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[T]he government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general.

James Madison, speech in the House of Representatives, January 10, 1794

"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions." --James Madison

"If Congress can employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county and parish and pay them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the Union; they may assume the provision of the poor; they may undertake the regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every thing, from the highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police, would be thrown under the power of Congress. ... Were the power of Congress to be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited Government established by the people of America." --James Madison

"I think we have more machinery of government than is

necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the

industrious." --Thomas Jefferson

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.

Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security.

James Madison, Federalist No. 45, January 26, 1788

The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.

James Madison, Federalist No. 45, January 26, 1788

The house of representatives...can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as the great mass of society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interest, and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny.

James Madison, Federalist No. 57, February 19, 1788

It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is a misfortune. This necessity however exists; and the problem to be solved is, not what form of Government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect.

James Madison, to an unidentified correspondent, 1833

Most bad government has grown out of too much government. Thomas Jefferson

Each State, in ratifying the Constitution, is considered as a sovereign body, independent of all others, and only to be bound by its own voluntary act. In this relation, then, the new Constitution will, if established, be a FEDERAL, and not a NATIONAL constitution.

James Madison, Federalist No. 39, January 1788

"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny."

- Thomas Jefferson (attributed to Jefferson, by his contemporaries)

The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first. Thomas Jefferson

"The Tenth Amendment is the foundation of the Constitution."

- Thomas Jefferson

But ambitious encroachments of the federal government, on the authority of the State governments, would not excite the opposition of a single State, or of a few States only. They would be signals of general alarm... But what degree of madness could ever drive the federal government to such an extremity.

James Madison, Federalist No. 46, January 29, 1788

Freedom is lost gradually from an uninterested, uninformed, and uninvolved people. ...

Thomas Jefferson

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

Thomas Jefferson

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

- Benjamin Franklin

Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom.

John Adams, Defense of the Constitutions, 1787

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

- Benjamin Franklin (on the title page of An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania - 1759)

There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.

James Madison, speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 16, 1788

The State governments possess inherent advantages, which will ever give them an influence and ascendancy over the National Government, and will for ever preclude the possibility of federal encroachments. That their liberties, indeed, can be subverted by the federal head, is repugnant to every rule of political calculation.

Alexander Hamilton, speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, June 17, 1788

If the federal government should overpass the just bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people, whose creature it is, must appeal to the standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may suggest and prudence justify.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 33, January 3, 1788

The states must be considered as essential component parts of the union; and the idea of sacrificing the former to the latter is totally inadmissible.

Alexander Hamilton, speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, June 24, 1788

But as the plan of the convention aims only at a partial union or consolidation, the State governments would clearly retain all the rights of sovereignty which they before had, and which were not, by that act, EXCLUSIVELY delegated to the United States.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 32, January 3, 1788

Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.

The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 22, December 14, 1787

The natural cure for an ill-administration, in a popular or representative constitution, is a change of men.

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 21, 1787

John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

Controlling national debt

"But with respect to future debt; would it not be wise and just for that nation to declare in the constitution they are forming that neither the legislature, nor the nation itself can validly contract more debt, than they may pay within their own age, or within the term of 19 years." --Thomas Jefferson

There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises. To say that the United States should be answerable for twenty-five millions of dollars without knowing whether the ways and means can be provided, and without knowing whether those who are to succeed us will think with us on the subject, would be rash and unjustifiable. Sir, in my opinion, it would be hazarding the public faith in a manner contrary to every idea of prudence.

James Madison, Speech in Congress, April 22, 1790

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13y ago

Because they were afraid their central government would get to strong and we would turn into England all over again.

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Q: Quotes from founding fathers regarding limited government?
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Continue Learning about American Government

Why did the founding fathers want people to be judged by a jury of peers rather than the government?

It was the Founding Father's desire to have a government that was limited in power. If the government was able to judge the people, then the government would have a unchecked power. The government would be able to condemn, or aquit, anyone, regardless of whether it was right or not. The Founding Father's probably thought that a group of men, judging an individual, would hold each other acountable more so than the government alone, as the government by itself could be biased.


How did john Locke influence the founding fathers?

John Locke was political philosopher and a proponent of natural law, and limited government. These two ideas that greatly influenced the Founding Fathers. Locke's ideas are reflected in both the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution.


What was the origin purpose of the US Constitution and what did the early colonists want to protect themselves from?

