Electoral Vote in 1792: At the Constitutional Convention, why did Virginia favor a plan by which states with larger populations would have more voting power in Congress than states with smaller populations?
Virginia, and others, felt that individual citizens should be represented in Congress, regardless of their state.
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In order to understand why Virginia favored a plan that gave states with larger populations more voting power in Congress, we need to delve into the history and discussions that took place during the Constitutional Convention.
The principle behind giving more voting power to states with larger populations is known as "proportional representation." Proportional representation is based on the belief that the number of representatives a state sends to Congress should be determined by its population size. This principle aligns with the concept of democracy, where the power is distributed among citizens in proportion to their numbers.
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the delegates were tasked with crafting a new framework for the government of the United States. One of the key debates that emerged was how to structure the legislative branch, particularly the composition of Congress. Two competing plans were put forth: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
The Virginia Plan, proposed by Virginia delegate James Madison, aimed to create a bicameral legislature with representation based on population size. Madison and his fellow Virginians advocated for this plan because of Virginia's larger population compared to many other states at the time. They saw proportional representation as a way to ensure that states with bigger populations have a corresponding level of influence within the federal government.
On the other hand, the New Jersey Plan, proposed by New Jersey delegate William Paterson, called for equal representation among all states, granting each state an equal number of votes in Congress. This plan was supported by smaller states like New Jersey, who feared being overshadowed by larger states and losing their voice in the national government.
The issue of representation became a major point of contention during the Convention, as it sparked debates between the larger and smaller states. Eventually, a compromise known as the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise was reached. It established a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on proportional representation and the Senate granting equal representation to each state.
So, in summary, Virginia favored the plan of giving more voting power to states with larger populations because they believed it was a fair and democratic approach. This position stemmed from Virginia's desire to protect its own interests and secure a larger influence in the newly formed federal government. Ultimately, the compromise reached at the Convention balanced the concerns of both larger and smaller states, leading to the system of representation we have today.