Final answer:
Modern government practices regarding taxation align with democratic principles by allowing the public to elect representatives who create tax laws. The historical context of 'no taxation without representation' has influenced the U.S. structure for tax legislation, as established by the 16th Amendment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept “Taxes may only be levied and assessed with the consent of the governed” suggests that democratic principles support the idea that taxes should be agreed upon by the people or, more commonly, by their elected representatives. In modern government practices, this is reflected through our representative democracy, where the public elects officials to make decisions on their behalf, including tax legislation.
This system is rooted in the historical context where colonists argued for “no taxation without representation,” asserting that only their own colonial legislatures had the authority to impose taxes on them, a principle that directly influenced the creation of the United States government structure and its approach to taxation.
In the U.S., the 16th Amendment was ratified in 1913, giving Congress the power to impose a federal income tax. This amendment came into being after a long history of disputes over who should be taxed and by whom. Today, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) manages the collection of taxes, while Congress is responsible for appropriating these funds in a manner that is supposed to reflect the will and benefit of the populace.