What were the provisions of the compromise?
list a great compromise and electoral college
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a key agreement reached during the drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787. It aimed to resolve the disputes between small and large states regarding the structure and representation of the legislative branch. The provisions of the Great Compromise included:
1. Bicameral Legislature: The creation of a two-house legislative branch, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
2. Equal Representation in the Senate: Each state, regardless of size or population, would have an equal number of representatives in the Senate. This provision was favored by small states to ensure that their interests were not overshadowed by larger states.
3. Proportional Representation in the House: Representation in the House of Representatives would be determined based on the population of each state. Larger states would have more representatives to reflect their higher population.
Now, moving on to the Electoral College:
The Electoral College is the system used in the United States to elect the president and vice president. It was established by the framers of the Constitution in Article II, Section 1, and later modified by the 12th and 23rd Amendments. The provisions of the Electoral College include:
1. Presidential Electors: Each state is allocated a number of electors equal to the combined total of its senators and representatives in Congress. The District of Columbia is also given electors.
2. Winner-Takes-All: The majority of states follow the "winner-takes-all" principle, meaning that the candidate who receives the most popular votes in a state wins all of its electoral votes. This winner-takes-all approach has been a subject of debate and criticism over the years.
3. 270 Electoral Votes: To win the presidency, a candidate must secure an absolute majority of electoral votes, which currently stands at 270 out of the 538 total electoral votes. If no candidate reaches this majority, the House of Representatives holds a contingent election to determine the president.
It's essential to note that both the Great Compromise and the Electoral College were products of intense negotiations during the constitutional convention and were put in place to balance the interests of different states and ensure a fair and representative government.