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The 1st United States Congress, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, met from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1791, during the first two years of George Washington's presidency, first at Federal Hall at 26 Wall Street in New York City and later at Congress Hall in Philadelphia. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the provisions of Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution. Both chambers had a Pro-Administration majority.
Contents |
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.[1]
Details on changes are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.
| Party
(Shading indicates majority
caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Vacant | ||
| Begin | 14 | 7 | 21 | 1 |
| July 16, 1789 | 15 | 22 | 0 | |
| November 27, 1789 | 17 | 24 | ||
| March 12, 1790 | 6 | 23 | 1 | |
| March 31, 1790 | 18 | 24 | 0 | |
| June 7, 1790 | 19 | 7 | 26 | |
| November 9, 1790 | 18 | 8 | ||
| Final voting share | 69.2% | 30.8% | ||
| Beginning of the next Congress | 15 | 13 | 28 | 2 |
| Party
(Shading indicates majority
caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Vacant | ||
| Begin | 34 | 25 | 59 | 0 |
| March 19, 1790 | 26 | 60 | ||
| March 24, 1790 | 27 | 61 | ||
| April 6, 1790 | 28 | 62 | ||
| April 19, 1790 | 35 | 63 | ||
| June 16, 1790 | 36 | 64 | ||
| June 1, 1790 | 27 | 63 | 1 | |
| August 14, 1790 | 35 | 62 | 2 | |
| December 7, 1790 | 28 | 63 | 1 | |
| December 12, 1790 | 36 | 64 | ||
| Final voting share | 56.25% | 43.75% | ||
| Beginning of the next Congress | 39 | 29 | 68 | 1 |
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.
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 reelection in 1790; Class 2 meant their term ended with the next Congress, requiring reelection in 1792; and Class 3 meant their term lasted through the next two Congresses, requiring reelection in 1794.
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
|
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Virginia
|
|
The names of members of the House of Representatives are listed by their districts.
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.[1]
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.
There was 1 resignation, 1 death, 1 replacement of a temporary appointee, and 5 new seats. The Anti-Administration Senators picked up a 1 seat net gain and the Pro-Administration Senators picked up 4 seats.
| State | Vacator | Reason for Vacancy | Successor | Date of Successor's Installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York (class 3) | New seats | State legislature failed to pick Senator until after Congress began. | Rufus King (P) | Elected July 16, 1789 |
| North Carolina (class 3) | North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21, 1789. | Benjamin Hawkins (P) | Elected November 27, 1789 | |
| North Carolina (class 2) | Samuel Johnston (P) | |||
| Virginia (class 1) |
William Grayson (A) | Died March 12, 1790. | John Walker (P) | Appointed March 31, 1790 |
| Rhode Island (class 1) | New seats | Rhode Island ratified the constitution on May 29, 1790. | Theodore Foster (P) | Elected June 7, 1790 |
| Rhode Island (class 2) | Joseph Stanton, Jr. (A) | |||
| Virginia (class 1) |
John Walker (P) | James Monroe was elected to the seat of Senator William Grayson. | James Monroe (A) | Elected November 9, 1790 |
| New Jersey (class 2) | William Paterson (P) | Resigned November 13, 1790, having been elected Governor of New Jersey. |
Philemon Dickinson (P) | Elected November 23, 1790 |
There was 1 resignation, 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 Vacancy | Successor | Date of successor's taking office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
|
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| ← Organic Laws of the United States | United States Statutes at
Large, Volume 1 by Public Acts of the First Congress |
Public Acts of the Second Congress→ |
The First United States Congress was a meeting of the
legislative branch of the United States federal government,
consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House
of Representatives. It met from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1791,
during the first two years of the first administration of U.S.
President George Washington, first at Federal Hall at 26 Wall
Street in New York City and later at Congress Hall in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.— Excerpted from 1st United States Congress
on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
|
Contents |
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
of the
UNITED STATES,Passed at the first session, which was begun and held at the City of New York on Wednesday, March 4, 1789, and continued to September 29, 1789.
