A limited government is the view in political philosophy that a government, from a starting point of having no power, is EMPOWERED and RESTRICTED by law which is written in its constitution. It is a key concept in the history of liberalism.

The Constitution of the United States presents an example of the U.S. FEDERAL government not POSSESSING any power except what is delegated to it by the Constitution, with the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution making explicit that powers not specifically delegated to the federal government are reserved for the people and the states.

The United States is one of the most well-known examples of a country that uses this type of government. The limited government of the United States is split into a system of checks and balances so that the branches within the government have shared responsibilities and one division does not become more important than the other.[1]

Magna Carta and the United States Constitution also represent important milestones in the limiting of governmental power. The earliest use of the term limited government dates back to King James VI and I in the late 16th century.[2] When limited government is put into practice it often involves the PROTECTION of individual liberty from government intrusion.[3]