Which principle asserts that government is constrained by law and cannot infringe upon natural rights without limitations?

Which principle asserts that government is constrained by law and cannot infringe upon natural rights without limitations?

• A. Popular Sovereignty
• B. Federalism
• C. Limited Government
• D. Checks and balances

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is that government power is limited by a legal framework and cannot infringe on natural rights without constraints. This is the principle of limited government: authority is not unchecked, it exists within laws and a system of rights that protect individuals. In practice, it means rulers and government agencies must operate within the constitutional rules, and rights like life, liberty, and property are protected against arbitrary action. In American history, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights embody this idea, establishing legal limits on government and ensuring remedies when those bounds are overstepped. The other concepts describe related but distinct ideas: popular sovereignty centers on the people as the ultimate source of authority, federalism deals with how power is divided between national and state governments, and checks and balances describe how different branches constrain each other. The phrase about being bound by law and protecting natural rights aligns most closely with limited government.

The idea being tested is that government power is limited by a legal framework and cannot infringe on natural rights without constraints. This is the principle of limited government: authority is not unchecked, it exists within laws and a system of rights that protect individuals. In practice, it means rulers and government agencies must operate within the constitutional rules, and rights like life, liberty, and property are protected against arbitrary action. In American history, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights embody this idea, establishing legal limits on government and ensuring remedies when those bounds are overstepped. The other concepts describe related but distinct ideas: popular sovereignty centers on the people as the ultimate source of authority, federalism deals with how power is divided between national and state governments, and checks and balances describe how different branches constrain each other. The phrase about being bound by law and protecting natural rights aligns most closely with limited government.