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The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was introduced by Edmund Randolph to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787. Drafted primarily by James Madison, the plan called for a strong national government composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The Virginia Plan set the agenda for debate at the convention, notably proposing the idea of population-weighted representation in the national legislature. This plan favored the interests of states with large populations, sparking the proposal of the New Jersey Plan to protect the interests of smaller states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Virginia Plan (also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan) |
| Introduced by | Edmund Randolph |
| Author | James Madison |
| Date | May 29, 1787 |
| Venue | Constitutional Convention |
| Purpose | To create a supreme national government with three branches and a bicameral legislature |
| Features | Population-weighted representation in the proposed national legislature |
| Checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power | |
| Resolutions | 15 |
| Amendments | To be submitted to an assembly or assemblies of representatives chosen by the people |
| Ratification | To be ratified by assemblies elected by the people |
| Support | Large states |
| Opposition | Small states |
| Alternative | New Jersey Plan |
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What You'll Learn
The Virginia Plan was drafted by James Madison
While Madison is often credited as the primary author, it was Randolph who officially presented the plan to the Convention. In his introduction, Randolph emphasised the issues facing the Confederation, including the risk of "anarchy from the laxity of government". He proposed that the solution must be grounded in "the republican principle", advocating for a supreme national government.
The Virginia Plan represented a significant departure from the Articles of Confederation. It favoured the interests of states with large populations, suggesting that representation in government should be weighted according to population size or the number of free inhabitants. This approach was in contrast to the Articles of Confederation, which provided for equal representation for each state regardless of population.
The Virginia Plan set the agenda for debate at the Constitutional Convention. It sparked discussions and negotiations that ultimately led to the Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise. This compromise incorporated elements of the competing New Jersey Plan, which had been proposed to protect the interests of smaller states. The final document, shaped by delegates from states of various sizes, reflected a blend of ideas and considerations, marking a pivotal step towards the formation of the United States Constitution.
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It was introduced by Edmund Randolph on May 29, 1787
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was introduced by Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787. Drafted primarily by fellow Virginian James Madison, the plan outlined a strong central government composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
In his introduction, Randolph highlighted the problems facing the Confederation, including the risk of "anarchy from the laxity of government". He proposed a solution based on "'the republican principle'", calling for the creation of a supreme national government. This represented a significant departure from the Articles of Confederation, as it advocated for a government modelled on the existing state governments.
The Virginia Plan's introduction set the agenda for debate at the Convention. Notably, it introduced the idea of population-weighted representation in the proposed national legislature, favouring the interests of states with large populations. This aspect of the plan sparked controversy, with smaller states expressing opposition and preferring alternatives that guaranteed equal representation regardless of population.
The Virginia Plan went through several revisions before it was finalized, and no copies of the original manuscript survive. The document from June 13, 1787, reflects amendments and agreements made during the convention, demonstrating the evolving nature of the plan as delegates debated and shaped it into a form acceptable to states of all sizes.
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The plan called for a strong central government
The Virginia Plan, also known as the Randolph Plan or the Large-State Plan, was introduced by Edmund Randolph to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787. The plan was drafted by James Madison, a delegate from Virginia, and proposed a strong central government composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Virginia Plan was a proposed plan of government for the United States, calling for the creation of a supreme national government with a bicameral legislature. The plan favoured the interests of states with large populations, and it set the agenda for debate at the Convention. One of its key proposals was the idea of population-weighted representation in the national legislature, which meant that each state's representation in Congress would be based on its population. This was in contrast to alternatives such as the New Jersey Plan, which proposed a single-chamber legislature where each state, regardless of population, would have one vote.
The Virginia Plan was a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation, which had created a weak central government that was powerless to address many of the nation's problems. The Articles lacked an executive branch, which meant the Confederation government lacked an effective means to enforce its laws and treaties, and Congress was unable to raise taxes or regulate foreign and interstate commerce. The Virginia Plan proposed a national government with three branches, modelled on the existing state governments, to address these issues.
The plan outlined a system of checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power, with the legislature appointing both the executive and judicial branches. However, this also meant that the plan lacked the system of checks and balances that later became central to the US Constitution. The Virginia Plan went through several revisions before it was finalized, and it eventually became the foundation of the US Constitution.
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It proposed a government with three branches
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 in 1787. It was drafted by James Madison and Edmund Randolph, a Virginia delegate. The plan called for a strong central government composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Virginia Plan was a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation. It was modelled on existing state governments and called for the creation of a supreme national government with a bicameral legislature. The legislature would be 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.
The Virginia Plan was notable for its role in setting the overall agenda for debate at the Convention. It set forth the idea of population-weighted representation in the proposed national legislature. This meant that the number of representatives per state would be based on population. This favoured the interests of states with large populations.
The alternative to the Virginia Plan was the New Jersey Plan, which was proposed to protect the interests of smaller states. It intended to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature. This plan was introduced by William Paterson on June 15, 1787. It called for multiple leaders of the executive branch and for judges to be appointed by the executives.
The delegates at the Convention settled on the Connecticut Compromise, which incorporated elements of both plans. This included the three-fifths rule and equal apportionment of representatives for the upper house of the legislature, as proposed by the New Jersey Plan. The apportionment of representatives in the lower house was based on population, as originally proposed in the Virginia Plan.
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The plan set the agenda for the Constitutional Convention
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 and Edmund Randolph. It called for a supreme national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch was to be divided into two bodies (the Senate and the House of Representatives) with proportional representation, meaning each state's representation in Congress would be based on its population.
The Virginia Plan was notable for its role in setting the overall agenda for the Constitutional Convention. It was the first plan presented at the Convention and served as a blueprint for the four months of debate that followed. The plan proposed a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation, calling for a strong central government and a drastic alteration of the existing form of government. This set the tone for the Convention, as delegates agreed that the goal would be to create a new system of government rather than simply revise the Articles of Confederation.
Madison's influence on the agenda-setting of the Convention was significant. He arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early and was determined to set the convention's agenda. Before the convention, he studied republics and confederacies throughout history, such as ancient Greece and contemporary Switzerland. He drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which evaluated the American political system and offered solutions. Madison's preparation allowed his blueprint for constitutional revision to become the starting point for the Convention's deliberations.
The Virginia Plan faced opposition from smaller states, who preferred alternatives that guaranteed each state equal representation regardless of population. This led to the proposal of the New Jersey Plan, which intended to give states equal representation in a one-bodied legislature. The Convention ultimately adopted the Connecticut Compromise, which utilized both forms of representation, providing proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
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Frequently asked questions
Edmund Randolph introduced the Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787.
James Madison drafted the Virginia Plan, which was introduced by Edmund Randolph.
The Virginia Plan was a proposed plan of government for the United States. It called for the creation of a supreme national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Virginia Plan was significant as it set the overall agenda for debate at the Constitutional Convention. It introduced the idea of population-weighted representation in the proposed national legislature, favouring the interests of states with large populations.
The Virginia Plan faced opposition, particularly from less populous states, which led to the introduction of the New Jersey Plan to protect small state interests. The delegates then worked on shaping the Virginia Plan into a document that would be accepted by states of all sizes, resulting in the Connecticut Compromise, which incorporated elements of both plans.
