U.S. Citizenship Civics TestPrinciples of American DemocracyMedium
A naturalization applicant is learning about the U.S. Constitution and its principles. She reads that the government can only exercise powers granted to it by the Constitution and that individuals have rights that cannot be infringed upon. What principle does this describe?
- AAuthoritarianism
- BUnlimited Government
- CTotalitarianism
- DLimited Government
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Limited Government
Limited government is a principle of constitutional government where the government's power is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution. This ensures that the government cannot infringe upon individual rights.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms.
- B. Unlimited government implies no restrictions on governmental power, which is the opposite of the U.S. system.
- C. Totalitarianism is a system where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.
Limited Government
A principle of constitutional government where the government's power is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution, to protect individual rights.
- Government is not all-powerful.
- Powers are defined and restricted by the Constitution.
- Protects individual liberties.
Memory trick: A limited government has constitutional fences.