Limited Government in the Constitution

Questions and Answers

List a specific example of 'Limited Government' in the Constitution and where to find it.

Article I, Section 9, Clause 7

List a specific example of 'Separation of Powers' in the Constitution and where to find it.

Article 1, Section 1; Article 2, Section 1; Article 3, Section 1

List a specific example of 'Checks and Balances' in the Constitution and where to find it.

First three articles of the Constitution

List a specific example of 'Federalism' in the Constitution and where to find it.

<p>Article I, Section 10</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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States that money can only be withdrawn from the Treasury through appropriations by law.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.

Description

This quiz explores specific examples of limited government as outlined in the US Constitution. It focuses on identifying articles, sections, and clauses that demonstrate how power is restricted within the government. Test your knowledge and understanding of constitutional limits on government authority.