Eleanor Finch
The framers of the US Constitution created a bicameral Congress, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, to address the failures of Congress under the Articles of Confederation and to limit the concentration of power in a single legislative body. The Framers drew on historical models, including the bicameral legislatures of ancient Greece and Rome, the United Kingdom's Parliament, and the state governments, to inform their decision. The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison, proposed a bicameral legislature with members of one branch elected by the people and members of the other branch elected by state legislatures. This plan, favored by larger states, was debated against the New Jersey Plan, which proposed equal representation in a one-chamber legislature. The Founders ultimately agreed on a compromise that incorporated both elements, resulting in the creation of a bicameral Congress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevent concentration of power | The Framers were concerned that a single legislative body with unchecked power would threaten individual liberties |
| Checks and balances | The Framers wanted to create a powerful legislative body as part of the system of checks and balances |
| Separation of powers | The Framers limited Congress's powers to those specifically enumerated in the Constitution |
| Experience with bicameral legislatures | The Framers had significant experience with bicameral legislatures, including the bicameral Parliament of Great Britain and their own bicameral state legislatures |
| Historical and philosophical influence | The Framers drew on ideas from ancient philosophers and Enlightenment thinkers, as well as the example of historical republics with bicameral legislatures |
| Compromise between large and small states | The Framers agreed to a compromise, known as the "Great Compromise", to balance the interests of larger and smaller states by providing for representation by population in one house and equal representation in the other |
| Stability | The Framers believed that a bicameral legislature was crucial to creating and maintaining a stable republic |
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What You'll Learn
To create a powerful legislative body with a system of checks and balances
The Framers of the US Constitution established a bicameral Congress to create a powerful legislative body with a system of checks and balances. They wanted to strengthen federal legislative power over states and individuals, but they were also concerned that a single legislative body with unchecked and concentrated power would threaten individual liberties. James Madison, who drafted the original Virginia Plan, noted that bicameralism would create two "different bodies of men who might watch and check each other".
The Framers had significant experience with bicameral legislatures. Under British rule, colonists were subject to law enacted by the bicameral Parliament of Great Britain, with the hereditary aristocracy represented in the House of Lords and the freeholders of the land in the House of Commons. Following the Declaration of Independence in 1776, all but three states established bicameral legislatures. The Framers looked to history, other countries, and the states to address the form Congress would take. Many of the historical republics the Framers studied had bicameral legislatures, and the United Kingdom had a bicameral parliament.
The Framers also wanted to balance the interests of larger and smaller states. The larger states, mainly in the South, and the smaller states, in the North, quarrelled over which should wield more power at the federal level. As a compromise, Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut, proposed bicameralism, which would give each state two senators while also assigning members of Congress proportional to the population. This agreement, known as the Great Compromise, combined the Virginia Plan, which provided for representation by population, and the New Jersey Plan, which provided for equal representation among the states in a one-chamber legislature.
The two-chambered legislature also allowed for an additional layer of checks and balances within Congress. The House of Representatives and the Senate have different powers and separate roles in the lawmaking process. The House has primary authority over the taxation of their constituents, with all bills for raising revenue starting in the House, while the Senate has a more deliberative, advisory, and oversight role. The Constitution grants specific powers to the House that reflect the idea that it is "closer" to its constituents than the Senate, as the states have always elected their representatives by popular vote.
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To limit Congress's power and prevent tyranny
The framers of the US Constitution established a bicameral Congress to limit the power of the legislative branch and to prevent tyranny. They were concerned that a single legislative body with unchecked power would threaten individual liberties.
James Madison, who is credited with influencing this design, emphasised the need for a government structure that would prevent any one faction from gaining too much control. In his writings in the Federalist Papers, particularly Federalist No. 51, Madison stressed the importance of checks and balances within government structures to prevent tyranny.
The bicameral system includes two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This structure promotes oversight and balances authority, ensuring that both the will of the people (through the House) and the interests of the states (through the Senate) are represented in the legislature. The House of Representatives is based on population, allowing larger states to have more representatives, while the Senate grants equal representation to all states.
By requiring consensus between these two houses, the bicameral system effectively limits legislative power. It encourages thoughtful legislation and makes it less likely for Congress to act impulsively. For example, legislation must be passed by both the House and the Senate before becoming law, which encourages compromise and a thorough review of bills. This process helps to prevent the passage of "bad" laws and ensures that the interests of diverse groups are considered.
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To establish a separation of powers
The framers of the US Constitution established a bicameral Congress to create a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. They were concerned that a single legislative body with unchecked power would threaten individual liberties. James Madison, who drafted the original Virginia Plan, noted that bicameralism would create two "different bodies of men who might watch and check each other".
The framers had significant experience with bicameral legislatures. Under British rule, colonists were subject to law enacted by the bicameral Parliament of Great Britain, with the hereditary aristocracy represented in the House of Lords and the freeholders of the land in the House of Commons. Following the Declaration of Independence, all but three states established bicameral legislatures.
