the virginia plan gave more power to larger states.
the virginia plan gave more power to larger states.
who did the virginia plan give more power to?
larger states
importantly, at the convention, there was large debate over the structure of the legislative branch, eventually solved by the connecticut compromise. in the traditional understanding of the discussion, the larger states proposed the virginia plan, which allocated representation to each state proportional to its population. the smaller states, fearing a tyranny of the larger states, propose the new jersey plan, which gave each state equal representation in the legislative body. the states' motives for such a debate have been largely understood as a method for ensuring a strong voice in the federal government so as to maintain a desired degree of sovereignty. further, political scientist martin diamond interprets the argument through a federalist vs antifederalist lens, discounting the question of state size. specifically, he argues that the pure federalism of the new jersey plan and the pure nationalism of the virginia plan eventually came together to form the system of bicameralism that the framers settled on. however, his theory largely goes against the usual understanding, which some have argued is based on stronger historical evidence.
dual federalism
before a quorum was reached at the philadelphia convention on may 25, 1787, madison worked with other members of the virginia delegation, especially edmund randolph and george mason, to create and present the virginia plan. the virginia plan was an outline for a new federal constitution; it called for three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial), a bicameral congress (consisting of the united states senate and the united states house of representatives) apportioned by population, and a federal council of revision that would have the right to veto laws passed by congress. reflecting the centralization of power envisioned by madison, the virginia plan granted the u.s. senate the power to overturn any law passed by state governments. the virginia plan did not explicitly lay out the structure of the executive branch, but madison himself favored a single executive. many delegates were surprised to learn that the plan called for the abrogation of the articles and the creation of a new constitution, to be ratified by special conventions in each state rather than by the state legislatures. nonetheless, with the assent of prominent attendees such as washington and benjamin franklin, the delegates went into a secret session to consider a new constitution.
james madison