Question #12d7d
1 Answer
Equal Representation
Explanation:
The Virginia Plan was developed to elect members to a body of Government based on a states population. This was opposed by smaller states, like New Jersey, because then larger states, like Virginia, would have all of the power and they would be able to pass laws in their favor. So a compromise was developed that there would be one chamber with elected officials based on population of a state. There then would be another chamber where there would be equal representation no matter the population of a state.
Today this is known as the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Reps. is based on population. California has 53 representatives, and their districts all have about the same number of people. While less-densely populated states like Wyoming only have 1 representative. They are called "at-large" representatives.
The Senate is where each state, today, has 2 members. In that way no state has more authority over the other. So New York has the same power in the senate as Rhode Island. Texas has the same power as South Dakota. This creates a balance of power so that certain more-populous states don't have reigning authority over smaller states, at least in the Senate.
