Which type of legislative structure did the Virginia Plan propose?

The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature, which is a legislative body composed of two separate chambers or houses. This structure was designed to create a more effective system of governance by allowing for a more comprehensive and deliberative law-making process.

The Virginia Plan was introduced at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and advocated for proportional representation in both chambers based on the population of each state. This meant that states with larger populations would have more representatives, thereby giving them greater influence in the legislative process. This proposal was a significant departure from the earlier Articles of Confederation, which featured a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of size.

Additionally, the bicameral structure proposed by the Virginia Plan helped address the needs for checks and balances within the legislative process, as having two chambers would require that legislation be passed through different levels of scrutiny and debate. This idea was foundational in shaping the legislative framework of the United States Constitution, where the current structure consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In contrast, a unicameral legislature, a federal legislature, or a parliamentary system would not align with the proposal outlined in the Virginia Plan.