6 OurConstitution A Living Document with blanks.docVIP

A Limited Government with a Living Constitution Our Constitution: A Living Document Limited Government Say it again, James The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly ______________ in a _______________ Constitution. By a limited Constitution, I understand one which contains certain specified exceptions to the legislative authority; such, for instance, as that it shall pass no bills of attainder, no ex post facto laws, and the like. Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to _________________. Federalist #78 Limited Government A form of government based on the principle that the powers of government should be clearly limited either through a written document (OUR __________________) or through wide public understanding; characterized by institutional _____________ to ensure that government serves the ___________ interest rather than individual or private interest. No, You Can’t… Constitutions are inherently _________ documents! They are ABOUT _____________ governmental power. The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests. (Patrick Henry) In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution. --Thomas Jefferson Limited Government The powers of _______________ are limited by the rights and liberties of the governed. The __________ give the government listed (_____________) powers through the Constitution and _______ the rest to themselves. This political compact means government actions must rest on the rule of law, approved however indirectly, by th