key term - New Jersey Plan

Definition

The New Jersey Plan was a proposal for the structure of the United States government presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, advocating for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state. This plan was designed to address the concerns of smaller states that feared losing influence in a national government dominated by larger states. It aimed to maintain the principle of state sovereignty and ensure that each state had an equal voice in legislative decisions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The New Jersey Plan was introduced by William Paterson as a response to the Virginia Plan, which favored larger states with its population-based representation.
2. The plan called for a single legislative chamber where each state would have one vote, regardless of its size or population.
3. It emphasized the need for a stronger federal government than what was provided under the Articles of Confederation while maintaining equal state representation.
4. The New Jersey Plan also included provisions for an executive branch, which would be composed of multiple members rather than a single president.
5. Ultimately, the New Jersey Plan's principles were incorporated into the Great Compromise, leading to the current structure of Congress with a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.

Review Questions

• Compare and contrast the New Jersey Plan with the Virginia Plan, focusing on their differing views on representation.
  • The New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan presented opposing views on representation in Congress. The Virginia Plan advocated for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, favoring larger states. In contrast, the New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral legislature where each state had equal representation regardless of size, aiming to protect the interests of smaller states. This fundamental difference highlighted the tension between populous and less populous states during the Constitutional Convention.
• Evaluate how the New Jersey Plan influenced the formation of the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention.
  • The New Jersey Plan played a critical role in shaping the Great Compromise by emphasizing the need for equal representation among states. While delegates debated how to balance power between large and small states, the New Jersey Plan's insistence on one vote per state ensured that smaller states would not be marginalized in legislative processes. The eventual compromise led to a bicameral legislature, incorporating elements from both plans and creating a balanced approach that addressed the concerns of all states.
• Analyze the implications of adopting the New Jersey Plan versus its rejection during the Constitutional Convention on future American governance.
  • Had the New Jersey Plan been fully adopted, it would have significantly altered the power dynamics within American governance by ensuring equal representation for all states in a unicameral legislature. This could have strengthened state sovereignty but potentially led to gridlock and inefficiency in decision-making due to the equal voting power among diverse states. The rejection of this plan in favor of a bicameral legislature created by the Great Compromise allowed for both population-based and equal representation, fostering a more balanced federal structure that has persisted through American history, enabling adaptation to changing political landscapes.

Related terms

Virginia Plan:

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

Great Compromise:

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

Federalism:

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states.