Question

in 1816, thomas jefferson wrote:
i am certainly not an advocate for
frequent and untried changes in laws
and constitutions... but i know also that
laws and institutions... must advance...
and keep pace with the times.
-letter to samuel kercheval, july 12, 1816
which thesis about jefferson’s beliefs does the statement above support?
a laws must change as society changes.
b laws and constitutions have little permanent value.
c people have limited ability to govern themselves wisely.
d the rights of individuals must be balanced against the common good.

Explanation:

Jefferson's quote says laws and institutions must advance and keep pace with the times. Option A ("Laws must change as society changes") aligns with this, as "keep pace with the times" implies changing with societal changes. Option B is incorrect because he isn't saying they have little permanent value, just that they need to change. Option C is unrelated to self - governance ability. Option D is about individual rights vs. common good, which isn't mentioned.

Answer:

A. Laws must change as society changes.