The Creation of U.S. Constitution

            During the creation of our constitution, the founders faced many dilemmas and controversies. The biggest one was how strong and how much power the executive branch of the government should be. The founders did not want to end up in a monarchy again but yet the executive could not be completely powerless. Several plans were constructed and these plans were debated throughout the convention. The combining of these plans is why the constitution is called the great compromise.

             The first idea was known as the Virginia Plan. The Virginia Plan had the notion of a strong national government. This plan consisted of a system of three branches. The executive branch would fulfill and enforce the laws. The legislative branch would be bicameral and create the laws. The third branch was the judicial which was to be composed of supreme and lower courts and interpret the laws. In this type of government the people would also elect one house of the legislature, the other house's members were to be chosen by the chamber. Also the power to veto and have a veto override were derived in this plan.

             The other plan being debated was the New Jersey Plan. A strong national government was not incorporated into this plan. This plan had a unicameral legislature with a weak executive. A national court was not set up in this policy. The plan instead of giving the numbers of seats in the house by population or size had a set number for each state. These plans did not come about without having opposition to them. .

             The United States Constitution was reached and used the Virginia Plan as its basic format. The new government was to have a bicameral legislature. In the House of Representatives, the number of seats per state was to be decided on population. In the Senate, each state would have two seats regardless of size. A national judiciary system was also included. The Constitution combined the best of each plan into one document.

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