Final answer:
The Great Compromise determined that representation in the U.S. Congress would be both proportional, in the House of Representatives based on state population, and equal, in the Senate with two senators per state. The correct option is C .
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Great Compromise, each state was to be represented both proportionally and equally in the two houses of the U.S. Congress. The compromise suggested by Roger Sherman during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia established the legislative structure of the United States as a bicameral Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
In the Senate, each state would be represented equally regardless of the state's population, mirroring the New Jersey Plan. Each state is allocated two senators, ensuring that smaller states have the same senatorial representation as larger states. This aspect of the Great Compromise helped to soothe the fears of smaller states that they would be overpowered by the larger states in legislative decisions. Therefore, each state is represented equally in the Senate.
On the other hand, the House of Representatives features representation based on state populations, which aligns with the Virginia Plan and addresses the interests of larger states. The number of representatives for each state is determined by a census taken every ten years, ensuring fair and proportional representation corresponding to the shifting demographics of the United States. This apportionment allows for the fluctuations in population to be reflected in the number of House members representing each state.