Virginia Plan

Definition

The Virginia Plan was a proposal presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that served as the basis for the final structure of the U.S. federal government. It outlined a strong national government with three branches - legislative, executive, and judicial - and a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Virginia Plan was proposed by Virginia delegate James Madison and served as the starting point for discussions at the Constitutional Convention.
2. The plan called for a national government with a strong executive, a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, and a judiciary branch.
3. The plan addressed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation by establishing a federal government with the power to tax, regulate commerce, and enforce its laws directly on citizens.
4. The Virginia Plan's proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population was a key compromise that led to the creation of the U.S. Congress, with a Senate and House of Representatives.
5. The Virginia Plan's emphasis on a strong national government with defined separation of powers between the three branches became the foundation for the final structure of the U.S. federal government.

Review Questions

• Explain the key features of the Virginia Plan and how they addressed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
  • The Virginia Plan proposed a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, an executive branch, and a judiciary. This addressed the key weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had a weak central government without the power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce its laws directly on citizens. The Virginia Plan's emphasis on a robust federal government with defined separation of powers became the basis for the final structure of the U.S. Constitution.
• Describe the role of the Virginia Plan in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution at the Constitutional Convention.
  • The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, served as the starting point for discussions and debates at the Constitutional Convention. Its provisions for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, executive, and judiciary were central to the eventual structure of the U.S. federal government. The plan's proposal for representation based on population in the legislature was a key compromise that led to the creation of the Senate and House of Representatives. Overall, the Virginia Plan was instrumental in shaping the final form of the U.S. Constitution.
• Analyze how the principles of federalism were reflected in the Virginia Plan and the final U.S. Constitution.
  • The Virginia Plan laid the groundwork for the federalist system of government adopted in the U.S. Constitution, with a clear division of power between the federal government and the states. By proposing a strong national government with three branches, the plan addressed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and established the federal government's authority to govern directly. At the same time, the plan's bicameral legislature with representation based on population preserved an important role for the states, laying the foundation for the Senate and House of Representatives. This balance of federal and state power, a core tenet of federalism, was central to the final structure of the U.S. government.

Related terms

Constitutional Convention:

The meeting held in 1787 where delegates from the states gathered to draft the U.S. Constitution, replacing the ineffective Articles of Confederation.

Bicameral Legislature: A legislative body composed of two chambers or houses, such as the Senate and House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress.

Federalism:

The division of power between the federal government and state governments, with each having their own legislative, executive, and judicial branches.