Hoeller 1

Natalie Hoeller

Professor Lawton

POLS 1

28 Feb 2018

Plans From the Constitutional Convention

The Virginia Plan

The Virginia Plan was introduced to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787. It was

written by James Madison and addressed by Edmund Randolph. The purpose of the plan was to

create a strong, central government consisting of three branches: executive, legislative, and

judicial. The plan also created a system of checks and balances to distribute the power between

the branches. There were 15 resolution of the Virginia Plan. The plan proposed for Congress to

have two houses. The Virginia Plan gave Congress the power to make laws when states were

unable to. Congress could also veto the state laws. The plan proposed that executive leaders

would serve for a specific term. Large states benefited from the Virginia Plan. The plan gave

more representation to states with higher populations. The small states did not like this because

they would have a disadvantage in the legislature. Therefore, the small states created the New

Jersey Plan.

The New Jersey Plan

The New Jersey Plan made sure that the small states would have as much power as the large

states. This plan was introduced to the Constitutional Convention on June 15, 1787 by William

Paterson. Under this plan each state would be represented by one vote in Congress. There would
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only be one house of Congress known as a unicameral. The New Jersey Plan gave Congress the

power to regulate trade. Congress also could tax citizens of the states. Congress appointed

members of the executive and judicial branch. The executive branch had the power to use the

military against those obeying national laws. The judicial branch had the power in impeachment

cases. Small states benefited from this plan because it was an alternative to proportional

representation. Small states would have just as much representation in the government as large

states. The large states did not like that their proportional representation was being challenged.

The Connecticut/Great Compromise

The contradicting rules of The Virginia Plan and The New Jersey Plan were resolved by the

Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise. This compromise was introduced by Roger

Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth in 1787. The plan determined that Congress would consist of two

houses. The House of Representatives would be represented by the states’ populations. In

contrast, the Senate would represent the states equally with two seats per state. The House of

Representatives satisfied the needs of the larger states whom created the Virginia Plan while the

Senate satisfied the needs of the smaller states whom created the New Jersey Plan. Therefore,

large and small states benefitted from this compromise. This plan made the Supreme Court in

charge of conflicts between state and federal laws. The Supreme Court was also in charge of

judicial review of legislation. The House of Representatives was given the power to create bills

regarding taxes. The Great Compromise agreed on a separation of the powers through the

executive, legislative, and judicial branch. This compromise would be written in the

Constitution.
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LEVY, LEONARD W. "New Jersey Plan." Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, edited

by Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst, 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2000, p.

1800. U.S. History in Context,

https://login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3425001760/UH

IC?u=pasa19871&xid=fe9f2145. Accessed 28 Feb. 2018.

LEVY, LEONARD W. "New Jersey Plan." Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, edited

by Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst, 2nd ed., vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2000, p.

1800. U.S. History in Context,

https://login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3425001760/UH

IC?u=pasa19871&xid=fe9f2145. Accessed 28 Feb. 2018.

LEVY, LEONARD W. "Virginia Plan." Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, edited by

Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst, 2nd ed., vol. 6, Macmillan Reference USA, 2000, p.

2800. U.S. History in Context,

https://login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3425002634/UH

IC?u=pasa19871&xid=bc47102. Accessed 28 Feb. 2018.