Definition: Virginia Plan, NJ Plan, Great Compromise

Remember:  In a republic, people are elected by the people, to serve the people. The Great Compromise created our modern day Legislative Branch that makes laws. It was based on:

The Virginia Plan - James Madison wanted a bicameral (2 house) legislature based upon population. The greater the population, the more representatives a state would have.

The New Jersey Plan - William Paterson wanted representation to be equal so the small states would not be under-represented.

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise of Roger Sherman) - Created the current bicameral (2 house) legislature where the House of Representatives is based upon population, and the Senate has equal representation (2 Senators per state). A census (described in depth later) taken every ten years determines state population and representation. 

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