The Senate of the First Federal Congress convened for the first time on March 4, 1789, achieved its first quorum on April 6, and completed its first session 210 days later on September 29, 1789. For many years, March 4 marked the beginning of each new two-year Congress, although Congress typically did not convene until December, as stipulated in the Constitution. In 1933 ratification of the “Lame Duck Amendment” to the Constitution moved that date to January 3 following each general election.
