Isabella Carter
The New Jersey Plan was one of two competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the United States government, introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia. It was proposed by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation, and advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation of states, a federal executive group, and the revision of the Articles of Confederation to keep power in the hands of the states. The plan was designed to protect the security and power of small states by limiting each state to one vote in Congress, as under the Articles of Confederation. While the New Jersey Plan was not directly incorporated into the Constitution, its principles and emphasis on equal state representation in the Senate left a significant impact, and its influence can be seen in the structure of the U.S. Senate today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date proposed | 15 June 1787 |
| Proposer | William Paterson, head of the New Jersey delegation |
| Purpose | To protect the security and power of small states |
| Legislature | Unicameral |
| Representation | Equal for each state |
| Executive | Elected by a national legislature |
| Powers | Raise revenue, regulate commerce and foreign affairs |
| Outcome | Rejected by a vote of 7-3 |
| Legacy | Influenced the structure of the U.S. Senate and the concept of separation of powers |
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What You'll Learn
The New Jersey Plan's role in the Constitutional Convention of 1787
The New Jersey Plan was one of two competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the United States government introduced at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia. Proposed by William Paterson, the head of the New Jersey delegation, the plan aimed to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland by advocating for equal representation in a unicameral legislature. This would have allowed each state to have one vote in Congress, regardless of its population, thus preventing larger states from having a greater share of power.
The New Jersey Plan emerged as a response to the Virginia Plan, which had been presented earlier by delegates from Virginia, including Edmund Randolph, and largely written by James Madison. The Virginia Plan called for membership in two houses of the national legislature to be allocated to each state proportionally to its population. This prompted a significant debate on proportional representation, with less populous states fearing that their interests would be overshadowed by those of larger states.
The New Jersey Plan proposed maintaining the Congress of the Confederation while substantially expanding its powers. Specifically, it suggested that Congress should gain the authority to raise funds through tariffs and other measures, as well as regulate interstate commerce and commerce with other nations. Additionally, the plan emphasized state sovereignty and a balanced federal system, with a federal executive group, keeping the power in the hands of the states rather than a centralized government.
Although the New Jersey Plan was rejected by a vote of 7-3 at the Constitutional Convention, its principles and influence are evident in the final structure of the U.S. government. The Connecticut Compromise, which reconciled Paterson and Madison's proposals, resulted in the current structure of Congress: a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with representatives apportioned based on population. The New Jersey Plan's legacy can also be seen in the concepts of separation of powers, checks and balances, and the preservation of state sovereignty.
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The plan's proposal for a unicameral legislature
The New Jersey Plan, also known as the Small State Plan or the Paterson Plan, was a proposal for the structure of the United States government. It was presented during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia. The plan was principally authored by William Paterson of New Jersey, with assistance from delegates of Connecticut, Maryland, and New York. It was introduced as an alternative to the Virginia Plan, which proposed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation based on state population.
The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral (single-chamber) legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of its population. This was designed to protect the interests and power of smaller states, such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, by preventing larger states from having a greater number of representatives and, therefore, more power. The plan aimed to maintain the form of government under the Articles of Confederation while expanding Congress's powers to raise revenue, regulate commerce, and manage foreign affairs.
The unicameral legislature proposed by the New Jersey Plan would have provided each state with equal representation, regardless of its population. This was a significant departure from the Virginia Plan's proposal of proportional representation, which would have given more weight to larger states. The New Jersey Plan's unicameral legislature was intended to ensure that smaller states had a voice in the national government and were not overshadowed by their larger counterparts.
The proposal for a unicameral legislature was a key aspect of the New Jersey Plan and a point of contention during the debates over the structure of the US government. The delegates from smaller states feared that the Virginia Plan's bicameral legislature, with representation based on population, would result in their interests being marginalized. By proposing a unicameral system, the authors of the New Jersey Plan sought to address this concern and secure a more equitable distribution of power between the states.
However, despite its intention to protect the interests of smaller states, the New Jersey Plan was ultimately rejected by a vote of 7-3 at the Constitutional Convention. The more populous states heavily criticized the plan, and even some delegates from less populous states failed to fully defend it. Following the rejection of the New Jersey Plan, elements of both plans were combined through the Connecticut Compromise, resulting in the current structure of Congress: a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with representation based on population.
