The New Jersey Plan. Alexander Hamilton Makes his Speech. June 15-19. Summary and Analysis

On Friday, June 15, Paterson presents the New Jersey plan for a federal government. He claims that the Convention has been called simply to consider revisions to the current federal government, and has overstepped its authority by proposing a national government.

Supporters of the federal plan distrust strong central government. The New Jersey plan differs from the Virginia plan in some key ways. Instead of two houses in the legislature, the New Jersey plan calls for one. The Virginia plan has one executive, the New Jersey plan more than one. The New Jersey plan limits the matters on which the federal legislature can make laws. The Virginia plan as it stands allows the Congress to veto state laws. The New Jersey plan...