Limited Government in the Constitution

Limited Government

• Example: Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the US Constitution.
• States that money can only be withdrawn from the Treasury through appropriations by law.
• Establishes Congress's "power of the purse," allowing it to control federal spending.
• Prevents the government from having unchecked financial power.

Separation of Powers

• Federal government divided into three branches: Legislative, Judicial, and Executive.
• Legislative Branch: Article I, Section 1 grants all legislative power to Congress, composed of a Senate and House of Representatives.
• Judicial Branch: Article III, Section 1 establishes the Supreme Court to hold judicial power, with judges serving during good behavior.
• Executive Branch: Article II, Section 1 empowers the President to hold office for four years, ensuring a clear division of responsibilities.

Checks and Balances

• Each government branch possesses certain powers checked by other branches.
• President's appointments of judges and secretaries must be approved by the Senate.
• Congress can pass laws that the President can veto; the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional.
• Although not explicitly titled, the system of checks and balances is embedded within the first three articles of the Constitution.

Federalism

• Federalism involves division of power between national and state governments, although not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
• Article I, Section 10 outlines restrictions on state powers, emphasizing the balance of authority.
• States cannot engage in treaties, grant letters of marque, or emit bills of credit without congressional consent.
• Reinforces the rights and responsibilities of states under the federal government framework.