Which of the following best describes the proposal of congressional representation according to the New Jersey plan? a) congressional representation would be equal, thus favoring the small states b) congressional representation would be based on population, thus favoring the large states c) congressional representation would be both equal and proportional, thus compromising between the large and small states d ) congressional representation would be nonexistent at the national level, so as not to favor any particular state or group of states
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a) congressional representation would be equal, thus favoring the small states.
The New Jersey Plan was introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 by William Paterson as an alternative to the Virginia Plan. The proposal aimed to address the concerns of smaller states, which feared being overshadowed by the larger states in a system where representation was based solely on population.
Under the New Jersey Plan, the structure of the national legislature would consist of a unicameral (one-house) Congress, with each state having equal representation regardless of its population size. This would ensure that smaller states would not be at a disadvantage in the legislative process. Every state would have one vote, ensuring an equal voice for both large and small states in Congress.
The plan was a response to the Virginia Plan, which proposed a bicameral Congress with representation based on population, thus giving larger states greater influence. The larger states, which had more people, would have more delegates and more power under this system. The New Jersey Plan, therefore, was designed to protect the interests of smaller states by advocating for equal representation.
Ultimately, the New Jersey Plan did not win favor during the debates, as larger states preferred the Virginia Plan’s proportional representation. However, the Great Compromise (also known as the Connecticut Compromise) merged elements of both plans. It resulted in a bicameral legislature with the Senate (equal representation for each state) and the House of Representatives (representation based on population), which balanced the interests of both small and large states.
Thus, the New Jersey Plan was key in shaping the final structure of the U.S. Congress by influencing the design of the Senate and ensuring the protection of smaller states’ rights.