George Washington, President, John Adams, Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate, Frederick Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
| Chapter | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter I. | An Act to regulate the Time and Manner of administering certain Oaths. | June 1, 1789 |
| Chapter II. | An Act for laying a Duty on Goods, Wares, and Merchandises imported into the United States. | July 4, 1789 |
| Chapter III. | An Act imposing Duties on Tonnage. | July 20, 1789 |
| Chapter IV. | An Act for establishing an Executive Department, to be denominated the Department of Foreign Affairs. | July 27, 1789 |
| Chapter V. | An Act to regulate the Collection of the Duties imposed by law on the tonnage of ships or vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandises imported into the United States. | July 31, 1789 |
| Chapter VI. | An Act for settling the Accounts between the United States and individual States. | Aug. 5, 1789 |
| Chapter VII. | An Act to establish an Executive Department, to be denominated the Department of War. | Aug. 7, 1789 |
| Chapter VIII. | An Act to provide for the Government of the Territory North-west of the river Ohio. | Aug. 7, 1789 |
| Chapter IX. | An Act for the establishment and support of Lighthouses, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers. | Aug. 7, 1789 |
| Chapter X. | An Act providing for the Expenses which may attend Negotiations or Treaties with the Indian Tribes, and the appointment of Commissioners for managing the same. | Aug. 20, 1789 |
| Chapter XI. | An Act for Registering and Clearing Vessels, Regulating the Coasting Trade, and for other purposes. | Sept. 1, 1789 |
| Chapter XII. | An Act to establish the Treasury Department. | Sept. 2, 1789 |
| Chapter XIII. | An Act for establishing the Salaries of the Executive Officers of Government, with their Assistants and Clerks. | Sept. 11, 1789 |
| Chapter XIV. | An Act to provide for the safe-keeping of the Acts, Records and Seal of the United States, and for other purposes. | Sept. 15, 1789 |
| Chapter XV. | An Act to suspend part of an Act, intituled “An Act to regulate the collection of the Duties imposed by Law on the Tonnage of Ships or vessels, and on Goods, Wares, and Merchandises, imported into the United States,” and for other purposes. | Sept. 16, 1789 |
| Chapter XVI. | An Act for the temporary establishment of the Post-Office. | Sept. 22, 1789 |
| Chapter XVII. | An Act for allowing Compensation to the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to the Officers of both Houses. | Sept. 22, 1789 |
| Chapter XVIII. | An Act for allowing certain Compensation to the Judges of the Supreme and other Courts, and to the Attorney General of the United States | Sept. 23, 1789 |
| Chapter XIX. | An Act for allowing a Compensation to the President and Vice President of the United States. | Sept. 24, 1789 |
| Chapter XX. | An Act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States. | Sept. 24, 1789 |
| Chapter XXI. | An Act to regulate Processes in the Courts of the United States. | Sept. 29, 1789 |
| Chapter XXII. | An Act to explain and amend an Act, intituled "An Act for registering and clearing Vessels, regulating the Coasting Trade, and for other purposes." | Sept. 29, 1789 |
| Chapter XXIII. | An Act making Appropriations for the Service of the present year. | Sept. 29, 1789 |
| Chapter XXIV. | An Act providing for the payment of the Invalid Pensioners of the United States. | Sept. 29, 1789 |
| Chapter XXV. | An Act to recognize and adapt the Constitution of the United States the establishment of the Troops raised under the Resolves of the United States in Congress assembled, and for other purposes therein mentioned. | Sept. 29, 1789 |
| Chapter XXVI. | See Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6. | Sept. 29, 1789 |
| Chapter XXVII. | An Act to alter the Time for the Next Meeting of Congress. | Sept. 29, 1789 |
| Resolution | Date |
|---|---|
| Resolution 1. | Aug. 26, 1789 |
| Resolution 2. | Sept. 23, 1789 |
| Resolution 3. | Sept. 23, 1789 |
| Resolution regarding Constitutional Amendments. | no date stated |
For Resolution No. 4, see Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6.
of the
UNITED STATES,
Passed at the second session, which was begun and held at the City of New York on Monday, the fourth day of January, 1790, and ended on the twelfth day of August, 1790.
