THE VIRGINA PLAN

 

Drafted by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph at the constitutional convention of 1787, the Virginia Plan proposed a strong central government composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.  The plan also included a bicameral legislature with houses that are based on state population.  This plan was a proposed alternative to the Articles of Confederation.

 

In this plan the legislative branch has the power to null state laws that contradict the articles of the union. The relationship between national and state governments would foster the practice of checks and balances. The concept of checks and balances is a provision to ensure that legislative acts could be vetoed by a council composed of the executive branch and selected members of the judicial branch; their veto could be also be overridden by a legislative majority. In this plan there is a separate judiciary and interpreter of laws.

 

 

 

THE NEW JERSEY PLAN

 

In response to the Virginia Plan, William Patterson proposed the New Jersey Plan.  In the New Jersey Plan, also known as the Patterson Plan, representatives are not chosen based on state population. This plan benefits states with small populations because it proposes be equal representation across all states.

 

 Proposed in this plan is the ability for congress to regulate commerce state to state, create funds for the government through tariffs, collect taxes, select federal executives, and recall their decisions. The executive branch has the ability to appoint the judiciary, as represented through a Supreme Tribunal.  In the New Jersey Plan the judicial branch is the main power when it comes to federal impeachment and has the last say in court cases.

 

Also included is a proposal for a singular naturalization policy to be established. In the New Jersey Plan a citizen of one state can be prosecuted under the laws of another state in which the crime was committed.

 

In this plan the federal government can override any of the state laws. There is a separate judiciary and interpreter of laws. The New Jersey Plan proposed that the Articles of Confederation should be amended.

 

 

 

THE CONNECTICUT PLAN

 

In 1787 Roger Sherman proposed the Connecticut Plan, a compromise between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan. The Connecticut Plan, also known as the Sherman Plan and The Great Compromise, includes a bicameral legislature with the two houses of Congress composed of members from all the states.  

 

For this compromise the population of each state would determine the number of delegates to the House of Representatives, but each state would be equally represented in the Senate. In this compromise the house has the power to create legislation that deals with the nations budget, the judicial branch has the power to oversee court cases, and the executive branch will act as the head of the nation. Checks and balances take place within each branch.

 

The Connecticut Plan has a separate judiciary and interpreter of laws. With this plan, the federal government has the final say over state decisions. This compromise between the New Jersey Plan and Virginia Plan is the basis for congressional representation today.