ap p e ndix a
Virginia Plan
1. Resolved, that the Articles of Confederation ought to be so corrected
and enlarged as to accomplish the objects proposed by their institution,
namely common Defence, Security of Liberty and general welfare.
2. Resolved therefore, that the rights of Suffrage in the National Legislature ought to be proportioned to the Quotas of contribution, or to the
number of free inhabitants, as the one or the other rule may seem best in
different cases.
3. Resolved, that the National Legislature ought to consist of two
branches.
4. Resolved, that the Members of the first Branch of the National Legislature ought to be elected by the people of the several States every
for the term of
years, to be of the age of at least
, to receive
liberal stipends, by which they may be compensated for the devotion of
their time to public service—to be ineligible to any office established by
a particular State, or under the authority of the United States, (except
those peculiarly belonging to the functions of the first Branch) during the
term of service, and for the space
after its expiration; to be incapable of re-election for the space of
after the expiration of their
term of service, and to be subject to recall.
5. Resolved, that the members of the second branch of the National
Legislature ought to be elected by those of the first, out of a proper number of persons nominated by the individual Legislatures, to be of the age
of
years at least; to hold their offices for a term sufficient to ensure
their independency; to receive liberal Stipends by which they may be
compensated for the devotion of their time to the public service; and to
be in-eligible to any office established by a particular State, or under the
authority of the United States (except those peculiarly belonging to the
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