Which plan proposed a bicameral and powerful legislative structure based on population?

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Prepare for the UCF AMH2010 U.S. History Exam 2. Master key historic concepts with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Get exam-ready!

The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral and powerful legislative structure based on population, making it a pivotal proposal during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Authored by James Madison, the plan aimed to create a strong national government with an emphasis on representation that reflected the population size of each state. This meant that states with larger populations would have more representatives in the legislative process, thereby granting them greater influence in national governance.

The Virginia Plan's framework consisted of two houses: the lower house, elected by the people, and the upper house, chosen by the lower house from among the candidates nominated by state legislatures. This structure was designed to create a more immediate connection between the government and the citizens, as well as to ensure that the representation in Congress would align more closely with the demographic reality of the states.

In contrast, the New Jersey Plan sought to maintain the equal representation of states regardless of their population, proposing a unicameral legislature that would give each state one vote. The Connecticut Compromise ultimately merged elements from both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, establishing a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate granting equal representation to each state. The Hamilton Plan, while significant in its own right, primarily