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.

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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.

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Virginia Plan (Amended)

Shown with amendment 'Hamilton's Amendment For Representation Based on Number of Free Inhabitants' (e675207)

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

3. Resolved that a national Government ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive & Judiciary.

2. Resolved therefore that the rights of suffrage in the National Legislature ought to be proportioned to the Quotas of contribution, or to the number of free inhabitants, as the one or the other rule may seem best in different cases.

3. Resolved that the national Legislature ought to consist of two branches.

4. Resolved that the members of the first branch of the national legislature ought to be elected by the people of the several States.

6. Resolved that each branch ought to possess the right of originating Acts; that the National Legislature ought to be empowered to enjoy the Legislative Rights vested in Congress by the Confederation & moreover to legislate in all cases to which the separate States are incompetent, 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 Union or any treaties subsisting under the authority of the Union.

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