What was a key feature of the Virginia Plan?

The Virginia Plan proposed a framework for the new government during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. A pivotal aspect of this plan was the idea of a bicameral legislature, in which representation would be based on the population of each state. This concept aimed to ensure that larger states had more influence in the legislative process, reflecting their larger populations.

This feature was significant because it contrasted sharply with the New Jersey Plan, which called for equal representation for each state regardless of size. By advocating for representation proportional to population, the Virginia Plan laid the groundwork for the eventual compromise that led to the current structure of Congress, where the House of Representatives is based on population while the Senate maintains equal representation for each state.

In this context, although the other options highlight important aspects of government structure, they do not capture the defining characteristic of the Virginia Plan as accurately as the focus on population-based representation.