U.S. Citizenship Civics TestColonial Period and IndependenceHard
At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, what significant challenge did delegates face regarding the legislative branch?
- ABalancing representation between large and small states.
- BDeciding on the number of Supreme Court justices.
- CEstablishing a fair method for presidential elections.
- DDetermining the process for amending the Constitution.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Balancing representation between large and small states.
A major conflict at the Constitutional Convention was how states would be represented in the new legislature. Large states favored proportional representation (Virginia Plan), while small states demanded equal representation (New Jersey Plan). This was eventually resolved by the Great Compromise, creating a bicameral legislature with both.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. The number of Supreme Court justices was left to Congress to determine, not a primary focus of the Convention's legislative debate.
- C. Presidential elections were debated (Electoral College), but the legislative representation was a more fundamental and contentious issue for the structure of government itself.
- D. The amendment process was discussed, but less contentious than the foundational structure of legislative representation.
Constitutional Convention Challenges
Key issues and disagreements faced by delegates during the 1787 Constitutional Convention.
- Representation in the legislature (Great Compromise).
- Slavery and its impact on representation (Three-fifths Compromise).
- Power of the federal government vs. states.
Memory trick: States' size, slavery's stain, and power's balance, all caused them pain.