The Constitutional Convention deadlocked until it could compromise on which issue in Congress?

• A. State representation in Congress
• B. Presidential term lengths
• C. Judicial appointment procedures
• D. Tax policy structure

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how states would be represented in the new Congress. At the convention, delegates from large states wanted representation based on population, while smaller states pushed for equal representation for each state. That clash could stall the whole plan because it touched the basic structure of the legislative branch.

The solution came with the Great Compromise: Congress would have two houses. In the House, representation would be proportional to each state's population, giving larger states more seats. In the Senate, each state would have two members, ensuring each state had an equal voice. This arrangement balanced the competing interests and unlocked agreement, shaping the two-house structure we still have today.

The other topics mentioned—how presidents are elected, how judges are chosen, or how taxes are raised—were not the central sticking points in this particular debate about Congress’s design, so the decisive compromise focused on representation.