (A) thumb|375px|Senators' party membership by state at the opening of the 1st Congress in March 1789. #0044aa 2 Anti-Administration #660080 1 Anti-Administration and 1 Pro-Administration #aa0000 2 Pro-Administration thumb|Senate PresidentJohn Adams thumb|Senate President pro temporeJohn Langdon House of Representatives List of United States representatives in the 1st Congress The names of representatives are listed by their districts. Connecticut All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. Pro-Administration Party (US)Connecticut AL At-large. Benjamin Huntington (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Connecticut AL At-large. Roger Sherman (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Connecticut AL At-large. Jonathan Sturges (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Connecticut AL At-large. Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Connecticut AL At-large. Jeremiah Wadsworth (P) Delaware Pro-Administration Party (US)Delaware AL At-large. John Vining (P) Georgia Anti-Administration Party (US)Georgia 1 1. James Jackson (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Georgia 2 2. Abraham Baldwin (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Georgia 3 3. George Mathews (A) Maryland Anti-Administration Party (US)Maryland 1 1. Michael J. Stone (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Maryland 2 2. Joshua Seney (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Maryland 3 3. Benjamin Contee (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Maryland 4 4. William Smith (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)Maryland 5 5. George Gale (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Maryland 6 6. Daniel Carroll (P) Massachusetts Pro-Administration Party (US)Massachusetts 1 1. Fisher Ames (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Massachusetts 2 2. Benjamin Goodhue (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)Massachusetts 3 3. Elbridge Gerry (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)Massachusetts 4 4. Theodore Sedgwick (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Massachusetts 5 5. George Partridge (P), until August 14, 1790, vacant thereafter Pro-Administration Party (US)Massachusetts 6 6. George Thatcher (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Massachusetts 7 7. George Leonard (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)Massachusetts 8 8. Jonathan Grout (A) New Hampshire All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. Pro-Administration Party (US)New Hampshire AL At-large. Abiel Foster (P), from June 23, 1789 Pro-Administration Party (US)New Hampshire AL At-large. Nicholas Gilman (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)New Hampshire AL At-large. Samuel Livermore (A) New Jersey All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. Pro-Administration Party (US)New Jersey AL At-large. Elias Boudinot (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)New Jersey AL At-large. Lambert Cadwalader (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)New Jersey AL At-large. James Schureman (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)New Jersey AL At-large. Thomas Sinnickson (P) New York Anti-Administration Party (US)New York 1 1. William Floyd (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)New York 2 2. John Laurance (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)New York 3 3. Egbert Benson (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)New York 4 4. John Hathorn (A), from April 23, 1789 Pro-Administration Party (US)New York 5 5. Peter Silvester (P), from April 22, 1789 Anti-Administration Party (US)New York 6 6. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (A), from May 9, 1789 North Carolina Anti-Administration Party (US)North Carolina 1 1. John Baptista Ashe (A), from March 24, 1790 Anti-Administration Party (US)North Carolina 2 2. Hugh Williamson (A), from March 19, 1790 Anti-Administration Party (US)North Carolina 3 3. Timothy Bloodworth (A), from April 6, 1790 Pro-Administration Party (US)North Carolina 4 4. John Steele (P), from April 19, 1790 Pro-Administration Party (US)North Carolina 5 5. John Sevier (P), from June 16, 1790 Pennsylvania All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket. Pro-Administration Party (US)Pennsylvania AL At-large. George Clymer (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Pennsylvania AL At-large. Thomas Fitzsimons (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Pennsylvania AL At-large. Thomas Hartley (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)Pennsylvania AL At-large. Daniel Hiester (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)Pennsylvania AL At-large. Frederick Muhlenberg (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)Pennsylvania AL At-large. Peter Muhlenberg (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)Pennsylvania AL At-large. Thomas Scott (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Pennsylvania AL At-large. Henry Wynkoop (P) Rhode Island Pro-Administration Party (US)Rhode Island AL At-large. Benjamin Bourne (P), from December 17, 1790 South Carolina Pro-Administration Party (US)South Carolina 1 1. William