United States History Student Edition

Sessions were not open to the public, and the windows were kept closed in the sweltering heat to prevent anyone from overhearing the discussions. This made it possible for the delegates to talk freely as they debated the issues. The Virginia and New Jersey Plans Edmund Randolph of Virginia opened the Convention with a surprise. He proposed the Virginia Plan, which called for a strong national government. The plan was largely the work of James Madison. It created a government with three branches: a two-house legislature, a chief executive chosen by the legislature, and a court system. The legislature would have powers to tax, regulate trade, and veto state laws. Voters would elect members of the lower house of the

legislature. The members of the lower house would then choose members of the upper house. In both houses, the number of representatives would be proportional , or corresponding in size, to the population of each state. This would give a state such as Virginia many more delegates than Delaware, the state with the fewest people. Delegates from the small states objected because they preferred a system in which all states had equal representation. Opponents of the Virginia Plan rallied around William Paterson of New Jersey. On June 15, he presented another plan. This plan amended the Articles of Confederation, which was all the Convention had the power to do. Under this plan, the legislature would have a single house, with each state having one vote.

proportional having the proper size in relation to other objects or items

Virgina Plan

New Jersey Plan

Edmund Randolph proposed the Virgina Plan.

William Paterson proposed the New Jersy Plan.

Legislative Branch

Legislative Branch

• Powerf ul legislatur e • Two houses , with membership proportional to state’s pop u lation • Lower hou se elected by the peopl e • Upper hou se chosen by members of the lower house

• O ne ho use wit h eq u al representation f rom all states • Legislat u re co u ld collect taxes f rom states

Executive Branch

Executive Branch

• Chosen by legislat ure • Limited powe r • Cou ld veto legislation, s u bject to overrid e

• Ch osen by Congress • W ould s erve a single ter m • Subject to recall on reque st of state govern or s

Judicial Branch • Wou ld serve for lif e

Judicial Branch

• W ould s erve for lif e • Appointed by exec u tive branc h

• Cou ld veto legislation, s u bject to overrid e

Both Plans

Were federal systems with three branches — legislative, executive, and judical Gave the federal government more powers than it had under the Articles of Confederation

CIVICS CONNECTION Delegates at the Constitutional Convention considered different plans for the structure of the government. 1. Comparing In what ways were the two plans similar? 2. Explaining Explain how proportional representation favored larger states. 186

(l,r)The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library.