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Watch Benjamin Franklin share his ideas for the U.S. Constitution, helping both the larger and smaller states

Watch Benjamin Franklin share his ideas for the U.S. Constitution, helping both the larger and smaller states

Find out how Benjamin Franklin's ideas helped make sure that both small and large states can have their views represented in Congress.
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Franklin, Tollefson vie for 88th Assembly District seat | Election 2026 • Oct. 16, 2026, 4:59 PM ET (The Colorado Springs Gazette)

Transcript

FRANKLIN: Let me tell you about a problem that arose there and you tell me how you'd solve it. The smaller states demanded that each state regardless of their size should have a equal vote. The larger states insisted that they should have more votes because of their population. All right, now, what's your solution?

GEORGE: I don't know . . .

FRANKLIN: Well, mine was a practical one. I suggested that the House of Representatives--the representation should be based on the population. That pleased the larger states. While in the Senate--each state should have a equal voice. And that pleased the smaller states.