The framers also looked to history and other countries for guidance. Many of the historical republics studied had bicameral legislatures, and the idea of mixed government, rooted in ancient Greece and Rome, heavily influenced the creation of a senate. In ancient Greece, philosopher Plato characterised three rival forms of government: monarchy (rule by one), aristocracy (rule by the few), and democracy (rule by the many). Each system, in Plato’s view, could result in power wielded unjustly.
The framers also wanted to balance the interests of larger and smaller states. The Virginia Plan, proposed by Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph, suggested that a state’s population would correspond to the amount of representation it would have in Congress. This plan favoured larger states, like Virginia and North Carolina. Smaller states objected and proposed the New Jersey Plan, which provided for equal representation among the states in a one-chamber legislature. The delegates ultimately agreed to the Great Compromise, which combined the two plans by creating a bicameral legislature with a lower house and an upper house.
The House of Representatives acts as the "lower house", with members elected by popular vote and serving two-year terms to keep them responsive to voters' needs. The number of representatives from each state is proportional to the state's population. The Senate acts as the "upper house" or "upper chamber", with members originally appointed by state legislatures and elected indirectly. Senators have stricter qualifications than members of the House, with longer terms of service and staggered elections, contributing to greater stability.
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To create a stable republic
The framers of the US Constitution created a bicameral Congress with the aim of establishing a stable republic. They believed that a bicameral legislature was crucial to creating and maintaining such a republic.
The framers were concerned about the concentration of power in a single legislative body, which they thought could threaten individual liberties. They had experienced the British bicameral system, in which the bicameral Parliament of Great Britain included the House of Lords, representing the hereditary aristocracy, and the House of Commons, representing freeholders of the land. After the Declaration of Independence, most states established bicameral legislatures.
The framers wanted to strengthen federal legislative power over states and individuals, and they believed a bicameral legislature would help achieve this. They drew on ideas from ancient philosophers and Enlightenment thinkers, as well as their experiences crafting new state governments. The framers were influenced by the concept of mixed government, rooted in ancient Greece and Rome. Plato characterised three rival forms of government: monarchy (rule by one), aristocracy (rule by a few), and democracy (rule by the many). Each system, in Plato's view, could result in power being wielded unjustly.
The framers wanted to create a powerful legislative body as part of a system of checks and balances. They believed that a bicameral legislature would provide an additional layer of checks and balances within Congress, preventing any single entity from gaining too much power. James Madison noted that bicameralism would create two "different bodies of men who might watch and check each other." Bicameral legislation, therefore, helps to prevent tyranny and ensure balanced representation.
The framers also saw bicameralism as a compromise between larger states that favoured representation based on population and smaller states that wanted equal representation. The House of Representatives is based on population, while the Senate grants equal representation to all states. This compromise was known as the Great Compromise, combining the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
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To ensure fair representation of states
The Framers of the U.S. Constitution established a bicameral Congress to ensure fair representation of states. The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison, proposed that a state's population would correspond to the amount of representation it would have in Congress. This plan was supported by larger states like Virginia and Massachusetts, as it gave each state a vote in Congress based on its population size. However, smaller states objected to this plan and proposed the New Jersey Plan, which provided for equal representation among the states in a one-chamber legislature.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention eventually agreed on a compromise known as the Great Compromise, which combined elements of both plans. The bicameral legislature provided for representation by population in one house, the House of Representatives, and equal representation in the other, the Senate. This ensured that both larger and smaller states had fair representation in Congress.
The Framers of the Constitution were influenced by the idea of mixed government, drawing on ideas from ancient philosophers like Plato, who argued that a combination of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy could prevent the unjust wielding of power. They also had experience with bicameral legislatures under British rule, where the House of Lords represented the hereditary aristocracy, and the House of Commons represented the freeholders of the land. Additionally, many states established bicameral legislatures after the Declaration of Independence, further influencing the Framers' decision.
The Framers believed that a bicameral legislature would provide an additional layer of checks and balances within Congress, preventing the concentration of power in a single legislative body, which they feared could threaten individual liberties. They also wanted to ensure that Congress represented the interests of the states, with the Senate representing the states and the House of Representatives being "closer" to its constituents due to popular vote elections.
The structure of the bicameral Congress, with its combination of proportional and equal representation, ensured that the interests of both larger and smaller states were considered, thus promoting fairness and stability in the representation of states.
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Frequently asked questions
The framers of the constitution created a bicameral congress to limit the power of Congress and strengthen federal legislative power over states and individuals.
During the Constitutional Convention, the larger states (mostly in the South) and smaller states (in the North) quarrelled over which should wield more power at the federal level. The larger states supported the Virginia Plan, which proposed that a state's population would correspond to the amount of representation it would have in Congress. The smaller states objected and proposed the New Jersey Plan, which provided for equal representation among the states in a one-chamber legislature.
The Great Compromise was proposed by Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut, to resolve the disagreements between the larger and smaller states. The Great Compromise combined elements of both plans by creating a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The House of Representatives assigns members of Congress proportional to the population, while each state has two senators.