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The plan's influence on the US Constitution
The New Jersey Plan, proposed by William Paterson, was one of two competing proposals for the structure and functioning of the United States government at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The plan was designed to protect the security and power of smaller states by limiting each state to one vote in Congress, as under the Articles of Confederation. It also sought to revise the Articles of Confederation to keep power in the hands of the states instead of a centralized government.
The New Jersey Plan called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation of states, a federal executive group, and the expansion of Congress's power. It was rejected by a vote of 7-3 at the convention, with delegates from more populous states heavily criticizing it.
However, the plan's influence can be seen in the structure of the U.S. Senate, where each state, regardless of size, is represented by two senators. This ensures that smaller states have an equal voice in the federal legislative process, an essential feature of American federalism. The plan's emphasis on equal state representation and state sovereignty shaped the definition and meaning of the U.S. Constitution.
The New Jersey Plan also helped force a compromise in forming the Constitution. The Connecticut Compromise, which combined elements of the New Jersey and Virginia Plans, created the current structure of Congress: a Senate with equal representation for states and a House of Representatives with proportional representation based on population. This compromise balanced the interests of small and large states while protecting the rights and autonomy of individual states.
Overall, the New Jersey Plan played a significant role in shaping the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the concepts of separation of powers, checks and balances, and the preservation of state sovereignty. Its influence continues to be felt in contemporary American politics and the functioning of the American government.
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The Connecticut Compromise
The Compromise retained the bicameral legislature, with the upper house or Senate having equal representation from each state, and the lower house or House of Representatives having proportional representation based on a state's population. Each state would have two members in the Senate, and in the lower house, each state would have one representative for every 40,000 inhabitants, counting three-fifths of each state's enslaved population toward that state's total population. This dual system of representation aimed to balance the interests of both large and small states.
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The debate over the plan
The New Jersey Plan was introduced to the Constitutional Convention by William Paterson, a New Jersey delegate, on June 15, 1787. The plan was intended to benefit small states such as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, by providing for equal representation for states in a unicameral legislature, regardless of their population. This would avoid awarding states with larger populations, such as New York and Virginia, a greater number of representatives and a greater share of power.
The New Jersey Plan was proposed as an alternative to the Virginia Plan, which called for a bicameral legislature, with representation in each chamber determined by population. The Virginia Plan was largely written by James Madison and favoured a stronger national government. A significant debate arose on proportional representation following the introduction of the Virginia Plan, with smaller states fearing that their interests would be overshadowed by those of the larger states.
During the debate over the two plans, delegates from the more populous states heavily criticized the New Jersey Plan, while delegates from the less populous states failed to fully defend it. On June 19, the delegates rejected the New Jersey Plan, with three states voting in favour, seven against, and one divided. Even some delegates who had helped Paterson author the plan voted against it.
Following the defeat of the New Jersey Plan, Paterson and Madison's proposals were reconciled through the Connecticut Compromise, which combined elements of each plan to create the current structure of Congress. The Connecticut Compromise, introduced by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, suggested a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives apportioned by population, as desired by the Virginia Plan, and the Senate apportioned equally by state, as desired by the New Jersey Plan. The compromise was approved by delegates on July 16, 1787, passing by a margin of a single vote.
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Frequently asked questions
The New Jersey Plan was a proposal for the structure and functioning of the United States government, presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
The New Jersey Plan was proposed by William Paterson, with the assistance of Connecticut's Roger Sherman, Maryland's David Brearley and Luther Martin, and New York's John Lansing.
The New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of its population. It also sought to revise the Articles of Confederation to keep power in the hands of the states, rather than a centralised government.
The New Jersey Plan was proposed as an alternative to the Virginia Plan, which would have given more power to states with larger populations. The less populous states feared that their voices would be drowned out in the national government, so they proposed their own plan to protect their interests.
The New Jersey Plan was not directly incorporated into the Constitution. However, its emphasis on equal state representation in the Senate left an indelible mark on the structure of the U.S. Senate, where each state, regardless of size, is represented by two senators.
