Understanding the Differences Between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan

Background

The New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan were two competing proposals during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Both plans outlined different ideas for the structure of the legislative branch in the new United States government.

New Jersey Plan vs. Virginia Plan

The New Jersey Plan: This plan proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation among the states. It aimed to protect the power and interests of smaller states by ensuring that each state had an equal voice in the legislative branch.

The Virginia Plan: In contrast, the Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population. This meant that larger states would have more representation and therefore more influence in the government.

Main Difference

The main difference between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan lies in the allocation of representation and power within the legislative branch. The New Jersey Plan favored equal representation among all states, while the Virginia Plan favored representation based on population.

In summary, the New Jersey Plan placed all power with states rather than the federal government, unlike the Virginia Plan which proposed power to a single branch of government. The New Jersey Plan also did not propose the Supreme Court to decide qualifications for representation, but instead focused on equal representation in a unicameral legislature.

Which statement best explains how the New Jersey Plan differed from the Virginia Plan? The New Jersey Plan differed from the Virginia Plan in terms of the allocation of representation and power within the legislative branch.
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