Asked by whore

Jefferson's Response to Madison

I like the power given the Legislature to levy taxes, and for that reason solely I approve of the greater house being chosen by the people directly. For though I think a house so chosen . . . will be very illy [badly] qualified to legislate for the Union, for foreign nations, etc., yet this evil does not weigh against the good of preserving . . . the fundamental principle that the people are not to be taxed but by representatives chosen . . . by themselves.

–Thomas Jefferson,
letter to James Madison,
December 20, 1787

Which of the following summarizes Jefferson’s views of "the people” in this passage?

entirely incapable of legislating for the Union
not qualified to legislate on some matters, but entitled to key rights
undeserving of being taxed by their government
the best choice to create legislation for the Union on all matters

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
not qualified to legislate on some matters, but entitled to key rights

Jefferson says a house chosen directly by the people would be "very illy qualified" to legislate on national/foreign matters, but he still favors it to preserve the fundamental right that the people not be taxed except by representatives they choose.