L. Smith (P), from April 13, 1789 Anti-Administration Party (US)South Carolina 2 2. Aedanus Burke (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)South Carolina 3 3. Daniel Huger (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)South Carolina 4 4. Thomas Sumter (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)South Carolina 5 5. Thomas Tudor Tucker (A) Virginia Pro-Administration Party (US)Virginia 1 1. Alexander White (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)Virginia 2 2. John Brown (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Virginia 3 3. Andrew Moore (A) Pro-Administration Party (US)Virginia 4 4. Richard Bland Lee (P) Pro-Administration Party (US)Virginia 5 5. James Madison (P) Anti-Administration Party (US)Virginia 6 6. Isaac Coles (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Virginia 7 7. John Page (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Virginia 8 8. Josiah Parker (A) Anti-Administration Party (US)Virginia 9 9. Theodorick Bland (A), until June 1, 1790 Anti-Administration Party (US)William B. Giles (A), from December 7, 1790 Pro-Administration Party (US)Virginia 10 10. Samuel Griffin (P) thumb|Speaker of the HouseFrederick 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, due to their late ratification, were unable to send full representation at the beginning of this Congress. Six Senators and nine Representatives were subsequently seated from these states during the sessions as noted. Senate 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 1 new seat and the Pro-Administration Senators picked up 5 new seats. Senate |- | New York (3) | rowspan=4 | New seats | rowspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | 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) | rowspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21, 1789. | | Benjamin Hawkins (P) | rowspan=2 | Elected November 27, 1789 |- | North Carolina (2) | | Samuel Johnston (P) |- | Virginia(1) | | William Grayson (A) | style="font-size:80%" | Died March 12, 1790. | | John Walker (P) | Appointed March 31, 1790 |- | Rhode Island (1) | rowspan=2 | New seats | rowspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | Rhode Island ratified the constitution on May 29, 1790. | | Theodore Foster (P) | rowspan=2 | Elected June 7, 1790 |- | Rhode Island (2) | | Joseph Stanton Jr. (A) |- | Virginia(1) | | John Walker (P) | style="font-size:80%" | James Monroe was elected to the seat of Senator William Grayson. | | James Monroe (A) | Elected November 9, 1790 |- | New Jersey (2) | | William Paterson (P) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned November 13, 1790,having been elected Governor of New Jersey. | | Philemon Dickinson (P) | Elected November 23, 1790 |} House of Representatives 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. House |- | New Hampshire AL X | | Benjamin West (P) | Member-elect declined to serve and a new member was elected in the first congressional special election. | | Abiel Foster (P) | June 23, 1789 |- | North Carolina 1 X | rowspan=5 | New seats | rowspan=5 | North Carolina ratified the constitution November 21, 1789. | | John Baptista Ashe (A) | March 24, 1790 |- | North Carolina 2 X | | Hugh Williamson (A) | March 19, 1790 |- | North Carolina 3 X | | Timothy Bloodworth (A) | April 6, 1790 |- | North Carolina 4 X | | John Steele (P) | April 19, 1790 |- | North Carolina 5 X | | John Sevier (P) | June 16, 1790 |- | Rhode Island AL X | New seat | Rhode Island ratified the constitution May 29, 1790. | | Benjamin Bourne (P) | December 17, 1790 |- | Virginia 9 X | | Theodorick Bland (A) | Died June 1, 1790. | | William B. Giles (A) | December 7, 1790 |- | Massachusetts 5 X | | George Partridge (P) | Resigned August 14, 1790. | colspan=2 | Remained vacant until next Congress |} Committees Lists of committees and their party leaders. Senate Whole House of Representatives Elections (Chairman: N/A) Rules (Select) Ways and Means (Chairman: Thomas Fitzsimons) Whole Joint committees Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Paine Wingate) 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, elected May 12, 1789 Doorkeeper: Gifford Dalley Chaplain: William Linn (Presbyterian), elected May 1, 1789 Samuel Blair (Presbyterian), elected December 10, 1790 See also 1788–89 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress) 1788–89 United States presidential election 1788–89 United States Senate elections 1788–89 United States House of Representatives elections 1790 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress) 1790–91 United States Senate elections 1790–91 United States House of Representatives elections Notes References 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) The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress Martis Kenneth C. 1989 Macmillan Publishing Company New York The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts Martis Kenneth C. 1982 Macmillan Publishing Company New York External links United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/1st Congress Public Acts of the 1st United States Congress United States Statutes at Large/Volume 6/1st Congress 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