Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution sets limits on the government through the Bill of Rights and reserves powers to the states and people. It denies absolute power through restrictions like prohibiting ex post facto laws and through checks and balances. It enumerates government powers, is the supreme law of the land, and cannot be unilaterally changed by the government.
Step-by-step explanation:
Examples of Constitutional Properties
Sets limits on the government: A primary example is the Bill of Rights, particularly the First Amendment which protects the freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. Another example is the Tenth Amendment that limits the power of the federal government by reserving powers not delegated to it to the states or the people.
Denies absolute or arbitrary power: Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution restricts Congress from passing ex post facto laws or titles of nobility, thereby preventing the government from enacting laws that punish actions retroactively or creating a class of royalty. Additionally, the system of checks and balances ensures that no single branch of government can exercise unchecked power.
Applies to the government specifically: The Constitution explicitly defines the roles and functions of the three branches of the federal government—legislative, executive, and judicial. Article II outlines the powers of the executive branch, including the requirement that the President must be a natural-born citizen.
Enumerates particular powers the government has and denies all others: Article I, Section 8 lists the powers of Congress, such as the power to regulate commerce and declare war, while the Tenth Amendment makes clear that powers not granted to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.
Is written as the supreme law of the land: The Supremacy Clause in Article VI declares that the Constitution and federal laws made pursuant to it are the 'supreme Law of the Land,' taking precedence over conflicting state laws. This clause embodies the concept that no law can supersede the Constitution.
Cannot be changed by the government itself: Amendments to the Constitution require a rigorous process that involves both Congress and state legislatures, as outlined in Article V. The process demands a supermajority, ensuring that the government itself cannot unilaterally alter the Constitution.