March 4, 1789

1st United States Congress

The First Federal Congress convenes without a quorum

The new Congress opened with 21 legislators scattered between two chambers — and neither chamber could legally do anything except adjourn.

4 March 1789: an opening day without a quorum

The First Congress under the Constitution was scheduled to open at Federal Hall in New York City on 4 March 1789, the date the outgoing Confederation Congress had selected for commencing proceedings under the new Constitution.

Thirteen of 59 representatives appeared; thirty were needed for a quorum. Eight of 22 eligible senators appeared; twelve were needed. Neither chamber could conduct substantive business, and both adjourned.

Why most seats were empty

Difficult late-winter travel and delayed elections kept most members from reaching New York on time — journeys by horseback, stagecoach, and sailing ship left the new national legislature short in both chambers.

The House waited 28 days for its quorum, reaching it on 1 April; the Senate followed on 6 April, when the electoral votes could finally be counted.

A government that changed on paper

The transition was real even though neither chamber had a quorum: the new constitutional government legally commenced that day, superseding the Confederation government. Congress took no vote to declare the Constitution in effect — the date had already been fixed by the Confederation Congress's implementation resolution.

The electoral votes were counted on 6 April, Washington was inaugurated on 30 April, and the Supreme Court first met in 1790.

Sources

Researched 23 Aug 2026 6 sources 3 audit passes

How this was checked

Researched from the web into a fact sheet, rewritten from that sheet, then audited against it by a different model. How the pipeline works →

What the sources leave uncertain

The legal transition date is settled, but sources distinguish legal commencement on 4 March from practical operation: the House organized on 1 April, both chambers could operate by 6 April, Washington was inaugurated on 30 April, and the Supreme Court first met in 1790.
Contemporary attendance reporting sometimes varied as members continued arriving, but the official Senate history gives thirteen representatives and eight senators present on 4 March.