Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The convention was originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had proven ineffective in meeting the needs of the young nation. However, it soon became clear that the delegates were considering measures to replace the Articles entirely. Two prominent plans for structuring the federal government emerged: the Virginia Plan, also known as the Large State Plan or the Randolph Plan, and the New Jersey Plan, also known as the Small State Plan or the Paterson Plan. The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison, proposed a strong central government composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It called for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation based on state population and an elected chief executive. The New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, called for a more federal form of government with a weaker central government and greater power vested in the states. It retained the legislative structure created by the Articles of Confederation and called for an elected executive. While the Virginia Plan served as the starting point for the convention's deliberations, it faced opposition and underwent several revisions before it was finalized. The final Constitution incorporated elements from both plans, establishing a federal government with specific powers, including those related to foreign relations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | James Madison |
| Presented by | Edmund Randolph |
| Date proposed | 29 May 1787 |
| Type of government | Strong central government |
| Number of branches | 3 |
| Branches | Legislative, executive, and judicial |
| Representation in Congress | Based on population, with more populous states having more votes |
| Powers of Congress | Compulsory taxation authority and power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce |
| Powers of the Executive | Attend to matters of lesser consequence |
| Powers of the Judiciary | Checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power |
| Ratification | Through conventions of the people |
| Bill of rights | Added later |
| Protection of slavery | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Madison's Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was a proposed plan of government for the United States presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The plan was drafted by James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, and Edmund Randolph, the governor of Virginia. The Virginia Plan called for the creation of a supreme national government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. It also proposed a bicameral legislature with two houses, where the number of representatives per state was based on population, rather than each state receiving one vote. This meant that more populous states would have more votes than less populous states.
Madison believed that a strong central government was the solution to America's problems. He argued that Congress needed compulsory taxation authority, as well as the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. To prevent state interference with the national government's authority, Madison proposed an explicit right of Congress to use force against non-compliant states and the creation of a national court system. He also believed that true national government meant that Congress would need to exercise authority over citizens directly, rather than simply through the states.
The Virginia Plan was presented as fifteen draft resolutions that outlined basic principles of government. It was a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation, which had established a weak central government. The plan called for the Articles to be corrected and enlarged to achieve their original purpose of providing for the "common defense, security of liberty, and general welfare". While it was presented as a revision of the Articles, the Virginia Plan effectively replaced them.
The Virginia Plan went through several revisions before it was finalized. The document from June 13, 1787, is not the original draft submitted by Randolph on May 29, which has never been found. This document shows the proposed resolutions "as Altered, Amended, and Agreed to in a Committee of the Whole House," a third of the way through the convention. The final document 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 Virginia Plan played a significant role in shaping the United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789. It set the overall agenda for debate at the Constitutional Convention and influenced the creation of a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations.
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Paterson's New Jersey Plan
The United States Constitution was created at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia between May and September 1787. The convention addressed the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The final draft of the Constitution was submitted to the people of the states for their approval.
The Paterson New Jersey Plan was proposed by Paterson, who railed against efforts to throw the states into a "hotchpot". He proposed a "union of the States merely federal". The "New Jersey resolutions" called for a revision of the articles to enable Congress to more easily raise revenues and regulate commerce. It also provided that acts of Congress and ratified treaties be "the supreme law of the States". The convention debated Paterson's plan for three days, finally voting for its rejection. With the defeat of the New Jersey resolutions, the convention moved towards the creation of a new government, which dismayed many small-state delegates.
The nationalists, led by Madison, appeared to have control of the proceedings. They persuaded members that any new constitution should be ratified through conventions of the people and not by Congress and the state legislatures. Madison and his allies believed that the constitution they envisioned would likely be blocked in the legislatures, where many state political leaders stood to lose power. The nationalists wanted to bring the issue before "the people", where ratification was more likely.
The Constitutional Convention created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches. The framers of the Constitution originally imagined a weak presidency and a strong legislature divided into a House of Representatives and the Senate. However, as deliberations continued, the Executive branch acquired more power. The final Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments.
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A strong central government
The United States Constitution establishes a strong central government while dividing powers between the national government and the states. The Constitution gives the national government power over areas such as foreign policy, interstate trade, immigration, and currency. The states are given power over areas such as public education, state government administration, and intrastate commerce.
