Jonah Patel
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was a proposal for a supreme national government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. Drafted by James Madison and Edmund Randolph, it was presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The plan called for a bicameral legislature, with the number of representatives for each state determined by its population. It also advocated for a strong central government and compulsory taxation authority. While the Virginia Plan was not adopted in its entirety, it served as a foundation for the Constitution of the United States, influencing the Great Compromise of 1787.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
A strong national government
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was a proposal for a strong national government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. Drafted by James Madison and Edmund Randolph, it was presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and became the foundation of the U.S. Constitution. The plan called for a bicameral legislature, with the number of representatives for each state determined by its population. This was a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation, which provided for equal representation regardless of population.
The Virginia Plan proposed a supreme national government with two legislative bodies: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The members of the first branch of the national legislature were to be elected by the people of the several states for a term of three years, compensated with fixed stipends from the National Treasury, and ineligible for any office established by a particular state or under the authority of the United States during their term of service and for one year after its expiration. The members of the second branch of the national legislature were to be chosen by the individual legislatures, at least thirty years of age, and hold their offices for a term of seven years to ensure their independence.
The Virginia Plan also addressed the continuation of Congress and its authorities, the guarantee of a republican constitution to each state, the provision for the amendment of the articles of union, and the binding of legislative, executive, and judicial powers within the states to support the articles of union. It advocated for a strong central government and a direct relationship between Congress and citizens, rather than acting through the states. Madison believed that to enforce national supremacy, Congress should have the explicit right to use force against non-compliant states and proposed the creation of a national court system.
The Virginia Plan was supported by large states as it provided them with more representation, while smaller states generally opposed it, preferring the New Jersey Plan which guaranteed equal representation. The delegates worked to shape the Virginia Plan into a document acceptable to all states, leading to the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise, which incorporated elements of both plans. The final document, the U.S. Constitution, reflected a strong national government with a system of checks and balances, ensuring the protection of small state interests while providing proportional representation to larger states.
US Constitution: Influence on the French Revolution
You may want to see also
Three branches of government
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was a proposal for a supreme national government with three branches: the executive, legislative, and judiciary.
The plan was drafted by James Madison and Edmund Randolph and presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It was a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation, calling for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Virginia Plan proposed that the number of representatives for each state should be based on its population, giving larger states more power.
The first branch of the national legislature was to be elected by the people of the several states for a term of three years, with fixed stipends as compensation for their devotion to public service. The members of the second branch were to be chosen by the individual legislatures, with a minimum age requirement of thirty years and a term of seven years to ensure their independence.
The Virginia Plan also addressed other issues such as the continuance of Congress, the guarantee of a republican constitution to each state, and the provision for the amendment of the Articles of Union. It played a significant role in setting the agenda for debate at the Convention and laid the foundation for the creation of the U.S. Constitution, although it was not adopted in its entirety.
The plan faced opposition from smaller states, who preferred the New Jersey Plan's guarantee of equal representation for each state. This led to the Great Compromise, or the Connecticut Compromise, which incorporated elements of both plans and provided for proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
Christian Preschool Philosophy: Faith, Love, and Learning
You may want to see also
Bicameral legislature
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was a proposal for a bicameral (two-branch) legislature in the newly founded United States. Drafted primarily by James Madison, with Edmund Randolph also credited, it was presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The plan called for a supreme national government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The bicameral legislature consisted of two chambers. One chamber would be elected by the people of the several states, and the other would be elected by the members of the first chamber, from a list of nominees put forward by the individual state legislatures. The first branch of the legislature would become the House of Representatives, with members subject to rotation and recall elections. The second branch would be the Senate, with members serving longer terms.
The number of representatives for each state would be determined by the state's population, including only free inhabitants, and not counting the population of enslaved people. This was a key difference from the New Jersey Plan, which proposed a single-chamber legislature, with each state having one vote, regardless of population. The Virginia Plan was appealing to larger states, as it gave them more representation, while smaller states generally opposed it, feeling they would have fairer representation under the New Jersey Plan.
