Eleanor Finch
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, the Philadelphia Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia, saw the proposal of two plans for the US Constitution: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The former was introduced by Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph on 29 May 1787 and outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The latter was proposed by William Paterson and intended to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date proposed | 29 May 1787 |
| Proposer | Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph |
| Author | James Madison |
| Alternative name | Randolph Plan |
| Type of legislature | Bicameral national legislature |
| Number of houses | Two |
| Members of the first branch | Elected by the people of the several states for a term of three years |
| Members of the second branch | Older leaders elected by the |
| Rights of suffrage | Proportional to the size of the state |
| Veto power | Congress has veto power over state laws |
| Alternative plan | William Paterson's New Jersey Plan |
| Connecticut Compromise | Utilized both forms of representation, providing proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate |
| Alexander Hamilton's proposal | A powerful national government with life terms for the executive and the members in the upper house of the legislature |
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What You'll Learn
The Virginia Plan
The plan also called for a national executive chosen by Congress, addressing the lack of a strong chief executive under the Articles of Confederation. It gave Congress veto power over state laws, which Madison considered crucial to prevent irresponsible state behaviour. However, this provision faced criticism and was rejected by the Convention, with delegates expressing concerns about its practicality and potential negative impact on state relations.
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The New Jersey Plan
The centerpiece of the New Jersey Plan was a unicameral (one-house) legislature in which each state had a single vote. This stood in contrast to the Virginia Plan's proposal for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation, where each state's representation in Congress would be based on its population. The New Jersey Plan sought to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature.
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Alexander Hamilton's proposal
On June 18, 1787, Alexander Hamilton proposed a powerful national government in a speech at the Constitutional Convention. Hamilton believed that both the Virginia Resolutions (also known as the Virginia Plan) and the New Jersey Amendments (also known as the New Jersey Plan) were inadequate.
The Virginia Plan, introduced by Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph, outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It called for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation, meaning each state's representation in Congress would be based on its population. The Virginia Plan also gave Congress veto power over state laws to prevent states from engaging in irresponsible behaviour.
The New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, intended to give states equal representation in a unicameral legislature. This plan represented the views of delegates from small states and those who opposed a strong national government or insisted on retaining a federal system.
Hamilton's proposal differed from these plans. He suggested a system with life terms for the executive and the members of the upper house of the legislature. Essentially, Hamilton's plan would have subsumed the states into administrative units of the national government. Hamilton's proposal was not formally considered a "plan", but it offered an alternative vision for the structure of the US government.
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Pinckney's plan
Charles Pinckney's plan for a federal government was presented to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787. Unfortunately, the original document written by Pinckney has never been found. However, a document in James Wilson's handwriting has been identified as a synopsis of Pinckney's plan.
Although the exact details of Pinckney's plan remain a mystery, it is clear that he played a significant role in shaping the Constitution. His pamphlet, published after the Convention, highlights his contributions and suggests that his ideas were incorporated into the final framework of the US government. Pinckney's plan, along with other proposals presented at the Constitutional Convention, such as the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, contributed to the formation of a new system of government and the development of the US Constitution.
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The Connecticut Compromise
The Compromise was proposed by Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth. Sherman, in particular, supported the idea of a two-house national legislature, as proposed in the Virginia Plan, but advocated for proportional representation in the lower house and equal representation in the upper house. This proposal was in contrast to the Virginia or Randolph Plan, which called for membership in both houses to be allocated proportionally to each state's population. The Connecticut Compromise also differed from the New Jersey or Small State Plan, proposed by William Paterson, which suggested equal representation for all states in Congress.
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Frequently asked questions
The two proposed plans of the Constitution were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
The Virginia Plan was introduced to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 by James Madison and Edmund Randolph. It outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The New Jersey Plan was introduced by William Paterson. It intended to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature.
The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral national legislature with two houses, whereas the New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral (one-house) legislature. The Virginia Plan also called for proportional representation, meaning each state's representation in Congress would be based on its population. In contrast, the New Jersey Plan proposed equal representation for all states.
Neither plan was adopted in its original form. The final constitution incorporated elements of both plans. The "Connecticut Compromise" or "Great Compromise" adopted on July 16, 1787, provided for proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
