Final answer:
Constitutionalism is a doctrine that ensures government actions are limited by law and that individual rights are protected. It is characterized by a limited government, adherence to the rule of law, and guarantees of individual freedoms. The U.S. Constitution is a prime example, with mechanisms like checks and balances to prevent concentration of power.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Constitutionalism?
Constitutionalism is a system of government that is founded on the principles of the rule of law, limited government, and the guarantees of individual rights. This means the constitution limits the government's power, ensuring that citizens have certain unalienable rights that the government cannot infringe upon. It also means that citizens have the freedom to live their lives with minimal restrictions, and any government action must respect these rights and adhere to established laws.
The U.S. Constitution, for instance, established a government system where power is distributed across different branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This is evident in mechanisms like checks and balances, which ensure that each branch of government can limit the powers of the others, creating a balance that protects individual freedoms and upholds democracy.
In essence, constitutionalism provides a framework or blueprint for the operation of a government, emphasizing the fundamental worth of each individual and ensuring that governmental power is exercised within the constraints of the law. The constitutional protection of civil rights and liberties is at the heart of this doctrine, as demonstrated by amendments to the U.S. Constitution such as the 14th Amendment, which mandates equality before the law and has been instrumental in extending rights to various minority groups over time.