Question

Which of the following is true about the Virginia Plan?

a) Advocated for a unicameral legislature
b) Supported equal representation of states in Congress
c) Proposed a bicameral legislature based on population
d) Proposed a system where each state had equal votes in Congress

Answer 1

The true statement about the Virginia Plan is that it proposed a bicameral legislature based on population, as outlined by option c. This plan gave more populous states more influence in Congress compared to smaller states.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Virginia Plan was a significant proposal during the United States Constitutional Convention of 1787. Important features of the plan included a bicameral legislature, where representation in both houses would be based on each state's population. James Madison played a critical role in its creation, advocating for a stronger national government compared to the existing Articles of Confederation.

Accordingly, option c) Proposed a bicameral legislature based on population is the true statement regarding the Virginia Plan. It sought to give more populous states greater political influence, while the alternative New Jersey Plan called for equal representation across states in a unicameral legislature, regardless of population size.

The Great Compromise eventually resolved the debate between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, leading to a Congress with a Senate offering equal state representation and a House of Representatives based on population.