Changes

On 29 May when [[Edmund Randolph]] proposed to replace the current government with a totally new structure. Randolph's ''Virginia Plan'' favored large states (Virginia had the largest population at the time) and increased the power of the central government. In mid June, the smaller states responded with the ''New Jersey Plan,'' introduced by William Patterson. The convention debated the New Jersey option until 19 June, when it was voted down. Therefore the Virginia Plan, much expanded and elaborated upon in the course of four-and-a-half months, formed the basis of the Constitution.

On 29 May when [[Edmund Randolph]] proposed to replace the current government with a totally new structure. Randolph's ''Virginia Plan'' favored large states (Virginia had the largest population at the time) and increased the power of the central government. In mid June, the smaller states responded with the ''New Jersey Plan,'' introduced by William Patterson. The convention debated the New Jersey option until 19 June, when it was voted down. Therefore the Virginia Plan, much expanded and elaborated upon in the course of four-and-a-half months, formed the basis of the Constitution.

Madison is given the major credit for shaping the key provisions, but as Robertson (2005) shows, he had to compromise. Madison wanted broad national authority independent of state governments and population-based congressional representation. Delegates from smaller states opposed had other goals: to nationalize only selective public goods, to maintain most state policy autonomy, and to minimize contingencies imposed by other governments. Connecticut's delegates, particularly Roger Sherman, played a pivotal role in revising Madison's agenda. Madison's convention opponents are responsible for a Constitution that nationalized only enumerated public goods and imposed potentially high transaction costs on any further nationalization of policy authority. They helped make federalism a lasting political weapon used to win substantive policy outcomes, says Robertson.

Madison, more liberal than most of the delegates, is given the major credit for shaping the key provisions, but most of his proposals were actually defeated.<ref>See Robertson (2005).</ref> Madison wanted broad national authority independent of state governments and population-based congressional representation. Delegates from smaller states opposed had other goals: to nationalize only selective public goods, to maintain most state policy autonomy, and to minimize contingencies imposed by other governments. Connecticut's delegates, particularly Roger Sherman, played a pivotal role in revising Madison's agenda. Madison's convention opponents are responsible for a Constitution that nationalized only enumerated public goods and imposed potentially high transaction costs on any further nationalization of policy authority. They helped make federalism a lasting political weapon used to win substantive policy outcomes, says Robertson.

 

==Conflicts==

==Conflicts==