Legislative jurisdiction becomes illegitimate when it exceeds recognized limits.

Evidence

Nor have we been wanting in our attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. — Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, 39

Categorization

• XREF: Precursor to enumerated-powers and limited-government arguments in the Constitution’s later structure.