Define the principles of federalism and limited government. How are they connected to each other?
The principles of federalism and limited government are connected as they both serve to establish a system of government with divided powers and constraints on centralized authority.
Federalism is a principle that advocates for the division of powers between a central government and regional governments or states. It is based on the idea that there should be a balance of power between the national government and individual states or regions. Under federalism, certain powers and responsibilities are granted to the central government while others are reserved for the states. This distribution of powers ensures that neither level of government becomes too dominant or centralized, preventing the concentration of authority.
Limited government, on the other hand, is a principle that restricts the power and authority of the government to protect the rights and liberties of individuals. It emphasizes the idea that the government should be restrained from intruding excessively into the lives and freedoms of its citizens. A limited government is typically characterized by a written constitution that outlines the powers and functions of the government, and places explicit limits on its authority. These limitations prevent the government from infringing upon the rights, property, and personal autonomy of citizens.
The principles of federalism and limited government are connected as federalism is a mechanism employed to achieve limited government. By dividing powers between the national and state governments, federalism prevents any single entity from accumulating excessive authority. This division helps to ensure that the government's power is limited, and prevents the central authority from becoming too overreaching or encroaching on the rights and liberties of individuals. In this way, federalism acts as a structural safeguard for limited government, reinforcing the principle that the government should have limits in order to protect individual freedom.