Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion A and the other is labeled as Reason R
Assertion A: Thomas Jefferson was determined not to remove public officials for political reasons alone.
Reason R: Misconduct is a just ground for the removal of public officials.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below

Correct option is B

Both A and R are correct, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
· Assertion (A) is correct because Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, believed in maintaining a balance in public service and was cautious about dismissing public officials solely for political reasons, preferring instead to prioritize competence and public service.
· Reason (R) is also correct, as misconduct is universally accepted as a legitimate ground for the removal of public officials, regardless of political context. However, R does not directly explain Jefferson's stance in A, which was more about ensuring that public office was not entirely subject to political patronage rather than solely about misconduct.
Information Booster:
1. Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of democracy and limited government, believed that public officials should not be removed purely for political disagreements but rather for incompetence or misconduct.
2. During Jefferson’s presidency, he pursued a policy of replacing only some of the Federalist officeholders, focusing on those who were considered unsuitable or partisan, rather than simply replacing them due to their political affiliations.
3. Misconduct of public officials, such as corruption or abuse of office, has always been a valid and justifiable reason for their removal in both Jefferson's time and today.
4. Jefferson’s approach reflects early American values of merit-based governance, where public service was to be performed in the interest of the nation, not political loyalty.
5. The debate over political appointments versus merit-based appointments continues to be relevant in modern governance systems.
6. Jefferson's belief in limited government extended to ensuring that bureaucracy was efficient, non-partisan, and focused on the public good.