Prompt Cast
The First Congress and America's First Law
TLDR The First Congress in the United States had the important task of passing amendments, choosing a national capital, and establishing procedures for admitting new states to the Union. Their first official law, signed by George Washington, regulated the time and manner of administering certain oaths and some sections of this law are still in effect today.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The first law in the United States was not very exciting, but it was important for establishing how the government would function.
01:14
The First Congress had to pass amendments, choose a national capital, and establish procedures for admitting new states to the Union.
02:10
The first order of business for the first Congress was just being Congress, with one of their first tasks being counting the electoral college votes for President.
03:02
The first Congress had no political parties, but there were 37 Federalists and Supporters of Washington and 28 Anti-Federalists in opposition, and they had only three standing committees in the House.
03:59
The first Congress passed resolutions that only affected Congress itself, and John Adams considered various titles for the President before Washington settled on "Mr. President."
04:58
On June 1, 1789, George Washington signed America's first official law, which regulated the time and manner of administering certain oaths, including the oath to support the Constitution of the United States.
06:05
Sections of America's first official law, which regulated the time and manner of administering certain oaths, are still in effect today, including provisions regarding who and when the oath must be applied.
