Where was the first United States Congress under the Constitution established?

The first United States Congress under the Constitution was established in New York City.

The First Congress met at Federal Hall on Wall Street beginning March 4, 1789. The House of Representatives and Senate organized the new federal government there, while George Washington was inaugurated as the first president on April 30, 1789. New York City was the nation’s temporary capital at the time.

Congress passed foundational measures during this first session, including legislation establishing executive departments and the federal judiciary. It also proposed amendments that became the Bill of Rights after ratification by the states. These early laws turned the constitutional framework into a functioning government.

New York City was not the permanent capital. The federal government later moved to Philadelphia in 1790 and then to Washington, D.C., in 1800. Federal Hall was eventually demolished, and the present Federal Hall National Memorial stands near the original site. The temporary capital is therefore distinct from the permanent national capital.