George Washington exercised the first presidential veto of a 
Congressional bill on April 5, 1792. The bill introduced a new
plan for dividing seats in the House of Representatives that
would have increased the amount of seats for northern states.

After consulting with his politically divided and contentious
cabinet, Washington, who came from the southern state of
Virginia, ultimately decided that the plan was unconstitutional
because, in providing for additional representatives for some
states, it would have introduced a number of representatives
higher than that prescribed by the Constitution.

President George Washington cast the first presidential veto. The
measure was for apportioning representatives among the states
and Washington, who came from the southern state of Virginia,
ultimately decided that the plan was unconstitutional because,
in providing for additional representatives for some states, it
would have introduced a number of representatives higher
than that proscribed by the Constitution.