Answer :
Final answer:
James Madison developed the Virginia Plan which outlined a bicameral legislature, a strong national government, and an independent executive and judiciary, providing a key foundation for the U.S. Constitution.
Explanation:
James Madison developed the Virginia Plan, which laid the groundwork for the United States Constitution. This plan featured a bicameral legislative branch, a concept that was vital to the formation of the current structure of the U.S. government. The lower house would be elected by the people, and the upper house would be elected by the lower house, with both being based on state populations. Furthermore, an independent executive and judiciary were also integral parts of the Virginia Plan, both absent in the earlier Articles of Confederation.
Edmund Randolph presented the Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention, proposing the establishment of a strong national government. It suggested that the two branches of the national legislature (Congress) would select the President and the judiciary, which would give more populous states greater political influence. This plan was countered by the New Jersey Plan, which favored equal representation for all states regardless of size.
