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.