How does the structure of the plan emphasize key ideas?
The Virginia plan had 15 Resolutions, each resolution pointed something that needed to be changed/or improved:
Resolution 1: The articles of the confederation ought to be corrected and enlarged
Resolution 2: The right vote in the national legislature, ought to be proportioned to the share of contribution, or to the number of free inhabitants
Resolution 3: The national legislature ought to consist of two branches (bicameral)
Resolution 4: The people of each State should elect the First Branch of the National Legislature.
Resolution 5: The Second Branch of the National Legislature should be elected by the first
Resolution 6: The national legislature shall have power "to legislate in all cases to which the separate States are incompetent" and to void any state laws that contravene the [Constitution]
Resolution 7: The National Legislature shall elect a National Executive with the authority to execute the national laws and taxes
Resolution 8: A Council of Revision should be formed by the Executive and members of the judiciary with the authority to examine, and reject, every act of the national legislature
Resolution 9: A national judiciary should be established consisting of one or more supreme tribunals and inferior tribunals. Judges will be appointed for life
Resolution 10: Provision should be made for the admission of States to the union
Resolution 11: The territory and government of each state ought to be guaranteed by the United States
Resolution 12: Provision should be made for Congress to continue until the new articles of the union are adopted
Resolution 13: Provision should be made for amendments of the articles of union
Resolution 14: State Legislatures, Executives, and the judiciary should be bound by oath to support the Articles of Union
Resolution 15: The new plan for the government should be ratified (approved) by the people, through assemblies of representatives chosen by the people
How does word choice and voice affect the document?
The word choice of the Virginia Plan was important, first because they used some words like “ought” so they could compare to the previous documents and have a better solution and also the word “ought” sounded like the Plan needed to be achieved for the sake of the Country. The whole plan sounds like a necessity to solve a problem.
What is the purpose of the document, and do you think it successfully achieves this purpose?
The purpose of the Virginia Plan was to create a bicameral legislative branch and the creation of three branches - legislative, executive and judicial - The bicameral solution for the legislative branch was created because there was a big problem with the number of representatives, it would either be in favor of bigger states or small states. The Plan achieved this purpose successfully by creating a bicameral legislative branch. This system was adopted by several federations around the world as it is a great way to balance representation.
