Limited government

Lore & Background

The earliest use of the term 'limited government' dates back to King James VI and I in the late 16th century. The Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution represent important milestones in limiting governmental power. Scholar Steven Skultety argues that Aristotle's political philosophy in some ways anticipated the idea of limited government, primarily as a tool for limiting civic distrust and enhancing stability, though Aristotle never developed principles and tactics of constitutionalism. John Locke, a liberal philosopher, was an important theorist of modern democratic government. In his Two Treatises of Government, Locke reasoned that men in a state of nature would voluntarily form a government through a social contract, and that government's powers had to be restricted to only what the people allowed. He cited four specific limitations: governing only according to promulgated established laws with equality under the law; laws designed only for the common good; no taxation without representation; and the legislature could not delegate law-making authority without the people's consent. The U.S. James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 51 that security against concentration of powers consists in giving each department constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments.

Reader's Guide

Limited government remains a foundational concept in modern political thought, particularly within liberalism and democracy. Its significance lies in the ongoing tension between governmental authority and individual liberty. John Locke's four limitations—rule of law, common good, no taxation without representation, and non-delegation of legislative power—continue to inform constitutional design and debates about governmental overreach. The U.S. and French constitutions represent two different approaches: the American model emphasizing separation of powers and checks and balances, and the French model prioritizing legislative supremacy and the general will. Contemporary discussions, as noted by Amy Gutmann, show that different strands of liberalism (negative, positive, and democratic) advance different conceptions of proper governmental limits. The concept is closely tied to constitutionalism, enumerated powers, natural and legal rights, and the social contract tradition.

Did You Know?

• The earliest use of the term 'limited government' dates back to King James VI and I in the late 16th century.
• John Locke's fourth limitation on government held that the legislature could not delegate law-making authority to any other power without the people's consent.
• Amy Gutmann notes that negative liberalism, positive liberalism, and democratic liberalism all advance different conceptions of the proper limits to government.