Texas A&M University (TAMU) HIST105 History of the United States Exam 2 Practice

The Virginia Plan proposed a new framework for the government of the United States that included a bicameral legislature. Within this proposal, it was stipulated that members of the House of Representatives would be elected by the people, specifically through a popular vote. This approach was significant because it aimed to increase the power of the legislature by enabling direct representation of the citizens. The intention was to create a system where representatives were directly accountable to the electorate, which was a departure from previous models that often involved indirect elections or appointments through state legislatures.

The concept of electing representatives directly by popular vote underscored the Virginia Plan's emphasis on the importance of democratic principles and the need for representatives to reflect the will of the people. This was in alignment with the belief held by many at the time that governance should be more representative of the populace rather than chosen by elite or appointed leaders, marking a crucial evolution in political thought in the lead-up to the formation of the United States government.