Which statement describes a key principle of limited government and the rule of law?

Which statement describes a key principle of limited government and the rule of law?

• A. The government cannot wield unlimited power; legal limits protect rights.
• B. Only the president can determine constitutional validity.
• C. Laws can be changed by executive order at any time.
• D. Citizens have no protection against government action.

Answer: (A)

Limited government and the rule of law mean that power is constrained by laws that apply equally to everyone, including those who govern, and that rights are protected through due process. This idea is best captured by the statement that the government cannot wield unlimited power and legal limits protect rights, because it emphasizes both the constraint on authority and the protection of individuals. The other options clash with this idea: one would place constitutional decisions in the hands of a single leader, which bypasses checks and balances; another implies laws can be changed by executive order at any time, undermining stable, binding rules; and another suggests citizens have no protection against government action, which contradicts fundamental rights and due process.

Limited government and the rule of law mean that power is constrained by laws that apply equally to everyone, including those who govern, and that rights are protected through due process. This idea is best captured by the statement that the government cannot wield unlimited power and legal limits protect rights, because it emphasizes both the constraint on authority and the protection of individuals. The other options clash with this idea: one would place constitutional decisions in the hands of a single leader, which bypasses checks and balances; another implies laws can be changed by executive order at any time, undermining stable, binding rules; and another suggests citizens have no protection against government action, which contradicts fundamental rights and due process.