Compromise in the Creating of the

Constitution

Problems at Convention

• No obvious agreement on– Power of Congress vs. Executive– Representation of States– Counting of Slaves in taxes and

representation

The New Jersey Plan - William Patterson

Branches

Three - legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislature appoints people to serve in the executive branch, and the executive branch selects the justices of the Supreme Court.

Legislature

One house (unicameral). States would be represented equally, so all states had the same power. (If 7 smallest states voted together, could give them power even though they had only 25% of the population

OtherPowers

The national government could levy taxes and import duties, regulate trade, and state laws would be subordinate to laws passed by the national legislature.

The Virginia Plan – Written by James Madison

Branches

Three - legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislature was more powerful, as it chose people to serve in the executive and judicial branches.

Legislature

Two houses (bicameral). The House of Representatives was elected by the people and the Senate was elected by the state legislatures. Both were represented proportionally.

Other Powers

The legislature could regulate interstate trade, strike down laws deemed unconstitutional and use armed forces to enforce laws.

Central Government

A very strong central government, but used as a Federal System, where it shared power with states

The Great Compromise – by Roger Sherman

BranchesThree - legislative, executive, and judicial. All

share power equally so that there was a balance of power.

Legislature

Two houses (bicameral). The House of Representatives was elected by the people and was proportionate based on population and the Senate was elected by the state legislatures where all states had equal representation.

Satisfied All

1) Satisfied those who preferred gov. by the people because it allowed voters to participate directly in choosing representatives

2) Satisfied those who defended states’ rights because it preserved the power of the state legislatures

The Three Fifths Compromise

• Conflict over whether to count slaves in the senate

• Plan was proposed by James Madison, all approved this compromise except RI and NH

• Proposal is to make an agreement to count 3/5 of a state's slaves in apportioning Representatives, Presidential electors, and direct taxes. That way, non-slave states will not have to worry about not having as many in their population, while slave states will not have to worry about paying full taxes on each slave.

• In addition, because Southern states were weary that Congress would interfere with the slave trade, an agreement was also made that Congress could not interfere with the Slave trade for “20 years”

• James Madison, not happy with last aspect about this because I think it will hurt our nation in 20 years.