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Why did James Mill support representative government and universal male suffrage?

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Jeremy Bentham: auto-icon — Utilitarianism English philosopher and economist Jeremy Bentham's preserved skeleton in his own clothes and surmounted by a wax head, at University College London.

James Mill, a prominent figure in utilitarianism, supported representative government and expanded suffrage because he believed these were the most effective means to achieve the utilitarian goal of "the greatest happiness of the greatest number".12

Rather than relying on theories of natural rights, Mill and other philosophical radicals argued that a representative democracy was essential to ensure that government remained accountable to the interests of the governed. By advocating for periodic elections and a wider franchise, Mill sought to establish "securities for good government," preventing those in power from acting against the public interest.12

In his influential article "Government," written for the Encyclopædia Britannica, he posited that such a system was a necessary element of good governance. This political framework aimed to provide citizens with the maximum degree of individual freedom consistent with social harmony and efficient administration, directly linking the structure of the state to the promotion of general utility.12

Would you like to know more about how these utilitarian principles influenced specific political reforms in 19th-century Britain?