Capitol Corner
First Congress
Where and when did the First Congress meet? How many days were they in session and what was their agenda?
 Federal Hall, N.Y. City |
The First Congress consisted of three separate sessions. It convened on March 4, 1789 and adjourned sine die on March 3, 1791, for a total of 519 days.
The first and second sessions were held in Federal Hall in New York City, the third session was held in Congress Hall in Philadelphia. The first session was held from March 4, 1789 to September 29, 1789. The second session convened on January 4, 1790 and adjourned on August 12, 1790. The third session convened on December 6, 1790 and adjourned on March 3, 1791, which ended the First Congress.
The First Congress had 65 Representatives and 26 Senators. Each state sent 2 Senators. The 13 states each sent the following number of Representatives:- Connecticut, 5
- Delaware, 1
- Georgia, 3
- Maryland, 6
- Massachusetts, 8
- New Hampshire, 3
- New Jersey, 4
- New York, 6
- North Carolina, 5
- Pennsylvania, 8
- Rhode Island, 1
- South Carolina, 5
- Virginia, 10
 Congress Hall, Philadelphia |
For more information on the First Congress, see the website of George Washington University’s First Federal Congress Project, and the book, Inventing Congress: Origins & Establishment Of First Federal Congress (Perspective History Of Congress) by Kenneth R. Bowling and Donald R. Kennon (Hardcover - July 4, 1999). New and used copies are available on the Amazon.com website.