George Washington, President, John Adams, Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
| Chapter | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter I. | An Act for giving effect to the several acts therein mentioned, in respect to the state of North Carolina, and other purposes. | Feb. 8, 1790 |
| Chapter II. | An Act providing for the enumeration of the Inhabitants of the United States. | March 1, 1790 |
| Chapter III. | An Act to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization. | March 26, 1790 |
| Chapter IV. | An Act making appropriations for the support of government for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety. | March 26, 1790 |
| Chapter V. | An Act to prevent the exportation of goods not duly inspected according to the laws of the several States. | April 2, 1790 |
| Chapter VI. | An Act to accept a cession of the claims of the state of North Carolina to a certain district of Western territory. | April 2, 1790 |
| Chapter VII. | An Act to promote the progress of useful Arts. | April 10, 1790 |
| Chapter VIII. | An Act further to suspend part of an act intituled “An act to regulate the collection of the duties impose by law on the tonnage of ships or vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandises imported into the United States,” and to amend the said act. | April 15, 1790 |
| Chapter IX. | An Act for the Punishment of certain Crimes against the United States. | April 30, 1790 |
| Chapter X. | An Act for regulating the Military Establishment of the United States. | April 30, 1790 |
| Chapter XI. | An Act to prescribe the mode in which the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings in each State, shall be authenticated so as to take effect in every other State. | May 26, 1790 |
| Chapter XII. | An Act to provide for mitigating or remitting the forfeitures and penalties accruing under the revenue laws, in certain cases therein mentioned. | May 26, 1790 |
| Chapter XIII. | An Act to continue in force an act passed at the last session of Congress, entituled “An act to regulate processes in the Courts of the United States.” | May 26, 1790 |
| Chapter XIV. | An Act for the Government of the Territory of the United States, south of the river 0hio. | May 26, 1790 |
| Chapter XV. | An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned. | May 31, 1790 |
| Chapter XVI. | See Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6. | June 4, 1790 |
| Chapter XVII. | An Act for giving effect to an Act entituled “An Act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States,” within the State of North Carolina. | June 4, 1790 |
| Chapter XVIII. | An Act supplemental to the Act for establishing the Salaries of the Executive Officers of Government, with their assistants and Clerks. | June 4, 1790 |
| Chapter XIX. | An Act for giving effect to the several Acts therein mentioned, in respect to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. | June 14, 1790 |
| Chapter XX. | See Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6. | June 14, 1790 |
| Chapter XXI. | An act for giving effect to an act intituled “An act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States,” within the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. | June 23, 1790 |
| Chapter XXII. | An Act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations. | July 1, 1790 |
| Chapter XXIII. | See Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6. | July 1, 1790 |
| Chapter XXIV. | See Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6. | July 1, 1790 |
| Chapter XXV. | An Act for giving effect to an act intituled “An act providing for the enumeration of the Inhabitants of the United States,” in respect to the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. | July 5, 1790 |
| Chapter XXVI. | An Act to authorize the purchase of a tract of land for the use of the United States. | July 5, 1790 |
| Chapter XXVII. | An Act further to provide for the Payment of the Invalid Pensioners of the United States. | July 16, 1790 |
| Chapter XXVIII. | An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States. | July 16, 1790 |
| Chapter XXIX. | An Act for the government and regulation of Seamen in the merchants service. | July 20, 1790 |
