U.S. Constitutional Convention 1787 (2021 Edition)

Grand Convention at Philadelphia, May to September, 1787, Quill Project 2021 Edition.

Committee of the Whole House

Committee consisting of all delegates to the Convention.

The Committee Secretary's View The Committee Secretary's View

To see the full record of a committee, click on the corresponding committee on the map below.

Document introduced in:

Session 6288: 1787-05-30 10:00:00

Committee convened, first two resolutions of Virginia Plan considered. The form of a national government and how to determine representation debated.

Document View (with components):

Virginia Plan (Amended)

Shown with amendment 'Thirteenth Resolution - Second Clause (Without Consent of National Legislature)' (e675476)

(Showing state at moment e675495)
There are 21 proposed amendments related to this document on which decisions have not been taken.

[Virginia Plan as Amended by Committee of the Whole House] [+e675190]

[+e675190]

3. Resolved that a national Government ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive & Judiciary.[+e675190] [+e675203]

[+e675203]

2. Resolved [+e675203]therefore [+e675203 -e675447]that the right[+e675203]s[+e675203 -e675447] of suffrage in the [+e675203]first branch of the n[+e675447]N[+e675203 -e675447]ational Legislature ought [+e675203]not [+e675447]to be [+e675203]according[+e675447]proportioned[+e675203 -e675447] to the [+e675203]rule es[+e675447]Quo[+e675203 -e675447]ta[+e675203]bli[+e675447]s[+e675203]hed[+e675447] [+e675203]of contr[+e675203 -e675447]i[+e675203]butio[+e675203 -e675447]n[+e675203], or to[+e675203 -e675447] the [+e675203]articles[+e675447]number[+e675203 -e675447] of [+e675203]confederation; bu[+e675447], in proportion to the whole number of white and other free Citizens and inhabitants of every age, sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and three fifths of all other persons not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians, not paying taxes in each State[+e675454]t acc[+e675447]Resolved that the right of suffrage in the second branch of the national Legislature ought to be according to the rule established for the first. [+e675460]

[+e675460]

free inhabitants, as the one [+e675203 -e675447]or[+e675203]ding[+e675447] t[+e675203]o some equitable ratio of rep[+e675447]he other rule may seem best in diffe[+e675203 -e675447]re[+e675203]se[+e675447]nt[+e675203]ation[+e675447] cases[+e675203 -e675447].[+e675203] [+e675221]

[+e675221]

3. Resolved that the national Legislature ought to consist of two branches.[+e675221] [+e675224]

[+e675224]

4. [+e675224]Resolved that the members of the first branch of the national legislature ought to be elected by the people of the several States.[+e675225] [+e675240]

[+e675240]

6. [+e675240]Resolved that each branch ought to possess the right of originating Acts[+e675241]; that the National Legislature ought to be empowered to enjoy the Legislative Rights vested in Congress by the Confederation[+e675243] & moreover to legislate in all cases to which the separate States are incompetent[+e675245], or in which the harmony of the United States may be interrupted by the exercise of individual Legislation; to negative all laws passed by the several States, contravening in the opinion of the National Legislature the articles of [+e675249]Union or any treaties subsisting under the authority of the [+e675250]Union[+e675249].[+e675241] [+e675263]

[+e675263]

7. [+e675263]Resolved that a national executive be instituted[+e675264] to consist of [+e675271]a single person[+e675325]___[+e675271 -e675325],[+e675274] to be chosen by the national legislature[+e675288] for the term of seven years[+e675302],[+e675288] with power to carry into execution the national laws, to appoint to offices in cases not otherwise provided for[+e675274];[+e675279] to be ineligible a second time;[+e675314] and to be removable on impeachment and conviction of malpractice or neglect of du[+e675316] [+e675331]

[+e675331]

8. Resolved that the national Executive shall have a right to negative any legislative act, which shall not be afterwards passed unless by [+e675331]two third[+e675340]____[+e675331 -e675340] parts of each branch of the national legislat[+e675331] [+e675347]

[+e675347]

9. [+e675347]Resolved that a national judiciary be established[+e675348] to consist of One supreme tribunal[+e675350],[+e675359],[+e675350 -e675355] and of one or more infer[+e675350 -e741873] [+e675357 -e741873]to be appointed by [+e675357]___[+e675359], to hold their offices during good behaviour; and to receive punctually at stated times fixed compensation for their services, in which no increase or diminution shall be made so as to affect the persons actually in office at the time of su[+e675364] That the National Legislature be empowered to institute inferior tribunals.[+e741881]ch increase or diminution[+e675364]t[+e675357 -e675359] [+e675369]

[+e675369]

10. Resolved that provision ought to be made for the admission of States lawfully arising within the limits of the United States, whether from a voluntary junction o[+e675369]r[+e675468]f[+e675369 -e675468] Governmen[+e675369]constitution, and it’s[+e675468]t & Territory or otherwise, with the cons[+e675369 -e675468]ent[+e675369] of a[+e675369 -e675468] [+e675369]number o[+e675369 -e675468]f [+e675369]ing laws[+e675468]voices in the National legisl[+e675369 -e675468]or partition [+e675463 -e675468]ature less than the whole.[+e675369 -e675468] [+e675371]

[+e675371]

11. Resolved that a [+e675371]to each State [+e675468]Republi[+e675371]United[+e675468]can Governm[+e675371 -e675468]ional government[+e675466 -e675468]en[+e675371 -e675466]t & [+e675371]s[+e675468]the territory of each State, except in the instance of a voluntary junction of Government & territory, ought to be guaranteed by the United States to each State.[+e675371] [+e675374]

[+e675374]

12. Resolved that provision ought to be made for the continuance of a Congress and their authorities and privileges, until a given day, after the reform of the articles of union shall be adopted, and for the completion of all their engagements.[+e675374] [+e675379]

[+e675379]

14. Resolved that the Legislative Executive & Judiciary powers within the several States ought to be bound by oath to support the articles of Union.[+e675379] [+e675381]

[+e675381]

15. Resolved that the amen[+e675381] [+e675473]

[+e675473]

13. [+e675473]Resolved that provision ought to be made for the amendment of the Articles of Union whensoever it shall seem necessary[+e675474], and that the assent of the National Legislature ought not to be required thereto.[+e675476]dments which shall be offered to the Confederation, by the Convention ought at a proper time, or times, after the approbation of Congress to be submitted to an assembly or assemblies of Representatives, recommended by the several Legislatures to be expressly chosen by the people, to consider & decide thereon.[+e675381]he National Legislature[+e675357 -e675359]ior tribunals[+e675350].[+e675348]ure.[+e675331]ty.[+e675316] for the term of [+e675279 -e675302]seven years[+e675281 -e675302]_[+e675279 -e675302]__[+e675279 -e675281]; and to execute such powers, not legislative or judiciary in their nature, as may from time to time be delegated by the national legislature[+e675274 -e675275].[+e675264]

Decisions yet to be taken

Document Timeline

Other Actions