Final answer:
A limited government is characterized by a constitution that protects citizens' rights and sets limits on government power, including a Bill of Rights and mechanisms such as elections to ensure accountability.
Step-by-step explanation:
One major characteristic of a limited government is that the rights of citizens are ensured and protected against oppression. The Constitution and its underlying principles establish limits and rules for the government to follow, and it often includes a Bill of Rights which lists individual rights that cannot be violated. In contrast to an unlimited government, where power can be held indefinitely without restriction, a limited government provides mechanisms, such as free and fair elections, that allow citizens to choose their leaders, who are then accountable to the rules set forth by the constitution and the people.