Virginia Plan

Definition

The Virginia Plan was a proposal for a new structure of government for the United States, presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It called for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, where representation would be based on the population of each state, favoring larger states. This plan was crucial in shaping debates around representation and federal power during the convention.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Virginia Plan was drafted by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph at the Constitutional Convention.
2. It proposed three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial, which aimed to provide a system of checks and balances.
3. Under this plan, both houses of the legislature would have representatives based on state populations, favoring larger states like Virginia and Pennsylvania.
4. The Virginia Plan sparked significant debate and led to discussions about state sovereignty versus national authority during the convention.
5. The ideas from the Virginia Plan ultimately influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution, especially in how representation in Congress is determined.

Review Questions

• How did the Virginia Plan influence discussions about representation at the Constitutional Convention?
  • The Virginia Plan significantly influenced discussions about representation because it proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population. This idea favored larger states and created tensions with smaller states that worried about losing influence. The debates surrounding this plan led to various proposals and compromises, ultimately shaping how states would be represented in the new government.
• Compare and contrast the Virginia Plan with the New Jersey Plan regarding their approaches to state representation.
  • The Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan presented contrasting views on state representation. The Virginia Plan called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, which benefitted larger states. In contrast, the New Jersey Plan advocated for equal representation for all states in a unicameral legislature, ensuring smaller states had an equal voice. These differences highlighted the fundamental debate between population-based versus equal state representation.
• Evaluate the impact of the Virginia Plan on the final structure of the U.S. Constitution and its implications for federalism.
  • The Virginia Plan had a lasting impact on the final structure of the U.S. Constitution by establishing a framework for a strong national government with three branches and a bicameral legislature. This laid the groundwork for federalism, where power is shared between national and state governments. The compromise between larger and smaller states led to a balanced approach in representation, shaping how federalism functions in practice by accommodating diverse interests across different states while maintaining central authority.

Related terms

Bicameral Legislature:

A legislative body that has two separate chambers or houses, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate in the U.S. Congress.

New Jersey Plan:

An alternative proposal to the Virginia Plan that called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population size.

Great Compromise:

An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature, combining elements of both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.