History of Europe

What plans of government did delegates offer at the Constitutional Convention?

Virginia Plan:

* Proposed by James Madison

* Based on the idea of proportional representation in both houses of Congress, based on population

* Strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial

* Bicameral legislature with a Senate and a House of Representatives

* President elected by the legislature

* Supreme Court appointed by the legislature

New Jersey Plan:

* Proposed by William Paterson

* Based on the idea of equal representation for each state in Congress, regardless of population

* Weak national government with limited powers

* Unicameral legislature with one house of representatives

* Plural executive elected by the legislature

* Supreme Court appointed by the executive

Connecticut Plan (the Great Compromise):

* Proposed by Roger Sherman

* A combination of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan

* Bicameral legislature with the Senate representing states equally and the House of Representatives representing states proportionally based on population

* President elected by an electoral college

* Supreme Court appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate