Simone Lawson
Thomas Jefferson believed that the US Constitution should be revised every 19 or 20 years. He argued that a generation was 20 years, and each new generation should have the opportunity to review and change laws that no longer work for them. Jefferson's views were in response to a letter from Samuel Kercheval, who sought his opinion on revising the Virginia state constitution. While Jefferson's idea of a sunset clause was not implemented, it sparked a debate about the adaptability of the Constitution to changing times and the importance of each generation having a say in their governance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Person | Thomas Jefferson |
| Reason | Jefferson believed that a generation was 20 years and that each generation should have the opportunity to review and change laws that no longer work for them. |
| Jefferson's Quote | "Every constitution, then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force, and not of right." |
| Jefferson's Political Vision | Jefferson's idea was to illustrate that the government should change as new discoveries are made. |
| Counterargument | James Madison argued that setting a "time limit" on each constitution would cause the government to change for transient causes. |
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What You'll Learn
- Thomas Jefferson believed that a constitution should be revised every 19 years
- Jefferson's reasoning was that a generation is 20 years, and each generation should be able to review how laws affect them
- Jefferson's idea was that a constitution should not be enforced beyond 19 years, as it would be an act of force
- Jefferson's vision was that the government should change with new discoveries
- Jefferson's suggestion was that each generation should write its own constitution
Thomas Jefferson believed that a constitution should be revised every 19 years
Thomas Jefferson, one of the United States' founding fathers, believed that the constitution should be revised or rewritten every 19 to 20 years. In his view, a constitution should be revised every 19 years, as he believed that was the length of a generation. He argued that each generation should have the opportunity to review and change laws that no longer work for them.
Jefferson's views on the constitution were shaped by his belief that governments need to adapt to survive. He wrote, "Every constitution, then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force, and not of right." He further stated that "laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind," and that "we might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
Jefferson's suggestion that each generation should write its own constitution has been described as brilliant, as it empowers each generation to govern themselves rather than be governed by the past. However, James Madison, Jefferson's contemporary, disagreed with this idea, arguing that setting a "time limit" on each constitution would cause the government to change for transient causes.
Despite his strong opinions, Jefferson did not personally participate in drafting the U.S. Constitution. In a letter written shortly before his death in 1824, he stated that the U.S. Constitution could endure indefinitely if it were regularly amended to reflect new developments in science and society.
Jefferson's vision of a dynamic constitution that adapts to the needs of each generation remains a subject of debate in American politics. While some argue that the constitution should be regarded as a sacred text, others advocate for periodic revision to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to the changing needs of society.
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Jefferson's reasoning was that a generation is 20 years, and each generation should be able to review how laws affect them
Thomas Jefferson believed that the US Constitution should be revised every 19 or 20 years. His reasoning was rooted in the belief that a generation is approximately 20 years, and each generation should be able to review how laws affect them. Jefferson's idea was that a constitution should not be a stagnant document but one that reflects the needs and values of the current generation.
Jefferson's views on the regular revision of the constitution were expressed in a letter to Samuel Kercheval, an innkeeper and author from Virginia, on July 12, 1816. Kercheval had written to Jefferson to seek his opinion on "the necessity of calling a convention for the revision and amendment of our State constitution." Jefferson responded favourably to the idea, acknowledging that the leaders of the 1776 revolution were more focused on eliminating anything associated with monarchy than on creating a well-functioning republic.
Jefferson's reasoning for a 20-year revision cycle was based on his belief that each generation should have the opportunity to shape the laws that govern them. He saw the constitution as a living document that should adapt to the changing circumstances and needs of society. In his view, a constitution that remained static could become an "abused document" rather than the law of the land.
Jefferson's suggestion that each generation should write its own constitution has been described as brilliant by constitutional scholars. They argue that it is a form of tyranny for a generation to be governed solely by the documents of previous generations. While Jefferson's idea of a 20-year revision cycle was not implemented, it highlights the importance of ensuring that the constitution remains relevant and responsive to the needs of a changing society.