The Constitution's creation of a strong central government was influenced by the experiences of the Articles of Confederation period, when the national government was weak and ineffective. The Articles of Confederation gave the national government very limited powers, and it could not effectively perform functions such as regulating trade between the states or raising an army. This led to a period of economic and political instability, with states printing their own money and passing their own laws and tariffs, often resulting in chaos and confusion.
The framers of the Constitution sought to create a stronger national government to address these issues and ensure a more stable and prosperous future for the country. They established a federal system, with specific powers given to the national government and others reserved for the states, as outlined in the Constitution. This system aimed to balance the need for a strong central government with the desire to maintain states' rights and autonomy.
One of the key features of the Constitution that contributes to a strong central government is the establishment of a judicial system with the Supreme Court at its head. This allows for a uniform interpretation and application of federal laws across the nation, ensuring consistency and fairness in the legal system. The Constitution also grants Congress the power to enact laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers, giving it flexibility to address issues that may arise.
Additionally, the Constitution provides for a strong executive branch, with the President acting as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This ensures a unified leadership and the efficient execution of federal laws and policies. The President's power to appoint federal judges and heads of federal agencies further strengthens the executive branch's role in governing the nation.
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Checks and balances
The Founding Fathers, when drafting the Constitution, were keen to ensure that the new nation avoided the concentration of power that they had witnessed in the monarchy of King George III. They sought to create a system of government that distributed power and prevented any single branch from becoming too powerful. James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution", was a strong advocate for checks and balances, believing that ambition must counter ambition.
The Constitution, through checks and balances, divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch has distinct powers and responsibilities, and they are designed to have reciprocal control over each other. This system ensures that no single branch can dominate the government or act without the implicit or explicit consent of the others.
The legislative branch, consisting of Congress, has the power to make laws. However, the executive branch, led by the President, can veto these laws, and it falls to the judicial branch to interpret them and determine their constitutionality. The President, as head of the executive, has the power to appoint federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, but these appointments require the consent of the Senate, ensuring a collaborative and monitored process.
The system of checks and balances has been a cornerstone of the US government, ensuring the protection of individual liberties and maintaining the integrity of the democratic process. It has provided a framework for the distribution of power and a system of accountability, contributing to the stability and longevity of American democracy.
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Ratification by conventions of the people
The Constitutional Convention brought together delegates from 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send representatives. The convention's initial focus was on amending the Articles of Confederation, which were seen as inadequate for the young nation's needs. However, the delegates quickly shifted towards considering a new system of government, recognising the need for a stronger central government.
Among the proposals presented at the convention, the Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph, stood out. It envisioned a strong central government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Madison, a strong nationalist, believed that a powerful central government was the solution to America's problems. He advocated for compulsory taxation authority and the power to regulate commerce for Congress.
The nationalists, led by Madison, played a tactical role in ensuring that any new constitution would be ratified by conventions of the people rather than by Congress and state legislatures. They recognised that their proposed constitution, which included a shift in power dynamics, would likely face opposition in the legislatures, where state political leaders stood to lose influence. By bringing the issue before "the people," they increased the likelihood of ratification.
The final draft of the Constitution was submitted to the people of the states for approval, and this process of ratification by conventions played out across the states. By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The absence of a bill of rights emerged as a significant objection, but supporters promised to address this, and the First Federal Congress fulfilled that promise.
The ratification process, with the involvement of conventions of the people, was a critical step in the establishment of the United States Constitution, shaping the country's governance and ensuring that the document reflected the will of the people.
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Frequently asked questions
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Large State Plan or the Randolph Plan, was a proposal for a strong central government composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It was drafted by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787.
The New Jersey Plan, also known as the Small State Plan, was an alternative to the Virginia Plan. It called for a revision of the Articles of Confederation to enable Congress to more easily raise revenues and regulate commerce. It also provided that acts of Congress and ratified treaties be "the supreme law of the States".
The Virginia Plan proposed a strong central government with three branches, while the New Jersey Plan sought to revise the existing Articles of Confederation to create a more powerful legislature.
While both plans had their supporters, the Virginia Plan ultimately served as the starting point for the Constitution and outlined what would become the US Constitution: a national government consisting of three branches with checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power.
