The agreement that created the bicameral (two-house) congress in the United States was called the Great Compromise. This historic agreement was reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, after much debate and disagreement between delegates from the larger and smaller states.
At the heart of the issue was representation. The larger states wanted representation based on population, while the smaller states advocated for equal representation. Under the Articles of Confederation, the predecessor to the Constitution, each state had only one vote in Congress regardless of size. This was unacceptable to the larger states, which felt their interests were not adequately represented.
The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut. It proposed a two-house legislature, with one house, the House of Representatives, being based on population and the other, the Senate, being composed of two representatives from each state.
This compromise satisfied both the larger and smaller states and was ultimately adopted into the U.S. Constitution. The House of Representatives now has 435 members, with each state being represented based on population, while the Senate has 100 members, with each state being represented by two senators.
The bicameral system has proven to be an effective way to balance the interests of both larger and smaller states, allowing for fair representation in Congress. It has also allowed for a system of checks and balances between the two houses, ensuring that no one branch has too much power.
In conclusion, the Great Compromise was a major breakthrough in U.S. history that established the foundation for the modern-day bicameral Congress. It is a testament to the importance of compromise and the ability of our founding fathers to come together to form a more perfect union.