Limited government

Definition

Limited government is a political principle that restricts governmental power to protect individual liberties and ensure that authority does not overreach its bounds. This concept is rooted in the belief that government should have only the powers granted to it by the constitution or law, thereby preventing tyranny and abuse of power. It emphasizes the importance of checks and balances, ensuring that different branches of government can regulate each other's powers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The idea of limited government was a central theme in The Federalist Papers, particularly in Federalist No. 51, which discusses the need for separation of powers.
2. Founding Fathers like James Madison argued for limited government as a way to safeguard personal freedoms and avoid the tyranny experienced under British rule.
3. The U.S. Constitution outlines a framework for limited government by specifying enumerated powers for Congress while reserving other powers for the states and the people.
4. Judicial review serves as a mechanism to enforce limited government by allowing courts to strike down laws that violate constitutional limits on government power.
5. The Bill of Rights explicitly lists individual rights and freedoms that the government cannot infringe upon, further reinforcing the concept of limited government.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of limited government relate to the system of checks and balances established in the U.S. Constitution?
  • Limited government is intricately connected to the system of checks and balances, which ensures that no single branch of government can overpower the others. By distributing power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each branch can monitor and limit the actions of the others. This structure is essential in maintaining a government that serves its citizens without infringing on their rights or liberties.
• Discuss how Federalist No. 51 articulates the necessity of limited government in protecting individual rights.
  • In Federalist No. 51, James Madison argues that limited government is crucial for protecting individual rights against potential abuses of power. He emphasizes that each branch of government should be equipped with the means to resist encroachments by the others, thereby creating a balance that safeguards personal freedoms. This philosophical approach underscores the founders' commitment to preventing tyranny and ensuring that governmental authority remains constrained.
• Evaluate how judicial review contributes to the principle of limited government within the American legal system.
  • Judicial review plays a vital role in maintaining limited government by empowering courts to invalidate laws and executive actions that exceed constitutional boundaries. This process acts as a check on legislative and executive powers, ensuring they do not infringe upon individual rights or exceed their legal authority. By enabling courts to uphold constitutional limits, judicial review reinforces the foundational belief in a government whose powers are clearly defined and restricted.

Related terms

Checks and Balances: A system that ensures no single branch of government becomes too powerful by giving each branch some measure of influence over the others.

Constitutionalism: The principle that government authority derives from and is limited by a constitution.

Separation of Powers: A model for governance where the state's powers are divided among distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.