The concept in question pertains to a system where a representative is not directly elected by a specific constituency but is considered to represent all members of a nation or empire, regardless of whether those individuals have the ability to vote for that representative. For example, British Parliament claimed to represent all British subjects, including those residing in the American colonies, even though colonists did not elect members of Parliament.
This idea was central to the tensions leading up to the American Revolution. The British government maintained that the colonists were adequately represented in Parliament, despite lacking actual elected representation. Colonists, however, argued that “no taxation without representation” was a fundamental right, insisting that they should not be subjected to laws and taxes imposed by a body in which they had no direct voice. The perceived inadequacy of this system fueled colonial discontent and ultimately contributed to the drive for independence.
