Which of the following was a feature of the Virginia Plan?

The Virginia Plan was a proposal for the structure of the U.S. government presented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It emphasized a strong national government with distinct branches that would prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, embodying the principle of separation of powers. This principle divides the government into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial, each with its own functions and responsibilities.

The separation of powers is fundamental to the functioning of the government as it creates a system of checks and balances, ensuring that powers are not concentrated in any single entity. The Virginia Plan specifically called for a bicameral legislature, where representation would be based on population, underpinning the need for a legislative branch that operates independently of the executive and judiciary.

The other features mentioned, such as cohesive national identity, judicial review, and vertical separation of powers, are either broader concepts or developments that emerged later in the evolution of U.S. governmental structure. Judicial review, for instance, was established in the early 19th century with the case of Marbury v. Madison and is not a feature of the Virginia Plan.