New Jersey Plan

Definition

The New Jersey Plan was a proposal presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 aimed at creating a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population. It emerged as a response to the Virginia Plan, which favored larger states, and sought to protect the interests of smaller states by ensuring they had an equal voice in the legislative process.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The New Jersey Plan was proposed by William Paterson and aimed to amend the Articles of Confederation rather than replace them.
2. It suggested that each state should have one vote in Congress, ensuring that smaller states would not be overshadowed by larger ones.
3. The plan included provisions for a plural executive branch, meaning multiple people would share executive power instead of a single president.
4. Although it did not ultimately pass, the ideas in the New Jersey Plan significantly influenced the Great Compromise.
5. The New Jersey Plan reflected the fears of smaller states regarding their power and representation in a new national government.

Review Questions

• How did the New Jersey Plan address the concerns of smaller states regarding representation in the federal government?
  • The New Jersey Plan directly addressed the concerns of smaller states by proposing a unicameral legislature where each state would have equal representation, regardless of population size. This was significant because it ensured that smaller states would not be dominated by larger states, which were favored under the Virginia Plan. By giving each state one vote, it maintained a balance of power that smaller states sought to protect during the formation of a new government.
• Evaluate the impact of the New Jersey Plan on the final structure of the U.S. government as established by the Constitution.
  • The New Jersey Plan had a profound impact on the final structure of the U.S. government by influencing the Great Compromise. While it did not become law, its emphasis on equal representation helped shape the Senate's structure, where each state is allotted two senators regardless of size. This compromise combined elements from both the New Jersey and Virginia Plans, resulting in a bicameral legislature that balanced population-based representation with equal representation for states.
• Assess how the debates between the New Jersey Plan and other proposals at the Constitutional Convention reflect broader tensions in American society during that period.
  • The debates between the New Jersey Plan and other proposals like the Virginia Plan illustrate broader tensions in American society regarding federalism and state sovereignty. Smaller states were concerned about losing influence and power to larger states if representation was based solely on population. This struggle highlighted issues related to equality and fairness in governance, as well as differing views on how much power should reside with state governments versus a central federal authority. The outcome was a compromise that attempted to balance these competing interests, reflecting ongoing debates about democracy and representation that continue to resonate today.

Related terms

Virginia Plan:

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on state population, favoring larger states.

Bicameral Legislature: A legislative body that has two separate chambers or houses, such as the Senate and House of Representatives in the United States.

Great Compromise:

An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature, combining elements of both the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan.