What does no taxation without representation mean?

[Bruce]

I’ve been trying to understand what does no taxation without representation mean and why this concept is considered important. From what I gather, it relates to the idea that people should not be required to pay taxes if they don’t have representation in the government making those decisions. However, I’d like a simple and clear explanation of its meaning and significance.

 

[Louis]

It basically means people want a voice in how their tax money is used. If the government is taking money from you, you should have elected representatives making those decisions on your behalf.

 

[larrywillson]

The idea of "no taxation without representation" is pretty simple. It means that people should not have to pay taxes to a government if they do not get to help decide how that government is run. Usually, this means people get to vote for someone to represent them.
This idea became well-known during the American Revolution. At that time, people who lived in the colonies were upset because Great Britain was making them pay taxes without letting them have a say in the British government. The American colonists wanted to be treated and have some control over what happened to them. They wanted rights, and the phrase "no taxation without representation" was a way to express these demands. The American colonists used this phrase to make it clear that they believed "no taxation without representation" was a right.

 

[BOB]

“No taxation without representation” means people should not have to pay taxes to a government unless they have a say in how it’s run, a principle strongly associated with the American Revolution.