Final answer:
In the Virginia Plan, the leader of the executive branch was to be chosen by the legislature. This selection method favored larger states and was later refined through debates at the Constitutional Convention, although the initial proposal did not involve electors or direct election.
Step-by-step explanation:
The leader of the executive branch in the Virginia Plan was selected by the legislature. This structure was proposed to ensure the execution of the legislature's will and to serve the function of governing alongside an independent judiciary. The Virginia Plan suggested a strong national government with a bicameral, or two-house, legislature where both the upper and the lower house would have a role in appointing the executive.
In the Virginia Plan, presented by Edmund Randolph and largely influenced by James Madison, the selection method sided with more populous states like Virginia, giving them greater influence in political power. Debate at the Constitutional Convention led to various ideas regarding the executive's election; however, the Virginia Plan initially recommended that the executive branch be chosen by members of the legislature. Later deliberations would introduce concepts such as electors and direct election, which ultimately shaped the final decision on the electoral process, but these were not part of the original Virginia Plan as presented by Randolph.