Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans presented at Essay - 2

Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans presented at the Constitutional Convention - Essay Example This paper compares and contrasts the two plans. Virginia plan proposed a congress with two houses or chambers namely lower house and upper house and each state to be represented depending on its size and population. On the other hand, New Jersey plan proposed single chamber legislature (unicameral) where every state represents one vote without considering the size and population. Virginia plan proposed that one chamber of the legislature have a representative elected by the people. It also suggested that the state legislature to nominate members of the second chamber. However, New Jersey Plan did not propose how congress members are selected. Virginia plan proposed that members elected by the people serve for three year terms and the other house elected by state legislatures serve for seven years. On the other hand, New Jersey plan did not propose the length of terms of service for the legislative branch. Virginia plan proposed that state members be based on the population of the states. Hence, bigger states were to have more state members than smaller ones. On the other hand, New Jersey plan proposed that states be treated equally with each having the same number of members. Virginia plan proposed executive and national judiciary to have power to veto legislation that was subject to override and a national veto power over any state legislation. It also gave legislative branch powers to negate state laws, which were incompatible with the articles of the union. On the other hand, New Jersey plan proposed congress to have more powers of making laws and take precedence over state law. It also proposed congress to have more powers of setting and forcing the collection of taxes. In both plans, the federal government and states work together and relates in different aspects. For instance, they both proposed federal government to