James Madison's Virginia Plan called for three branches of government. The delegates agreed to build this into the Constitutio n. Identify the three branche s, and write a brief summary of the role each branch plays in government.

The three branches of government are the legislative, the executive and the judicial branch. Legislative makes the laws, executive branch executes or carries out the laws made by the legislative and the judicial branch interprets the laws.

When James Madison and the other 56 delegates to the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in May 1787, they intended to amend the Articles of Confederation. They ended up creating a new constitution, and Madison, representing Virginia, became the chief recorder of information (he took a lot of notes).