1. The law: [1]
The Sages instituted that one is required to wash his hands with water every morning, and upon doing so is to say a blessing of Al Netilas Yadayim. [This applies whether or not he went to the bathroom before washing, and applies even if he does not desire to pray for many hours to come.[2]]
[1] Basra 4:1; Kama 4:1: “Every person which gets out of bed in the morning is required to wash his hands with a Revius of water.”
[2] Kama ibid