<Tr> <Th> Participants </Th> <Td> President of the United States, George Washington Assuming office Chancellor of New York, Robert Livingston Administering oath Vice President of the United States, John Adams Assuming office </Td> </Tr> <P> The first inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States was held on Thursday, April 30, 1789 on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, New York . The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four - year term of George Washington as President . Chancellor of New York Robert Livingston administered the presidential oath of office . With his inauguration, the executive branch of the United States government officially began operations under the new frame of government established by the 1787 Constitution . The first term of John Adams as Vice President commenced on April 21, 1789, when he assumed his duties as presiding officer of the United States Senate . </P> <P> The first presidential term started on March 4, 1789, the date set by the Congress of the Confederation for the beginning of operations of the federal government under the new U.S. Constitution . However, logistical delays prevented the actual start of the operations of the Executive Branch on that day . On that date, the House of Representatives and the Senate convened for the first time, but both adjourned due to lack of a quorum . As a result, the Presidential Electoral Votes could not be counted or certified . On April 1, the House convened with a quorum present for the first time, and the representatives began their work, with the election of Frederick Muhlenberg as its Speaker . The Senate first achieved a quorum on April 6, and elected John Langdon as its president pro tempore . That same day, the House and Senate met in joint session and the electoral votes were counted . Washington and Adams were certified as having been elected president and vice president respectively . </P> <P> It was 5 p.m. at Mount Vernon on April 14, 1789, when Washington received official notification that he had been unanimously selected by the Electoral College to be the nation's first president . The letter had been sent by Senator John Langdon of New Hampshire, the first president pro tempore of the United States Senate, who had presided over the counting of the electoral votes . Washington replied immediately, and set off in the morning two days later, accompanied by David Humphreys and a Mr. Thomson, who was the Messenger appointed by the Senate, that delivered to General Washington the letter containing the news of his election . </P>

What delayed the inauguration of the new government under the u.s. constitution