In today's political climate, the US Constitution has not been amended in almost 50 years, and some argue that it is no longer effectively constituting the polity. While Jefferson's vision of a regularly revised constitution may not have come to pass, his ideas continue to spark important conversations about the role and adaptability of constitutional law in a nation's governance.
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Jefferson's idea was that a constitution should not be enforced beyond 19 years, as it would be an act of force
Thomas Jefferson believed that a constitution should not be enforced beyond 19 years, as it would be an act of force. This idea, known as the 19-year clause, stemmed from his belief that a generation was approximately 20 years, and each new generation should have the opportunity to review and revise the laws that govern them. Jefferson recognised that without a set time for change, a constitution could become stagnant and abused, rather than serving as a living document that adapts to the needs of a changing society.
In a letter to Samuel Kercheval on July 12, 1816, Jefferson wrote: "Every constitution, then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force, and not of right." Jefferson's suggestion was not that the constitution be completely rewritten every 19 or 20 years, but rather that each generation should have the chance to seriously review and update the laws to reflect the changing needs and values of society.
Jefferson's idea of a constitution with a set revision period was influenced by his observation that the leaders of the revolution in 1776 were more focused on eliminating monarchical associations than on creating a functional republic. He believed that a constitution should be adaptable and responsive to the changing circumstances and philosophical shifts of each generation. This view was further supported by his belief that it is a form of tyranny for a generation to be governed solely by the document written by a previous generation.
While Jefferson's idea of a constitution with a set revision period did not come to fruition, it continues to spark discussions and debates about the adaptability and relevance of constitutional law in modern times. The concept highlights the importance of ensuring that the laws governing a society remain dynamic and reflective of the values and needs of each generation.
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Jefferson's vision was that the government should change with new discoveries
Thomas Jefferson believed that the government should change with new discoveries. He supported the incorporation of new technology at the household level and in ordinary farms and households to increase productivity. Jefferson was a brilliant scientific mind who did not fear technological change. He advocated for international commerce to benefit farmers and the widespread adoption of new technology.
Jefferson's vision was not anti-modern, and he believed that the government should adapt to the progress of the human mind. In a letter to Samuel Kercheval on July 12, 1816, Jefferson wrote:
> I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.
Jefferson believed that each new generation had the right to choose the form of government it believed would best promote its happiness. He thought that every 19 or 20 years, the state constitution should be handed off to the next generation to amend and repair as they saw fit. He argued that a generation was 20 years, and each generation should have the opportunity to thoroughly review how laws affect them and make changes as needed.
Jefferson's vision for a government that adapts to new discoveries and the progress of the human mind was ahead of his time. He recognized that without a set time for change, the constitution could become stagnant and abused. While his ideas were not fully implemented, they continue to spark important conversations about the role of government and the need for adaptability in the face of social and technological change.
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Jefferson's suggestion was that each generation should write its own constitution
Thomas Jefferson, one of the original authors of the state constitution, believed that each generation should have the opportunity to review and revise the constitution. In a letter to Samuel Kercheval, Jefferson wrote:
> I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
Jefferson's suggestion was based on the belief that a generation was approximately 20 years, and that each new generation should have the right to choose the form of government it believes will best promote its happiness. He argued that it is a form of tyranny for a generation to be governed by a document written by previous generations.
Jefferson's idea was not without criticism. Madison, for instance, argued that setting a "time limit" on each constitution would cause the government to change for transient causes. Despite this, some states implemented mechanisms like sunset clauses every 20 years or so.
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Frequently asked questions
Thomas Jefferson believed that the constitution should be revised or rewritten every 19 or 20 years.
Jefferson believed that a generation was 20 years and that each generation should have the opportunity to review how laws affect them and make changes if necessary. He also believed that setting a time limit on the constitution would prevent it from becoming stagnant and abused.
No, Thomas Jefferson was unable to convince the nation to adopt his idea.
In a letter to Samuel Kercheval on July 12, 1816, Jefferson wrote, "Every constitution, then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force, and not of right."
