Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution implements limited government by dividing power between state and national governments, creating a bicameral legislature, and establishing a system of checks and balances between three separate branches of government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States Constitution was designed to establish a limited government, a concept rooted in the belief that limiting the power of the government is essential to protect the rights of the people. Several provisions in the Constitution illustrate this commitment:
- B) Power was divided between the state and national governments: This division, known as federalism, ensured that the national government did not hold all the power, allowing states to retain significant authority.
- D) The legislature was divided into two Houses with different methods of representation: The bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, was established as a way to balance representation of the states and the people, as well as to prevent any one group from dominating the legislative process.
- E) The national government divided its power between three branches with powers to limit each other: This separation of powers into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each with its own distinct functions, serves as a system of checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power.
Additionally, checks and balances and the distribution of power between states and the federal government were further reinforced by federalist writings and debates during the ratification process.