The New Jersey Plan, a significant proposal during the 1787 Constitutional Convention, advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population size. This contrasted sharply with the Virginia Plan, which favored representation based on population. The proposal aimed to preserve the power of smaller states by ensuring they would not be overshadowed by more populous ones in the newly formed government. It included provisions for a plural executive and a national judiciary with limited powers.
Its importance lies in its role as a counterpoint to the Virginia Plan, forcing a compromise that ultimately shaped the structure of the U.S. Congress. The concerns of smaller states regarding potential marginalization were addressed by incorporating elements of this proposal into the Great Compromise (also known as the Connecticut Compromise). This compromise established a bicameral legislature with the Senate providing equal representation for each state and the House of Representatives providing representation based on population. This resolved a critical deadlock and paved the way for the ratification of the Constitution. Without its introduction, the Constitutional Convention might have failed to produce a unified framework for the new nation.
