What type of government structure was proposed by the Virginia Plan?

The Virginia Plan proposed a federal system of government, which is characterized by a strong national government that shares power with state governments. This plan was drafted during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and aimed to create a more centralized government structure compared to the Articles of Confederation, which had created a loose confederation of states with limited powers for the national government.

The key features of the Virginia Plan included the establishment of a national legislature with two houses, proportional representation based on state population, and the creation of a national executive and judiciary. This structure was designed to allow for a more effective and cohesive governing body that could address issues that affected the nation as a whole, rather than leaving most powers to the states.

In contrast, the other options represent different forms of governance that do not align with the fundamental ideas of the Virginia Plan. A confederation focuses on a union of sovereign states with a weak central authority; a unitary system centralizes power in a single national government, allowing local governments to exercise only powers granted to them by the central authority; and participatory democracy emphasizes broad participation and direct involvement of citizens in political decision-making. The Virginia Plan’s emphasis on a strong central authority that could effectively legislate and govern aligns precisely with the federal