First Congress convenes at Federal Hall

On March 4, 1789, the 1st United States Congress, comprising the Senate and House of Representatives, met at Federal Hall in New York City. With this initial meeting, the United States federal government officially began operations under the new frame of government established by the 1787 Constitution. The first session continued at Federal Hall through September 29, 1789. The bicameral Congress replaced the unicameral Congress of the Confederation as the federal legislature, though the supplied passages do not state that the Congress itself declared the Constitution in effect.