Compromise

Overview

This Fact of Congress explains why the word compromise is an important congressional concept and discusses the Great Compromise.

Standards

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Key Terms

Compromise: In Congress, legislators compromise when they move beyond the argument phase and begin working on the solutions to the problems that come before them.

Great Compromise: A proposal presented by Connecticut delegates at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The Great Compromise established a bicameral Congress in which representation in one house would be determined by state population, and that the other would have equal repre­sentation from each state.

Legislators: Elected people who listen to citizens and represent them as they make new laws.

 

Discussion Questions

Check for Understanding

These questions are designed to assess students’ knowledge of concepts introduced in this Fact of Congress.

1. Describe the role of compromise in Congress.
2. What was the Great Compromise?

Extending Concepts

These questions are designed to extend students’ understanding of concepts introduced in this Fact of Congress.

1. Why is compromise needed in a large, diverse country like the United States?
2. Members of Congress are often accused of compromising too much and forgetting about the interests and concerns of their constituents. Why do you think people have this viewpoint? Do you agree or disagree with this criticism?

Suggested Activities

You may want to complete one or more of the activities below after your students have watched Fact of Congress: Compromise.

 

Grades 4 – 8

Compromise in Congress

Invite a representative from your district to visit the class and discuss the role of compromise in Congress. Ask the legislator to describe one occasion when he or she had to make a compromise.

 

New Jersey Plan vs. Virginia Plan

Discuss the conflict among small and large states during the Constitutional Convention. Make sure students know what the New Jersey and Virginia plans were. Ask students to draw two political cartoons that describe the ideas about representation in each of those plans.

 

Grades 9 – 12

The Role of Compromise

Tell students that the school would like to purchase a new vending machine for the school cafete­ria. As a class , they must decide whether to purchase a vending machine with snacks and candy or a vending machine with fruit and yogurt. Have students debate the issue and decide what to pur­chase. After the debate, discuss the compromises students made or could have made. Then talk about the important role of compromise in Congress.

 

The Great Compromise

Explain the conflict about representation that occurred during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Make sure students understand the difference between equal and proportional representa­tion. Tell students that they will pretend they are at the Constitutional Convention. Divide the class into two groups. Have one group represent a committee of delegates from small states; the other group should represent a committee of delegates from large states. Conduct a debate about how Congress should be organized.

 

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