Who presided over the election and swearing in of the first Speaker of the House?
score:20
They held quorumless meetings for a couple weeks while waiting for enough Representatives to get there, adjourning from day to day. Once they had a quorum, they held a ballot. The details of the ballot are unspecified, so they probably used the method that they were used to for town meetings and similar gatherings: They looked around at each other, then someone said, "How about Benny conducts the vote?" Everyone shrugged and said 'Sure.' And there they were.
The Congressional Record says:
The House met according to adjournment.
Two other members, to wit: James Schureman, from New Jersey, and Thomas Scott, from Pennsylvania, appeared and took their seats.
And a quorum, consisting of a majority of the whole number, being present,
Resolved, That this House will proceed to the choice of a Speaker by ballot.
The House accordingly proceeded to ballot for a Speaker, and upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes of the whole House was found in favor of Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, one of the Representatives for the State of Pennsylvania.
Whereupon, the said Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg was conducted to the chair, from whence he made his acknowledgments to the House for so distinguished an honor.
The House then proceeded in the same manner to the appointment of a Clerk, and upon examining the ballots, a majority, of the votes of the whole House was found in favor of Mr. John Beckley.
Note that even though they were not formally organized, someone was taking notes, allowing motions (such as the one to elect the Speaker) and recognizing the newly-arrived Representatives. (Probably Benny and some other guy as secretary.)
Upvote:4
As an extra technicality, Muhlenberg was not sworn in until a week later. Although the Constitution requires a Congressional oath (Article VI), it left it up to Congress to determine the precise form. This was done by resolution on Monday, April 6, 1789. The oath was then administered on Wednesday, April 8, to the Speaker and other members, by "the Chief Justice of the State of New York". This was Richard Morris, the successor in that office of John Jay; Morris would also administer Jay's oath on becoming the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
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