U.S. Citizenship Civics TestPrinciples of American DemocracyHard
A naturalization applicant is preparing for her civics interview and reviews the concept of 'limited government.' Which scenario best illustrates this principle?
- AA state government decides to ignore a federal court ruling it disagrees with.
- BCongress passes a law that applies only to citizens of a specific religious group.
- CThe Constitution outlines specific powers for the federal government, reserving others to the states or the people.
- DThe President can issue executive orders without any oversight from Congress.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The Constitution outlines specific powers for the federal government, reserving others to the states or the people.
Limited government means that the government's power is not absolute and is restricted by a constitution, which defines what the government can and cannot do. Option D directly describes this constitutional limitation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This describes a challenge to federal authority and the rule of law, not an example of limited government.
- B. This violates the First Amendment and equality under the law, indicating unlimited government power, not limited.
- D. This describes unchecked power, which is contrary to limited government; executive orders are subject to limits.
Limited Government
A government whose power is restricted by a constitution or laws, ensuring that it cannot infringe on the rights of its citizens.
- Government is not all-powerful
- Subject to constitutional limits
- Protects individual liberties
Memory trick: LIMITED government, like a dog on a LEASH.