1st United States Congress - Membership Changes

The First United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, comprised of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Federal Hall, 26 Wall Street in New York New York and later at Congress Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania from March 4 1789 to March 3 1791, during the first two years of the first administration of U.S. President George Washington.

The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the provisions of the United States Constitution. Both chambers had a Pro-Administration majority.

Main article: 1st United States Congress
See also: 1st United States Congress - political parties
See also: 1st United States Congress - State Delegations
See also: United States House elections, 1789

Dates of sessions

March 4 1789 - March 3 1791

  • First session: March 4 1789 - September 29 1789 New York, New York
  • Second session: January 4 1790 - August 12 1790 New York, New York
  • Third session: December 6 1790 - March 3 1791 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — a lame duck session

Previous congress: Confederation Congress
Next congress: 2nd Congress

Membership changes

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.

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.

Senate
  • replacements: 2
    • Anti-Administration: 1 seat net loss
    • Pro-Administration: 1 seat net gain
  • deaths: 1
  • resignations: 1
  • interim appointments: 1
  • seats of newly ratifying states: 5
  • Total seats with changes: 7
House of Representatives
  • replacements: 1
    • Anti-Administration: no net change
    • Pro-Administration: no net change
  • deaths: 1
  • resignations: 1
  • seats of newly ratifying states: 9
  • Total seats with changes: 11

Senate

State

Outgoing senator

Reason for change

Successor

New Jersey
class 2

|

William Paterson
Pro-Adm.

Resignation.
Senator William Paterson resigned on November 13 1790,
having been elected Governor of New Jersey.

|

New York
class 3

|

new seat

Ratification.
New York ratified the constitution on July 26 1788.

|

North Carolina
class 3

|

new seat

Ratification.
North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21 1789.

|

North Carolina
class 2

|

new seat

Ratification.
North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21 1789.

|

Rhode Island
class 1

|

new seat

Ratification.
Rhode Island ratified the constitution on May 29 1790.

|

Rhode Island
class 2

|

new seat

Ratification.
Rhode Island ratified the constitution on May 29 1790.

|

Virginia
class 1

|

William Grayson
Anti-Adm.

Death.
Senator William Grayson died on March 12 1790.

|

Virginia
class 1

|

John Walker
Pro-Adm.

Interim appointment.
James Monroe was elected to the seat of Senator William Grayson.

|

House of Representatives

District

Outgoing representative

Reason for change

Successor

|

George Partridge
Pro-Adm.

Resignation.
Representative George Partridge resigned August 14 1790.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
New York ratified the constitution on July 26 1788.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
New York ratified the constitution on July 26 1788.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
New York ratified the constitution on July 26 1788.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21 1789.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21 1789.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21 1789.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21 1789.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
North Carolina ratified the constitution on November 21 1789.

|

|

new seat

Ratification.
Rhode Island ratified the constitution on May 29 1790.

|

|

Theodorick Bland
Anti-Adm.

Death.
Representative Theodorick Bland died on June 1 1790.

|

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