Virginia Plan

Definition

The Virginia Plan was a proposal presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that called for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, where representation in both houses would be based on state population or financial contributions. This plan aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and sought to create a more effective central authority, reflecting the interests of larger states.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Virginia Plan was drafted by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph to the Constitutional Convention in May 1787.
2. The plan proposed a three-branch government, including an executive, a judiciary, and a legislative branch, all designed to create checks and balances.
3. It emphasized representation based on population, which favored larger states, leading to significant debate over equal representation versus proportional representation.
4. The Virginia Plan ultimately influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution, particularly in its establishment of a federal government with distinct powers.
5. The disagreement between supporters of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan led to crucial compromises that shaped American federalism.

Review Questions

• How did the Virginia Plan influence the debates at the Constitutional Convention regarding representation?
  • The Virginia Plan significantly influenced debates about representation by advocating for proportional representation based on state populations. This approach favored larger states, causing concern among smaller states who felt it would diminish their influence. The discussions around this plan ultimately led to contentious negotiations and helped shape key compromises, including the Great Compromise that balanced both proportional and equal representation in Congress.
• Compare and contrast the Virginia Plan with the New Jersey Plan in terms of their approaches to legislative representation.
  • The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population or financial contributions, favoring larger states. In contrast, the New Jersey Plan suggested a unicameral legislature where each state would have equal representation, regardless of size. This fundamental disagreement highlighted the tensions between large and small states, ultimately leading to compromises that established a hybrid system within the Constitution.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of the Virginia Plan on the formation of the U.S. government and its enduring legacy.
  • The long-term impacts of the Virginia Plan were profound as it laid the groundwork for a strong federal government structured around a bicameral legislature. Its emphasis on population-based representation has shaped American political dynamics, reinforcing the importance of demographic considerations in legislative power. The plan's legacy continues to influence debates about federalism, representation, and state rights within contemporary political discourse, reflecting ongoing tensions that originated during the Constitutional Convention.

Related terms

Bicameral Legislature: A legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate in the United States.

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.

Great Compromise: An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.