American Politics and the US
Constitution - C963
New Jersey Plan Ans- advocated for equal representation in the national legislature regardless of the
size of a state's population in order to ensure that smaller states still had a voice in the government.
The Virginia Plan provided for greater representation, but only for some states, while the New Jersey
Plan provided for equal representation for all states. Ans- During the Constitutional Convention, how did
the Virginia Plan differ from the New Jersey Plan?
unicameral legislature Ans- with one chamber, in which each state would have one vote. Thus, smaller
states would have the same power in the national legislature as larger states. However, the larger states
argued that because they had more residents, they should be allotted more legislators to represent their
interests.
Virginia Plan Ans- Proposal to create a strong national government
New Jersey Plan Ans- The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation
of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
What best describes the ideas and beliefs of federal and state sovereignty in the Virginia Plan? Ans- The
Virginia Plan not only sought to give more representation to populous states, it also advocated for a
national government that would legislate for the states. Supporters of the Virginia Plan believed that a
strong national government was vital to the success of the United States.
The motivation for those who introduced and promoted the Virginia Plan was: Ans- To shift more power
to the national government
In proposing the New Jersey Plan, its proponents were interested in what? Ans- Maintaining the
structure of the Articles of Confederation and basing representation on the states
Resting at the heart of the debate over the Virginia and New Jersey plans was: Ans- A disagreement over
the national government being representative of the people or of the states.
, Which of the following accurately describes the outcome of the Great Compromise? Ans- The Great
Compromise created a bicameral legislature.
The Great Compromise sought to balance: Ans- The ideological differences over representation of the
people or of the states.
How do checks and balances keep the branches of government from abusing its power? Ans- Checks and
balances allow each branch of government the ability to restrict other branches of government.
Checks and balances require the different branches of government to work together.
How was slavery involved in the Constitutional Convention? Ans- Representatives from the North were
adamant that slaves not be counted towards a state's population while Southerners insisted that they
be counted.
What are specific powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution? Ans- Congress was given the
power to collect taxes, regulate trade and commerce, and declare war.
To reinforce the representational differences in the national bicameral legislature, the Great
Compromise required that: Ans- Members of the House of Representatives be selected by the voters,
and members of the Senate be selected by the state legislatures.
The most important structural outcome of the Great Compromise was: Ans- The creation of a bicameral
national legislature, with each chamber representing a different type of political actor.
Supremacy Clause Ans- Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and
treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Legislative Branch Ans- the branch of government that makes the laws
Judicial Branch Ans- Branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly.
Constitution - C963
New Jersey Plan Ans- advocated for equal representation in the national legislature regardless of the
size of a state's population in order to ensure that smaller states still had a voice in the government.
The Virginia Plan provided for greater representation, but only for some states, while the New Jersey
Plan provided for equal representation for all states. Ans- During the Constitutional Convention, how did
the Virginia Plan differ from the New Jersey Plan?
unicameral legislature Ans- with one chamber, in which each state would have one vote. Thus, smaller
states would have the same power in the national legislature as larger states. However, the larger states
argued that because they had more residents, they should be allotted more legislators to represent their
interests.
Virginia Plan Ans- Proposal to create a strong national government
New Jersey Plan Ans- The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation
of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
What best describes the ideas and beliefs of federal and state sovereignty in the Virginia Plan? Ans- The
Virginia Plan not only sought to give more representation to populous states, it also advocated for a
national government that would legislate for the states. Supporters of the Virginia Plan believed that a
strong national government was vital to the success of the United States.
The motivation for those who introduced and promoted the Virginia Plan was: Ans- To shift more power
to the national government
In proposing the New Jersey Plan, its proponents were interested in what? Ans- Maintaining the
structure of the Articles of Confederation and basing representation on the states
Resting at the heart of the debate over the Virginia and New Jersey plans was: Ans- A disagreement over
the national government being representative of the people or of the states.
, Which of the following accurately describes the outcome of the Great Compromise? Ans- The Great
Compromise created a bicameral legislature.
The Great Compromise sought to balance: Ans- The ideological differences over representation of the
people or of the states.
How do checks and balances keep the branches of government from abusing its power? Ans- Checks and
balances allow each branch of government the ability to restrict other branches of government.
Checks and balances require the different branches of government to work together.
How was slavery involved in the Constitutional Convention? Ans- Representatives from the North were
adamant that slaves not be counted towards a state's population while Southerners insisted that they
be counted.
What are specific powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution? Ans- Congress was given the
power to collect taxes, regulate trade and commerce, and declare war.
To reinforce the representational differences in the national bicameral legislature, the Great
Compromise required that: Ans- Members of the House of Representatives be selected by the voters,
and members of the Senate be selected by the state legislatures.
The most important structural outcome of the Great Compromise was: Ans- The creation of a bicameral
national legislature, with each chamber representing a different type of political actor.
Supremacy Clause Ans- Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and
treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Legislative Branch Ans- the branch of government that makes the laws
Judicial Branch Ans- Branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly.