| Chapter XXX. | An Act imposing duties on the tonnage of ships or vessels. | July 20, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXI. | An Act providing for holding a Treaty or Treaties to establish Peace with certain Indian tribes. | July 22, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXII. | An Act to amend the act for the establishment and support of Lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers. | July 22, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXIII. | An Act to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes. | July 22, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXIV. | An Act making provision for the [payment of the] Debt of the United States. | Aug. 4, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXV. | An Act to provide more effectually for the collection of the duties imposed by law on goods, wares and other merchandise imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships or vessels. | Aug. 4, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXVI. | An Act to continue in force for a limited time, an act intituled “An act for the temporary establishment of the Post-Office.” | Aug. 4, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXVII. | See Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6. | Aug. 4, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXVIII. | An Act to provide more effectually for the settlement of the Accounts between the United States and the individual States. | Aug. 5, 1790 |
| Chapter XXXIX. | An Act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States. | Aug. 10, 1790 |
| Chapter XL. | An Act to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Line on continental Establishment, to obtain Titles to certain Lands lying northwest of the River Ohio, between the Little Miami and Sciota. | Aug. 10, 1790 |
| Chapter XLI. | An Act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to finish the Lighthouse on Portland Head, in the District of Maine. | Aug. 10, 1790 |
| Chapter XLII. | An Act to alter the Times for holding the Circuit Courts of the United States in the Districts of South Carolina and Georgia, and providing that the District Court of Pennsylvania shall in future be held at the city of Philadelphia only. | Aug. 11, 1790 |
| Chapter XLIII. | An Act declaring the assent of Congress to certain acts of the states of Maryland, Georgia, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. | Aug. 11, 1790 |
| Chapter XLIV. | See Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6. | Aug. 11, 1790 |
| Chapter XLV. | See Private Acts of the First Congress in Volume 6. | Aug. 11, 1790 |
| Chapter XLVI. | An Act making certain Appropriations therein mentioned. | Aug. 12, 1790 |
| Chapter XLVII. | An Act making Provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt. | Aug. 12, 1790 |
| Resolution | Date |
|---|---|
| Resolution 1. | June 7, 1790 |
| Resolution 2. | June 14, 1790 |
| Resolution 3. | Aug. 2, 1790 |
| Resolution 4. | Aug. 2, 1790 |
| Resolution 5. | Aug. 12, 1790 |
of the
UNITED STATES,Passed at the third session, which was begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday, the sixth day of December, 1790, and ended on the third day of March, 1791.
George Washington, President, John Adams, Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
| Chapter | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter I. | An Act supplementary to the act intitled “An act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States.” | Dec. 27, 1790 |
| Chapter II. | An Act to provide for the unlading of ships or vessels, in cases of obstruction by Ice. | Jan. 7, 1791 |
| Chapter III. | An Act to continue an act intituled “An act declaring the assent of Congress to certain acts of the States of Maryland, Georgia, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” so far as the same respects the States of Georgia and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. | Jan. 10, 1791 |
| Chapter IV. | An Act declaring the consent of Congress, that a new State be formed within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and admitted into this Union, by the name of the State of Kentucky. | Feb. 4, 1791 |
| Chapter V. | An Act declaring the consent of Congress to a certain act of the state of Maryland. | Feb. 9, 1791 |
   | First Federal Congress Project - First Federal Congress Project |
| | Statistics and Lists - U.S. Senate: Reference Home > Statistics & Lists |
| | Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress - Congressional Documents: H. Doc. 108-222, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774-2005 |
| | Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress - Journal of the Senate Links: U.S. Congressional Documents |
| | House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress - Journal of the House of Representatives Links: U.S. Congressional Documents |
| | Statutes at Large, 1789-1875 - Statutes at Large Links: U.S. Congressional Documents |
| | U.S. House of Representatives: House History - Office of the Clerk |
| | "Thomas" Project - THOMAS (Library of Congress) |
| | U.S. House of Representatives - United States House of Representatives, 111th Congress, 1st Session |
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