The Connecticut Compromise: Constitution's Foundation

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. It resolved a dispute between small and large states over representation in the new federal government, with the larger states wanting representation based on population, and smaller states wanting equal representation. The Compromise proposed a bicameral federal legislature with a dual system of representation: the upper house or Senate would have equal representation from each state, and the lower house or House of Representatives would have proportional representation based on a state's population. This agreement, which created today's system of congressional representation, now influences everything from pork barrel legislation to the way votes are counted in the Electoral College during presidential elections.

Explore related products

The Second Connecticut Compromise: Justice System Breakdown in the Constitution State

$2.99 $19.99

The Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence and The Bill of Rights: The U.S. Constitution, all the Amendments and other Essential Documents of the American History Full text

$15.99 $15.99

Constitutional Convention of 1787, The: A Reference Guide (Guides to Historic Events in America)

$15.23 $29.95

THE HISTORY OF CONNECTICUT: The American Heritage (THE AMERICAN HERITAGE SERIES)

$10.99 $10.99

The Great Compromise (The Leader I'll Be)

$10.18 $10.95

The Great Compromise: And how Christians can avoid living on both sides of the fence.

$9.99 $14.95

The Connecticut Compromise influenced the structure of the US legislative system

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. It retained the bicameral legislature, which consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The House of Representatives, or the lower house, would have proportional representation, with each state having one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants, including three-fifths of each state's enslaved population toward that state's total population. This gave more populous states more seats than smaller states.

The Senate, or the upper house, would have equal representation from each state, with each state receiving two senators regardless of its population. This protected the interests of smaller states, ensuring their voices and interests were not drowned out by the larger states.

The Connecticut Compromise thus established the structure of the US legislative system, with the bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the system of proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house. This compromise was approved on July 16, 1787, and it continues to influence the US legislative system today.

It created a bicameral legislature with two houses

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. It retained a bicameral legislature, along with proportional representation of the states in the lower house, or House of Representatives, and equal state representation in the upper house, or Senate.

The Compromise was proposed by Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth during the 1787 Constitutional Convention. It was designed to resolve the dispute between small and large states over representation in the new federal government. The Compromise proposed a dual system of representation, with the upper house having equal representation from each state, and the lower house having proportional representation based on a state's population. This meant that each state, regardless of its population, would receive two senators in the upper house, while the lower house would be made up of representatives elected on the basis of proportional representation, giving more populous states more seats than smaller states.

The Connecticut Compromise was approved on July 16, 1787, by a vote of 5–4. It was a compromise between the Virginia Plan, or large state plan, which provided for a bicameral legislature with representation of each state based on its population or wealth, and the New Jersey Plan, or small state plan, which proposed a legislature consisting of a single house with each state having equal representation. The Compromise allowed for the continuation of deliberations and influenced the creation of today's system of congressional representation.

The Connecticut Compromise's structure of two legislative chambers with equal representation in the upper house and proportional representation in the lower house has also been adopted by the European Parliament and Council of the European Union. This demonstrates the enduring influence of the Compromise on legislative structures beyond the United States.

The Connecticut Compromise played a significant role in shaping the United States Constitution by creating a bicameral legislature with two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and establishing a system of representation that balanced the interests of small and large states.

The House of Representatives was based on proportional representation

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. The compromise was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which was held to amend the Articles of Confederation, though ultimately a new scheme of government was drawn up.

The Compromise was proposed by Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth to solve the dispute between small and large states over representation in the new federal government. The Compromise retained the bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on proportional representation. This meant that more populous states had more seats than smaller states.

The House of Representatives, or the lower house, was based on proportional representation, with each state having one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants, counting three-fifths of each state's enslaved population toward that state's total population. This was in contrast to the upper house, or the Senate, which was based on equal representation, with each state having two members regardless of population size.

The Connecticut Compromise thus provided for a bicameral federal legislature that used a dual system of representation. This compromise was reached to address the concerns of less populous states, which feared that their voices and interests would be drowned out by the larger states if representation was based solely on population. The larger states, on the other hand, wanted representation to be based on population, as they felt this was fairer.

The Compromise was approved by a vote of 6–4–1, with Maryland divided on the issue and Connecticut in favor. This agreement allowed for the continuation of deliberations and influenced the Three-fifths Compromise, which further complicated the issue of popular representation in the House.

Explore related products

The Great Compromise which Created the Government of the United States of America: The Federalist - Anti-Populist Papers

$24.37

The Great Compromise: Getting Past the Emotional Nonsense Dividing America

$9.99

The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism

$10.98 $22.99

The Great Compromise which Created the Government of the United States of America: Volume Two: The Populist - Anti-Federalist Papers

$32.12

The Three Great Compromises of the Constitution

$26.95

The Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence

$1.99

Each state received equal representation in the Senate

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. It retained the bicameral legislature, with the upper house or Senate to be weighted equally among the states; each state would have two members in the Senate, regardless of its population.

The Compromise was proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, delegates from Connecticut, to solve the dispute between small and large states over representation in the new federal government. The small states wanted each state to have equal representation, while the larger states wanted representation based on population. The Connecticut Compromise provided for a bicameral federal legislature that used a dual system of representation: the upper house would have equal representation from each state, and the lower house would have proportional representation based on a state’s population.

The Compromise was approved on July 16, 1787, by a vote of 5–4, with North Carolina switching its vote to equal representation per state and the Massachusetts delegation divided. This agreement allowed deliberations to continue and led to the Three-fifths Compromise, which further complicated the issue of popular representation in the House. The Three-fifths Compromise stated that representatives and direct taxes would be apportioned among the states according to their respective numbers, including "three-fifths of all other persons" not considered free.

The Connecticut Compromise's principle of equal representation in the Senate is specifically protected in Article V of the United States Constitution, which states that no state can be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate without its consent. This protection ensures that smaller states maintain their representation in the Senate, even as populations change over time.

The Compromise helped to shape the modern system of congressional representation

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement that helped define the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution. It retained a bicameral legislature, with proportional representation in the lower house (the House of Representatives) and equal representation of the states in the upper house (the Senate).

The Compromise was proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Convention was marked by a dispute between small and large states over representation in the new federal government. Larger states wanted representation based on population, while smaller states wanted equal representation. The Connecticut Compromise proposed a dual system of representation, with the upper house having equal representation from each state, and the lower house having proportional representation based on a state's population. This compromise helped to shape the modern system of congressional representation.

The Compromise was approved by a vote of 5–4 on July 16, 1787, with North Carolina switching its vote to equal representation per state and the Massachusetts delegation divided. This agreement allowed for the continuation of deliberations and led to the Three-Fifths Compromise, further complicating the issue of popular representation in the House. The Three-Fifths Compromise, which was part of the larger Connecticut Compromise, stated that for every 40,000 inhabitants in a state, there would be one representative in the lower house, counting three-fifths of each state's enslaved population toward that state's total population.

The Connecticut Compromise's influence can be seen in the structural principles of the European Parliament and Council of the European Union, which also have two legislative chambers. Additionally, it continues to influence the way votes are counted in the electoral college during presidential elections. The Compromise's protection of equal-state representation in the Senate is specifically outlined in Article V of the Constitution, which states that no state can lose its equal representation in the Senate without its consent. This aspect of the Compromise is unlikely to ever change, as no state would willingly give up its say in the Senate.

Frequently asked questions