The founding fathers established the Constitution to do just two things: Establish a federal government for the United States of America Delegate to the federal government certain, limited (and enumerated) powers. they protect themselves from Great Britain


How does the division of power in the US political system contribute to limited government?

The division of power in the U. S. political system contributes to limited government in a great way. Due to how our founding father's set up the constitution it allows the government to work for the people and not to control the people.


Where did the US get the idea of representative government?

The Founding Fathers borrowed the idea of a representative government from the philosophies of John Locke, and also from the government they recently broke away from, Britain's monarchial parliamentary system. Initially, many of the patriots wanted to declare George Washington king, but the Founding Fathers knew they had to try something different from Britain's government style if they wished to avoid a similar revolution as that which occurred against the British. Thus, they devised a completely experimental form of government today known as a federal presidential constitutional republic. They borrowed Locke's ideas of the government being ruled by the people, and looked at the flaws of Britain's then-parliamentary government. Once such studied flaw was the excessive power and authority of the head of state, or the king, and the contrasting limited power of the representative body, the parliament. The Founding Fathers concluded that they needed to somehow switch those roles, intending to make the representative body (Congress) more powerful than the head of state (the President). To balance Congress's overwhelming authority, they made the President the head of government as well, with safety nets that allowed both to check one another.

Related questions

Who established the principal of limited government?

The principal of limited government is a characteristic of a Republic form of government setup by the founding fathers for the United States.


The Founding Fathers felt it was important that government?

The founding fathers felt it was important that government had specific and defined limitations so that it could not become too powerful and infringe on the rights of citizens. One of the ways they limited the power of government was by separating it into three different entities which all policed each other through different rights and responsibilities.


How did the ideas of Montesquieu and Locke influence the Founding Fathers?

John Locke influenced the constitution by a lot of hid ideas. They (his ideas) were widely accepted by the founding fathers. He influenced our Bill of Rights because he said the government should protect your rights. The electing our president and other officials was his idea of consent of the governed. He also had the idea for limited government which was how our government started out.


Which idea did the most founding fathers despite their differences agree with?

The new government needs to balance order & liberty.


Why did the founding fathers want people to be judged by a jury of peers rather than the government?

It was the Founding Father's desire to have a government that was limited in power. If the government was able to judge the people, then the government would have a unchecked power. The government would be able to condemn, or aquit, anyone, regardless of whether it was right or not. The Founding Father's probably thought that a group of men, judging an individual, would hold each other acountable more so than the government alone, as the government by itself could be biased.


How did john Locke influence the founding fathers?

John Locke was political philosopher and a proponent of natural law, and limited government. These two ideas that greatly influenced the Founding Fathers. Locke's ideas are reflected in both the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution.


Why would you not put all the power on the president?

Because then the president would be a dictator. The founding fathers of the USA didn't want a dictatorship, they wanted limited government. You have to realize that all a democracy needs is 50% + 1 vote to pass something with only 2 choices, with 4 candidates that number drops down to you can essentially get elected with 25% +1 vote. That means it is possible for 75% of the nation to be unhappy with a leader. Hence, the founding fathers limited the role of government to be only the powers listed in the constitution to prevent dictatorships from forming.


Did Alexander Hamilton say you want a strong government?

No, Hamilton supported a loose interpretation of the Constitution.He believed in a very limited Government. You can get many of his views and writings from Gutenberg press. The vast majority of our founding fathers wanted a very weak central Government. They viewed the Federal Government as a needed evil.


What important documents that the founding fathers used to help them create the American government?

The English Bill of Rights and Magna Carta. These were the only two because England had limited the power of its kings and queens in two documents.


How did john Locke inspire the Founding Fathers?

john Locke was political philosopher and a proponent of natural law, and limited government. These two ideas that greatly influenced the Founding Fathers. Locke's ideas are reflected in both the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution.


Since the main purpose of the Constitution is to limit the power of national government would the Founding Fathers approve of the Patriot Act?

Yes. One of the few responsibilities that a limited federal government has - and one of the few it should have - is to protect the union (of states) from foreign enemies. That is the purpose of the Patriot Act.


Why did the founding fathers agree to share powers with the states?

The states were in existence before the federal government, and in fact had to ratify the Constitution before it could take effect. Since the states were all essentially sovereign, independent nations, the Founding Fathers could not have done anything without their agreement. In order to get them to accept the Constitution, the state governments of course had to share power with a limited federal government; otherwise they would never have ratified the Constitution, and the United States would not exist.