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Did George Washington in his first act as president violate the first principle soon to be enshrined in the First Amendment? Did the Congress that approved the First Amendment compel him to do so? On April 7, 1789, three weeks before Washington was inaugurated, the Journal of the Senate reported that the Senate had ordered “a committee ... to take under consideration the manner of electing Chaplains, and to confer thereupon with a committee of the House of Representatives.” On April 15, 1789, the committee reported back: “That two Chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed to Congress, for the present session, the Senate to appoint one, and give notice thereof to the House of Representatives, who shall, thereupon, appoint the other; which Chaplains shall commence their services in the Houses that appoint them, but shall interchange weekly.” Two days later, the House concurred.
