Omar Bennett
The creation of the U.S. Constitution was a long and complex process, with several key figures and plans influencing the final document. The Virginia and New Jersey Plans, proposed during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, were central to the discussions. Both plans shared a fundamental framework, agreeing on three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial, with a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power. The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature based on population, while the New Jersey Plan suggested a unicameral legislature with equal representation. Ultimately, the Great Compromise was reached, establishing a bicameral legislature that balanced representation between populous and smaller states. The final Constitution, with its preamble and seven articles, reflects these compromises, including the separation of powers and the structure of Congress, ensuring a balanced and functional government for the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of branches of government | 3 (executive, legislative, and judicial) |
| Separation of powers | Yes |
| Single executive leader | Yes (President) |
| Bicameral legislature | Yes (based on population) |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Preamble | Yes |
| Closing endorsement | Yes |
| Amendments | 27 |
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What You'll Learn
Three branches of government
The Virginia Plan, presented by James Madison, proposed a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It called for a bicameral legislature with two bodies: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Representation in both houses would be based on the state's population, with the larger the population, the greater the representation.
The New Jersey Plan, written primarily by William Paterson, advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state. It also included a national executive and a judiciary, and wanted to maintain the previous status under the Articles of Confederation, with much of the power remaining in the hands of the states.
The Virginia Plan formed the foundation of the US Constitution, with its main parts adopted: a much stronger national government with the power to tax and provide for national defence, and a legislature with two houses, an executive, and a judiciary that share power. The final document also incorporated elements of the New Jersey Plan, including the three-fifths rule and its equal apportionment of representatives for the upper house of the legislature.
The first three articles of the Constitution divide the national government into three branches: Congress, the executive branch, and the federal judiciary. These articles describe the powers and responsibilities of each branch.
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Separation of powers
The separation of powers is a cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution, ensuring that power is not concentrated in one branch of the government. The debates during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 resulted in the agreement of the separation of powers into three distinct branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. This was outlined in both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, which formed the fundamental framework of the Constitution.
The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison and proposed by Edmund Randolph, advocated for a strong central government composed of three branches with checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. It proposed a bicameral legislature based on population, with one house having members elected by the people for three-year terms, and the other composed of older leaders elected by state legislatures for seven-year terms. The legislative branch would have the power to propose legislation, while the executive branch would enforce laws and oversee the functioning of the federal government. The judicial branch, though not agreed upon as elected, would interpret and apply the law.
The New Jersey Plan, on the other hand, suggested a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, irrespective of population size. This plan also agreed to the separation of powers and the establishment of a single executive leader, the President.
The Great Compromise, suggested by Roger Sherman, ended the stalemate between the two plans, resulting in a bicameral legislature that balanced representation between the populous and smaller states. This compromise reflected the concerns of both plans regarding the concentration of power and the need for checks and balances.
The final Constitution established a system of separation of powers with three branches of government: Congress, the executive branch, and the federal judiciary. Each branch has its own powers and responsibilities, as outlined in the Constitution's first three articles.
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A single executive leader
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, the two primary proposed plans for the US Constitution, agreed on the fundamental framework of the government structure. Both plans proposed a separation of powers into three distinct branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. This was intended to prevent any single entity from gaining too much domination in the government.
The idea of a single executive leader, the President, was agreed upon by both plans. The President would be responsible for enforcing laws and overseeing the functioning of the federal government. This leader would also have the power to declare war and establish laws regulating naturalization and bankruptcy.
The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph, proposed a strong central government composed of the three branches. It suggested a bicameral legislature based on population, with the number of representatives proportional to the state's population. The plan went through several revisions and the original draft of the 15 resolutions has never been found.
The New Jersey Plan, on the other hand, suggested a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of its population size. This plan also contributed to the structure that established the bicameral legislature.
The debates during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, including the notes taken by James Madison, are well-documented. These discussions led to the Great Compromise, which established a bicameral legislature balancing representation between populous and smaller states. A Committee of Detail was then elected to draft a detailed constitution reflective of the resolutions passed by the convention.
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A bicameral legislature
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, the two primary proposed plans for the US Constitution, both contributed to the structure that ultimately established a bicameral legislature.
The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison and proposed by Edmund Randolph, suggested a bicameral legislature based on population. It described two houses: one with members elected by the people for three-year terms, and the other composed of older leaders elected by the state legislatures for seven-year terms. Both would use population as a basis for dividing seats among the states.
The New Jersey Plan, on the other hand, called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, irrespective of population size.
The debates between the large and small states over the issue of representation in the first chamber of the legislature became increasingly acrimonious. Ultimately, these discussions led to the Great Compromise, which established a bicameral legislature that balanced representation between the populous states and the smaller states.
The final Constitution consists of a preamble and seven articles. The first three articles divide the national government into three branches—Congress, the executive branch, and the federal judiciary—and describe the powers and responsibilities of each. Article I describes the structure of Congress, the basis for representation, the requirements for serving in Congress, the length of Congressional terms, and the powers of Congress.
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Checks and balances
The Virginia Plan, proposed by James Madison, called for a strong national government composed of three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch would be bicameral, with representation in both houses based on population. This proposal served as a basis for the drafting of the United States Constitution.
The Virginia Plan also proposed a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This system was incorporated into the Constitution, with the three branches of government—the legislative, executive, and judicial—each having specific powers and responsibilities that served as checks on the other branches.
The legislative branch, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, has the power to make laws. The executive branch, led by the President, is responsible for enforcing those laws and managing the day-to-day operations of the government. The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, interprets the laws and determines their constitutionality.
Each branch has mechanisms to check the power of the others. For example, while the legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch can veto those laws, and the legislative branch can override that veto with a supermajority vote. Similarly, the President nominates judges to the judicial branch, but these nominations must be approved by the Senate. The judicial branch can also strike down laws passed by the legislative branch if they are found to be unconstitutional.
The Connecticut Compromise, which resolved the dispute between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan over representation in Congress, also played a role in shaping the checks and balances of the Constitution. The Compromise proposed a national legislature with a lower house based on population and an upper house with equal state representation. This compromise ensured that both large and small states had a voice in the government, balancing their power in the legislative process.
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Frequently asked questions
The Virginia and New Jersey Plans were the two primary proposed plans for the US Constitution discussed during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Both plans proposed a separation of powers into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. They also agreed on the idea of a single executive leader, the President, who would be responsible for enforcing laws and overseeing the functioning of the federal government.
The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature based on population, while the New Jersey Plan suggested a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.
The final US Constitution includes the separation of powers into three branches: Congress, the executive branch, and the federal judiciary. It also establishes the office of the President as the single executive leader. The Great Compromise, which ended the stalemate between patriots and nationalists, resulted in a bicameral legislature that balanced representation between populous and smaller states.
