The Differences Between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans at the Constitutional Convention of 1787

Representation Debate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, supporters of the Virginia plan and supporters of the New Jersey plan had differing views on the method for representation in the legislature. The Virginia plan proposed proportional representation, while the New Jersey plan favored equal state representation.

Virginia Plan: The Virginia plan, put forth by James Madison, called for a bicameral legislature where representation in both houses would be based on the population of each state. This would give larger states more influence in government decision-making, reflecting their higher population numbers. This system was favored by states with larger populations, such as Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

New Jersey Plan: The New Jersey plan, advocated by William Paterson, suggested a unicameral legislature where each state would have an equal vote, regardless of population size. This plan aimed to protect the interests of smaller states, as they would have an equal say in legislative matters alongside larger states. States like New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut supported this approach.

The Role of Congressional Representation

I believe the answer is: determining congressional representation

What is the concept of congressional representation?

Congressional representation refers to the concept that the members of congress should represent the segmentation of citizens that exist within a country. This could be achieved by letting the states appoint their own representatives using local elections.