Isabella Carter
The first political compromise in the US Constitution was the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise. It was forged during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where delegates from larger states argued for congressional representation based on population, while smaller states demanded equal representation. The Great Compromise established equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives, creating a bicameral national legislature. This compromise was essential in resolving the most controversial aspect of the drafting of the Constitution and laid the foundation for today's system of congressional representation.
Explore related products
$49.99 $54.99
$9.99 $9.99
$15.86 $29.95
What You'll Learn
The Great Compromise
The larger states argued that they contributed more to the nation's financial and defensive resources, and therefore deserved a greater say in the central government. The smaller states, on the other hand, feared that proportional representation would lead to an unfair dominance of larger states in the new nation's government.
To prevent the convention from dissolving, the founding fathers proposed a compromise: a bicameral Congress consisting of two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would be allocated according to each state's population and elected by the people. In the Senate, each state, regardless of size, would have two representatives chosen by their state legislatures.
Understanding Your First Court Appearance in Oregon
You may want to see also
Congressional representation
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was the first political compromise in the Constitution. It was forged during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where delegates from the states debated the structure of Congress and how states should be represented.
The delegates were divided over the issue of representation in Congress, with larger states arguing for proportional representation in the newly proposed Senate, and smaller states demanding equal representation. The larger states believed that their greater contribution of financial and defensive resources to the nation meant they should have a greater say in the central government. On the other hand, the smaller states feared that proportional representation would lead to an unfair dominance of the larger states in the new nation's government.
The Great Compromise was proposed as a solution to this dispute, creating a bicameral Congress with two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would have members allocated according to each state's population and would be elected by the people. In contrast, the Senate would provide each state with equal representation, with two senators from each state, regardless of its population. This compromise ensured that the interests of both large and small states were considered in the new government.
The proposal for this system of congressional representation was initially rejected but was eventually approved by a single vote. This compromise, which created today's system of representation in Congress, continues to influence various aspects of American politics, including legislation and the counting of votes in the Electoral College during presidential elections.
The First Breath of Philippine Constitution
You may want to see also
Bicameral legislature
The United States Constitution's first political compromise, known as the "Great Compromise," established a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. This compromise was reached during the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where delegates from larger states argued for congressional representation based on population, while smaller states demanded equal representation.
The idea of a bicameral legislature was influenced by historical republics and countries like the United Kingdom, which had a bicameral parliament. The Founding Fathers of the United States favoured this system as they believed it would provide stability and wisdom in decision-making. They envisioned the Senate as a stabilising force, with senators selected by state legislators and possessing knowledge, deliberation, and republican nobility to counter the fickleness and passion of the House.
The Great Compromise combined the Virginia Plan, which proposed proportional representation, and the New Jersey Plan, which advocated for equal representation among the states in a one-chamber legislature. The result was a bicameral legislature with representation by population in the House of Representatives and equal representation for each state in the Senate. This compromise ensured that both large and small states had their interests represented in the government.
The bicameral legislature provides an additional layer of checks and balances within Congress. It allows for the diffusion of legislative power between two chambers, requiring the concurrence of both bodies in the legislative process. This helps prevent hasty and ill-considered legislation and provides a double security" for the people. The separation of departments and the creation of two branches within the legislative body promote steadiness and wisdom in decision-making.
The process of making a law in a bicameral legislature is intricate. A bill must pass through both the House of Representatives and the Senate in identical form, which can be time-consuming. This process involves introducing the bill, sending it to a specific committee, and then passing it through both chambers. The bicameral system, with its checks and balances, ensures that the laws are thoroughly considered and represent the interests of both large and small states.
The Founding Words: India's Constitution First Line
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Three-Fifths Compromise
The delegates from the small and large states were divided on the issue of the apportionment of legislative representation. The Virginia, or large state, plan provided for a bicameral legislature with representation of each state based on its population or wealth. The New Jersey, or small state, plan proposed equal representation for each state in Congress.
The Southern delegates threatened to abandon the convention if enslaved individuals were not counted. The Northern delegates, on the other hand, sought to make representation dependent on the size of a state’s free population. Eventually, the framers agreed on a compromise that called for representation in the House of Representatives to be apportioned on the basis of a state’s free population plus three-fifths of its enslaved population. This agreement came to be known as the Three-Fifths Compromise.
The Constitutional Republic: America's First?
You may want to see also
The Electoral College
The founding of the Electoral College was a result of the Great Compromise, which was forged during the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The Great Compromise was a solution to the dispute between states with larger populations demanding congressional representation based on population, and smaller states insisting on equal representation. The former argued that their states contributed more to the nation's financial and defensive resources and thus deserved a greater say in the central government. The latter contended that such an arrangement would lead to an unfair dominance of larger states in the new nation's government.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Sherman Compromise, combined the Virginia (large state) plan and the New Jersey (small state) plan. It established a bicameral Congress with two national legislatures: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would be allocated according to each state's population and elected by the people. Meanwhile, in the Senate, each state would have two representatives, regardless of its size, and state legislatures would choose the senators.
Who Qualifies as a First-Time Buyer in the UK?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The first major political compromise in the US Constitution was the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Sherman Compromise.
The Great Compromise was an agreement on how to structure Congress and how states should be represented.
The Great Compromise dictated that there would be two national legislatures in a bicameral Congress. Members of the House of Representatives would be allocated according to each state's population and elected by the people. In the second body, the Senate, each state would have two representatives, regardless of population size, and state legislatures would choose Senators.
The Great Compromise was necessary to resolve a dispute between larger and smaller states. Larger states wanted representation in the Senate to be proportional to their population, while smaller states wanted every state to have equal representation.
The Great Compromise passed by a single vote. It created the system of congressional representation that is still in place today, influencing everything from legislation to the way votes are counted in the Electoral College during presidential elections.
