1. Solving the Issue of Representation
Virginia Plan + New Jersey Plan =
“The Great Compromise”

2. Solving the Issue of Representation
The only branch that existed under the Articles of Confederation was the Legislative Branch (Congress)
Under the Articles of Confederation each state had one vote in Congress
At the Constitutional Convention, the delegates debated on changing the number of representatives and votes that each state would have
Problem? How would they decide?

3. Vocabulary
Proportional Representation: representation based on population
Equal Representation: representation is the same for everyone
Bicameral: two houses
Unicameral: one house

4. Virginia Plan Proposed by James Madison Proportional representation
Favored by large states
Bicameral Congress
3 branches of government

5. James Madison Born on March 16, 1751 in Virginia
Went to the College of New Jersey
A Lawyer
“Father of the Constitution”
A Federalist
Sponsored the Bill of Rights

6. New Jersey Plan Proposed by William Patterson Unicameral Congress
Favored by small states
1 vote per state
Equal representation

7. Total Population in 1790 New Hampshire 141,885 Massachusetts 378,787
Connecticut
237,946
New York
340,120
New Jersey
184,139
Maryland
319,728
Virginia
691,737
North Carolina
393,751
South Carolina
249,073
Georgia
82,548
Pennsylvania
434,373
Delaware
59,096

8. Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan)
Proposed by Roger Sherman
Solved the issue of representation
Established the current legislative branch
Bicameral Congress
Senate (Equal, 2 senators per state)
House of Representatives (Proportional, based on population)

9. 1 representative
for every
30,000 citizens
in 1789

10. Bicameral Congress
Population
2 per state

11. Congress Today Today there are 50 states
2 senators per state=100 total senators
Today there are a total of 435 representatives

12. How Does it Work Today Proportional Representation
Equal Representation
House
Senate

13. What population is used today to determine Representatives?
Today each state gets one representative per 646,952

14. 2010 Census & You
A census is a count of a country’s population every 10 years
Based on the population, a state gets money for public works projects, infrastructure, education etc.
More importantly- the number of representatives a state will have