taxation without representation

The phrase "taxation without representation" refers to the situation where a population is required to pay taxes to a government without having any say or representation in that government's legislative body that imposes the taxes. It originated as a political slogan used by American colonists in the 1760s who objected to British taxes, such as the Stamp Act of 1765, imposed on them without their consent or representation in the British Parliament. The slogan expressed the belief that only their own elected legislatures had the authority to tax them, and any taxation imposed without such representation was considered tyrannical. This principle was a major grievance that contributed to the American Revolutionary War and the eventual independence of the United States. In modern contexts, the phrase is also used to highlight tax situations where people pay taxes but lack voting rights or representation, such as residents of Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, certain non-citizens, and others who pay federal taxes but cannot vote in federal elections. In summary, "taxation without representation" historically symbolizes the injustice of being taxed by a government without having a voice in its decision-making processes through elected representatives.