The Virginia Plan went through several revisions and amendments before it was finalized and adopted at the Convention. The final document incorporated elements of both plans, including the three-fifths rule from the New Jersey Plan, and the population-weighted representation from the Virginia Plan. This compromise, known as the Connecticut Compromise, or the Great Compromise of 1787, laid the foundation for the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Reporting Constitutional Silver Sales: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
State representation
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was a proposal for a strong national government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. It was drafted by James Madison and Edmund Randolph and presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The plan called for a bicameral legislature, with the number of representatives for each state determined by the state's population. This would provide large states with more representation than they had under the Articles of Confederation, which gave each state equal representation regardless of population.
The Virginia Plan proposed that the members of the first branch of the national legislature be elected by the people of the several states for a term of three years. They would receive fixed stipends as compensation for their time in public service, paid out of the National Treasury. The members of the second branch of the national legislature would be chosen by the individual legislatures and would hold their offices for a term of seven years to ensure their independence.
The Virginia Plan was appealing to larger states, but smaller states supported the alternative New Jersey Plan, which proposed a single-chamber legislature where each state, regardless of population, would have one vote. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were tasked with evaluating both plans and deciding on a compromise that would be accepted by states of all sizes.
The final document, known as the Great Compromise or the Connecticut Compromise, incorporated elements of both plans. It provided for proportional representation in the lower house of the legislature, as proposed by the Virginia Plan, and equal representation in the upper house, as advocated by the New Jersey Plan. This compromise laid the foundation for the creation of the U.S. Constitution and the establishment of a strong national government.
Colonial Constitution: Deciding the Nation's Fate
You may want to see also
Ratification by assemblies
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was a proposed plan for the government of the United States. It was presented by Edmund Randolph to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787. The plan was drafted by James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, who believed that the solution to America's problems was a strong central government.
The Virginia Plan called for the creation of a supreme national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also called for a legislature divided into two bodies (the Senate and the House of Representatives) with proportional representation. That is, each state's representation in Congress would be based on its population. This was a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation, which gave each state equal representation regardless of population.
The Virginia Plan was supported by large states, as it provided them with more representation than they had under the Articles of Confederation. However, smaller states generally opposed the plan, as they preferred alternatives that guaranteed each state equal representation. This led to the proposal of the New Jersey Plan, which suggested a single-chamber legislature where each state, regardless of population, would have one vote.
To address the concerns of both large and small states, the delegates worked on shaping the Virginia Plan into a document that would be accepted by states of all sizes. This resulted in the Connecticut Compromise, which provided for proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.
The proposals of the Constitutional Convention, including the Virginia Plan, were to be ratified by assemblies elected by the people. This is reflected in Resolution 15 of the Virginia Plan, which states:
> "Resolved that the amendments which shall be offered to the confederation by the Convention, ought at a proper time or times, after the approbation of Congress to be submitted to an assembly or assemblies of representatives, recommended by the several Legislatures, to be expressly chosen by the People to consider and decide thereon."
This resolution highlights that the amendments and proposals of the Convention, including the Virginia Plan, would be submitted to assemblies chosen by the people for consideration and decision-making. This ratification process was an important step in ensuring that the people had a say in the formation of their government and the adoption of the Constitution.
Health Insurance: Understanding Life Event Eligibility
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Virginia Plan was a proposal for a new plan of government for the United States. It called for a supreme national government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The Virginia Plan called for a bicameral legislature, with two branches: the Senate and the House of Representatives. It also proposed that each state's representation in Congress should be based on its population.
The Virginia Plan was drafted by James Madison and Edmund Randolph.
The Virginia Plan was proposed as a replacement for the Articles of Confederation, which was seen as inadequate for providing for the "common defense, security of liberty, and general welfare". The Articles gave each state equal representation, whereas the Virginia Plan favored large states with more populous states having more votes.
The Virginia Plan was not adopted in full, but parts of it were incorporated into the Great Compromise of 1787, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, which laid the foundation for the US Constitution. The Connecticut Compromise provided for proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
