Primary sourceSpeech3 November 1774
Speech to the Electors of Bristol
Edmund Burke · 3 November 1774
Burke's 1774 speech after winning election for Bristol, arguing an MP must use independent judgement rather than simply obey voters.
Burke's own speech explaining his philosophy of political representation right after his election.
About this source
What it is
This is the text of a speech Edmund Burke gave on 3 November 1774 after his election as Member of Parliament for Bristol. It sets out his view of political representation.
Why it matters
The speech is a classic statement of the idea that an elected representative is a 'trustee' who should use his own judgement for the good of the whole, not simply carry out the instructions of those who elected him. It reveals Burke's view of government as requiring independent reasoning rather than strict obedience to popular demand, an idea still debated in politics today.
Look closer
- Why might voters at the time have found Burke's argument surprising or even unwelcome?
- What does Burke's confidence in his own judgement suggest about his view of ordinary people's political opinions?
- How might someone who disagreed with Burke's view of representation respond?
This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Edmund Burke on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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