This is a chronological, but incomplete, list of United States federal legislation passed by the 1st through 56th United States Congresses, between 1789 and 1901. For the main article on this subject, see List of United States federal legislation. Additional lists can be found at List of United States federal legislation: Congress of the Confederation, List of United States federal legislation, 1901–2001 and List of United States federal legislation, 2001–present.
1st United States Congress
First Session (March 4, 1789–September 29, 1789) + Public Laws"Acts of the First Congress of the United States: Statute I.—1789" United States Statutes at Large, vol. 1, pp. xvii–xviii. Date Subject Matter Title Chapter Legal Citation 1 June 1, 1789 Oaths of Office. An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths, Sess. 1, ch. 1 1 Stat. 23 2 July 4, 1789 Duties on Merchandise imported into the United States. An Act for laying a Duty on Goods, Wares, and Merchandises imported into the United States. (Tariff of 1789) Sess. 1, ch. 2 1 Stat. 24 3 July 20, 1789 Duties on Tonnage. An Act imposing Duties on Tonnage. Sess. 1, ch. 3 1 Stat. 27 4 July 27, 1789 Department of Foreign Affairs. An Act for establishing an Executive Department, to be denominated the Department of Foreign Affairs. Sess. 1, ch. 4 1 Stat. 28 5 July 31, 1789 Regulation of the Collection of Duties on Tonnage and on Merchandise. An Act to regulate the Collection of the Duties imposed by law on the tonnage of ships or vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandises imported into the United States. Sess. 1, ch. 5 1 Stat. 29 6 August 5, 1789 Settlement of accounts between the United States and the individual States. An Act for settling the Accounts between the United States and individual States. Sess. 1, ch. 6 1 Stat. 49 (chapter 6) 7 August 7, 1789 Establishment of the Department of War. An Act to establish an Executive Department, to be denominated the Department of War. Sess. 1, ch. 7 1 Stat. 49 (chapter 7) 8 August 7, 1789 Government of the North-West Territory provided for. An Act to provide for the Government of the Territory North-west of the river Ohio. Sess. 1, ch. 8 1 Stat. 50 9 August 7, 1789 Light-houses, Beacons, Buoys, &c. An Act for the establishment and support of Lighthouses, Beacons, Buoys, and Public Piers. Sess. 1, ch. 9 1 Stat. 53 10 August 20, 1789 Expenses of Treaties with the Indians, and appointment of Commissioners to manage the same. An Act providing for the Expenses which may attend negotiations or Treaties with the Indian Tribes, and the appointment of Commissioners for managing the same. Sess. 1, ch. 10 1 Stat. 54 11 September 1, 1789 Registering and clearing of Vessels in the Coasting Trade, and regulating the Coasting Trade, &c. An Act for Registering and Clearing Vessels, Regulating the Coasting Trade, and for other purposes. Sess. 1, ch. 11 1 Stat. 55 12 September 2, 1789 Establishment of the Treasury Department. An Act to establish the Treasury Department. Sess. 1, ch. 12 1 Stat. 65 13 September 11, 1789 Salaries to Executive Officers with their Assistants. An act for establishing the salaries of the executive officers of government, with their assistants and clerks. Sess. 1, ch. 13 1 Stat. 67 14 September 15, 1789 Safe keeping of the Records and Seal of the United States. An Act to provide for the safe-keeping of the Acts, Records and Seal of the United States, and for other purposes. (Records Act) Sess. 1, ch. 14 1 Stat. 68 15 September 16, 1789 Act for the Collection of Duties on Tonnage suspended in part, &c. An Act to suspend part of an Act, intituled “An Act to regulate the collection of the Duties imposed by Law on the Tonnage of Ships or Vessels, and on Goods, Wares, and Merchandises, imported into the United States,” and for other purposes. Sess. 1, ch. 15 1 Stat. 69 16 September 22, 1789 Temporary Establishment of the Post-office. An Act for the temporary establishment of the Post-Office. Sess. 1, ch. 16 1 Stat. 70 (chapter 16) 17 September 22, 1789 Compensation to Members of Congress and to the Officers of both Houses. An Act for allowing Compensation to the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to the Officers of both Houses. Sess. 1, ch. 17 1 Stat. 70 (chapter 17) 18 September 23, 1789 Compensation to the Judges of the Courts of the United States and to the Attorney-General. An Act for allowing certain Compensation to the Judges of the Supreme and other Courts, and to the Attorney General of the United States. Sess. 1, ch. 18 1 Stat. 72 (chapter 18) 19 September 24, 1789 Compensation to the President and vice-president of the United States. An Act for allowing a Compensation to the President and Vice President of the United States. Sess. 1, ch. 19 1 Stat. 72 (chapter 19) 20 September 24, 1789 Establishment of the Judicial Courts of the United States. An Act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States. (Judiciary Act of 1789) Sess. 1, ch. 20 1 Stat. 73 21 September 29, 1789 Regulation of Process in the Courts of the United States. An Act to regulate Processes in the Courts of the United States. Sess. 1, ch. 21 1 Stat. 93 22 September 29, 1789 Act for the Registering and Clearing Vessels, and Regulating the Coasting Trade, explained and amended. An Act to explain and amend an Act, intituled “An Act for registering and clearing Vessels, regulating the Coasting Trade, and for other purposes.” Sess. 1, ch. 22 1 Stat. 94 23 September 29, 1789 Appropriations for the Support of Government. An Act making Appropriation for the Service of the present year. Sess. 1, ch. 23 1 Stat. 95 (chapter 23) 24 September 29, 1789 Invalid Pensioners. An Act providing for the payment of the Invalid Pensioners of the United States. Sess. 1, ch. 24 1 Stat. 95 (chapter 24) 25 September 29, 1789 Establishment of the Troops of the United States recognised and adapted to the Constitution. An Act to recognize and adopt to the Constitution of the United States the establishment of the Troops raised under the Resolves of the United States in Congress assembled, and for other purposes therein mentioned. Sess. 1, ch. 25 1 Stat. 95 (chapter 25) 26 September 29, 1789 Meeting of Congress. An Act to alter the time for the next Meeting of Congress. Sess. 1, ch. 27 1 Stat. 96
Second Session (January 4, 1790—August 12, 1790)