Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans presented at Essay - 3

Compare and contrast the Virginia and New Jersey plans presented at the Constitutional Convention - Essay Example The Virginia plan indicates that the first branch of legislature was to be elected people of several states and was to serve for a term of three years. They were also to receive fixed stipends from the national treasury and were ineligible to hold any other office in the particular states. The second branch was to be chosen by individual legislatures for a term of seven years and to receive fixed stipends from national treasury and also could not hold any other office. The New Jersey plan only talks of the Congress and does not make any particular references to the two branches. The Virginia plan mentions two branches of National Legislature whereby the votes by states in the Congress of the second branch were to follow the rules established by the first branch. However, both plans indicate that votes by states in the Congress were not to be in accordance with the rules entailed in the articles of confederation but in proportion to the whole number of whites and other free citizens and inhabitants of every age sex and condition, including those bound by servitude and three fifths of all other persons except Indians who do not pay taxes (in each state for Virginia plan). The Virginia plan also indicates voting was to be according to some equitable ratio of representation. The powers stipulated in the two plans do differ greatly. The New Jersey does give more powers to the Congress. The power of Congress as per Virginia plan is to originate Acts, all congressional powers constituted in the articles of confederation, and legislation in all cases to ensure harmony of U.S and also to appoint inferior tribunals. While Virginia restricted the senate from originating money bills, the New Jersey plan in addition to powers of Congress stated in the articles of confederation does give Congress the power to pass acts for raising revenue. They also pass acts to regulate trade and commerce between states and foreign nations. The penalties in this case are to be