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How are popular sovereignty and limited government related, and why were those principles important to the Framers?

User Asifa
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Final answer:

The principles of popular sovereignty and limited government are intrinsically linked and were fundamental to the Framers because they ensure that the power of the government comes from the people and that there are clear limits to prevent the abuse of power, thus safeguarding individual liberties.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principles of popular sovereignty and limited government are closely related and were essential to the Framers of the Constitution. Popular sovereignty refers to the concept that governmental power arises from the consent of the governed and that the government serves the will of the people. This principle ensures that the authority of government is derived from the people's wishes.

Limited government, meanwhile, sets clear limits on what the government can and cannot do, safeguarding individual liberties from governmental abuse. It acts as a security mechanism against the concentration and abuse of power, echoing the Framers' concerns to protect the people's liberties, which had been a central issue in the Revolutionary Era and the fight for independence.

The Framers integrated these principles by designing the Constitution as a blueprint that operationalized Enlightenment ideals and American thoughts on self-government. The Constitution laid out a system that balanced liberty and order, ensuring that the government could not usurp the rights for which the American Revolution was fought. It represents a commitment to protect rights and liberties while creating a functioning and representative political structure.

User Pierre Fourgeaud
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