The
Principles of '98 refer to the American political position that individual states could judge the constitutionality of central government laws and decrees, and could refuse to enforce laws deemed unconstitutional. This refusal to enforce unconstitutional laws is generally referred to as "
nullification," but has also been expressed as "
interposition," i.e. the states’ right to "interpose" between the federal government and the people of the state. The principles were widely promoted in
Jeffersonian Democracy. Especially by the
Quids, such as
John Randolph of Roanoke.