On this day in 1949, the Knesset convened for its inaugural session. Joseph Shprinzak was elected as Speaker of the Assembly; the elected Deputy Speakers were Joseph Burg and Nahum Nir; and Moshe Rosetti was elected as Secretary General. The first Knesset focused on establishing laws to shape the new nation of Israel and help guide its future. On February 16, two days after its first meeting, Chaim Weizmann was elected as the first president and was inaugurated the following day. David Ben-Gurion, leader of the Mapai (“The Workers Party"), became Prime Minister of Israel the next month and shaped two forms of government that both later dissolved in parliamentary fashion for lack of votes in the same assembly.Immigration became a primary focus of lawmaking and current events for the first Knesset. Prior to 1949, during the British Mandate, immigration into Israel averaged 18,000 people per year. After establishing independence and forming new governance, Israel saw a new average of 18,000 immigrants per month. The rise in immigration was partly responsible for the shift in both of Ben-Gurion’s government plans as religious parties monitored education in transit camps for newcomers.Israel’s first Knesset lasted from 1949 to 1951. During this time, the assembly created approximately seven new laws per month to develop the nation. While gaining acceptance to the United Nations in 1949, the nation focused on establishing international recognition and developing treaties and ceasefire agreements with surrounding nations, resulting in primary debates. The Legislature in the first Knesset also consisted of the development of the Israel Defense Forces and the basic laws for the Israeli Constitution.