1. H-SS 8.2.3- Evaluate the major debates that occurred in developing the Constitution and their ultimate resolutions

2. I. Compromise Over Representation

3. A. The Virginia Plan 1. Mostly authored by Madison, it proposed a strong, central government with three branches: a. Legislative (Congress) to make laws b. Executive (President) to carry out laws c. Judicial (Supreme Court) to interpret laws 2. It also proposed Congress be divided into two parts- a lower house and an upper house (like Parliament) 3. The topic of who chose the members of the two houses was hotly debated by Roger Sherman and James Wilson

4. 4. Small states opposed the Virginia Plan because it called for the number of representatives to be based on population 5. The New Jersey Plan proposed a single house of Congress and equal representation

5. B. The Great Compromise 1. Devised by Roger Sherman, it addressed all arguments. It created: a. The House of Representatives (lower house)- citizens elect representatives; numbers based on population; 2-year terms b. The Senate (upper house)- Senators chosen by state legislatures; each state would have two seats; 6-year terms