1) Why did the framers of the Constitution include the principle of limited government? 2) Give one example of how the constitution limits the government's power,
1) The framers of the Constitution included the principle of limited government to prevent the abuse of power by any single branch or individual. They wanted to ensure that the government would not become too powerful and infringe upon the rights and freedoms of the citizens. The concept of limited government was based on their experiences with British tyranny and their belief in the importance of individual liberty.
2) One example of how the Constitution limits the government's power is through the system of checks and balances. This system divides the powers of government among the three branches - executive, legislative, and judicial - and gives each branch the ability to check or restrain the actions of the others. For instance, the President can veto legislation proposed by Congress, but Congress can override that veto with a two-thirds majority vote. This balance of power ensures that no branch becomes too dominant and helps to maintain limited government.
Nobody is above the law.
A.
Representative Government
B.
Democracy
C.
Rule of Law
D.
Consent of the Governed
C. Rule of Law
The people elect officials to run the government for them.
A.
Rule of law
B.
Consent of the governed
C.
Democracy
D.
Representative Government
D. Representative Government
People give their permission to a government to rule them
A.
Democracy
B.
Consent of the Governed
C.
Limited Government
D.
Rule of Law
B. Consent of the Governed
The government is not all powerful.
A.
Rule of law
B.
Consent of the governed
C.
Representative government
D.
Limited government
D. Limited Government
1) The framers of the Constitution included the principle of limited government for several reasons. They were wary of the potential for tyranny and abuse of power by a central authority, having just fought for independence from Great Britain. They aimed to establish a government that would protect individual rights, prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few, and maintain a balance between the federal government and the states.
To understand the reasons behind including the principle of limited government in the Constitution, one can refer to historical sources such as primary documents, scholarly articles, and textbooks. Additionally, reading the Federalist Papers, which were a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, can provide insight into the intentions of the framers.
2) One example of how the Constitution limits the government's power is through the separation of powers. The Constitution divides the government into three distinct branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each branch has separate powers and responsibilities, which serve as a check on the others to prevent any one branch from accumulating too much power.
For instance, the legislative branch (Congress) has the power to make laws, but the executive branch (President) has the power to veto those laws. However, Congress can then override the president's veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. This system of checks and balances ensures that no single branch can dominate the others and allows for the preservation of limited government.
To find further examples of how the Constitution limits the government's power, one can explore specific clauses within the Constitution, such as the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment, for instance, guarantees freedoms of speech, religion, and the press, limiting the government's ability to interfere with those rights. Additionally, the Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, thereby limiting the reach of the central authority.