what was the virginia plan

The Virginia Plan was a proposal presented at the United States Constitutional Convention in 1787. It outlined the creation of a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The plan called for a bicameral legislature with proportional representation based on population, favoring the interests of states with large populations. It was drafted by James Madison and presented by Edmund Randolph, and played a significant role in setting the agenda for debate at the Convention. The Virginia Plan ultimately contributed to the development of the U.S. Constitution, as it traced the broad outlines of the government structure and the system of checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power.