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On this day in 1789, 223 years ago, the first US Congress met thus putting the Constitution into effect. The Congress, made up of the Senate (21 senators) and House of Representatives (58 members), first met at Federal Hall at 26 Wall Street in New York City. The Congress lasted until March 3rd 1791, during the first two years of George Washington's presidency. The Speaker of the House was Frederick Muhlenberg and the President of the Senate was, per the Constitution, Vice President John Adams. Before there were clear political parties, Congress was simply divided between those who supported the Washington administration and those who did not (supporters had a majority in each house). The main acts of the first Congress were passing the first ten amendments to the Constitution which make up the Bill of Rights, establishing the US Census, creating Washington DC as the national capital, establishing the Departments of State, War and Treasury and creating the Supreme Court through the 1789 Judiciary Act. The first meeting of Congress created the government set out in the Constitution and thus marks the day the Constitution was put into effect.

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10y ago

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