each of the 38 counties of north carolina were authorized to elect one senator and two representatives to the house of commons. in addition, six boroughs (also called districts) elected one house member each. an additional district, washington district, had one senator and no representative in the house of commons. washington district comprised the lands that later became part of tennessee in 1789. it was referred to as a district in 1776 and 1777 and washington county after 1777.