On May 29, 1787, Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph proposed what became known as "The Virginia Plan." Written primarily by fellow Virginian James Madison, this plan traced the broad outlines of what would become the U.S. Constitution: a national government consisting of three branches with checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. In its amended form, this page of Madison's plan shows his ideas for a legislature. It describes 2 houses: one with members elected by the people for 3-year terms and the other composed of older leaders elected by the state legislatures for 7-year terms. Both would use population as a basis for dividing seats among the states. This plan allowed for a strong central government to take hold.
After two weeks of debating the Virginia Plan, a counterproposal was put forth by William Patterson, which has become known as the New Jersey Plan (or the Small State Plan or the Patterson Plan). Patterson's ideas amounted to no more than a simple reshaping of the Articles of Confederation. The New Jersey plan called for three branches of government; just like those of the Virginia Plan. Except in the New Jersey Plan the Legislative branch would have be unicameral (one house) in which all states would have an equal number of votes. This plan benefited the small states because of the states would be represented equally and no state would have more power over the other.
To solve the differences regarding representation (large states vs. small states) the Framers of the Constitution appointed a committee. The committee recommended a compromise, known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise. The solution, supported by Benjamin Franklin contains three important parts: Congress would be a bicameral (two houses) legislature, with a Senate and a House of Representatives. In compromises each side gives a little in order to receive a little. The small states get the equal representation they desired in the Senate. The large states won control of the House of Representatives, which was given important powers related to taxing and spending. The Great Compromise of the Virginia Plan as well as the New Jersey Plan set stride for the American government in which we know of and live by today.
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