<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Sessions </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> 1st: March 4, 1789--September 29, 1789 2nd: January 4, 1790--August 12, 1790 3rd: December 6, 1790--March 3, 1791 </Td> </Tr> <P> 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 . </P> <Ul> <Li> April 1, 1789: House of Representatives first achieved a quorum and elected its officers </Li> <Li> April 6, 1789: Senate first achieved a quorum and elected its officers . </Li> <Li> April 6, 1789: The House and Senate, meeting in joint session, counted the Electoral College ballots, then certified that George Washington had been unanimously elected President of the United States and John Adams (having received 34 of 69 votes) was elected as Vice president . </Li> <Li> April 30, 1789: George Washington was inaugurated as the nation's first president at Federal Hall in New York City </Li> <Li> January 8, 1790: President Washington gave the first State of the Union Address </Li> <Li> 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 above the Potomac River . </Li> </Ul>

When did congress meet for the first time