Reasons for a Bicameral Congress

During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, a Bicameral Congress was formed. The British had a bicameral legislature which influenced the members of the Constituional Convention. The Virginia Plan was proposed to favor populous states, while the New Jersey plan was proposed to have equal representation. Therefore, the lower house, the House of Representatives, was to be selected according to the populations of the states while the upper house, the Senate, was to have two elected representatives from each state. The House was in interest of the people and the Senate was in interest of the states. A bicameral system encourages careful deliberation and compromise.