The Great Compromise

Core Concepts

The pivotal agreement that created the bicameral U.S. Congress, blending the Virginia and New Jersey plans.

The Great Compromise

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What is the common name for the agreement that resolved the dispute between large and small states over representation?

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise.

Which delegates were the main architects of the Great Compromise?

Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut.

What structure for the legislative branch did the Great Compromise establish?

A bicameral (two-house) Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Under the Great Compromise, how is representation in the House of Representatives determined?

Representation is proportional to each state's population. This satisfied the large states' demands.

Under the Great Compromise, how is representation in the Senate determined?

Each state has equal representation, with two senators per state. This satisfied the small states' demands.

To appease the large states concerned about financial matters, where must all bills for raising revenue originate?

All tax and appropriation bills must start in the House of Representatives.

How were Senators originally chosen according to the Constitution?

They were chosen by their respective state legislatures, not by direct popular vote. This was later changed by the \(17\)th Amendment.

The Great Compromise successfully balanced the power between which two groups?

It balanced the power between the more populous states and the less populous states.

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