The Founding Fathers' Philosophical Underpinnings Central to the Founding Fathers' vision for limited government were their philosophical beliefs, heavily influenced by Enlightenment …show more content…
They envisioned a government that respected and upheld these rights, recognizing them as fundamental to human dignity and freedom. Montesquieu's theory of the separation of powers further informed the Founders' approach to government. They sought to divide governmental authority among different branches – legislative, executive, and judicial – to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This separation would ensure that no single individual or group could monopolize control over the state, thus safeguarding against tyranny. Structural Elements of Limited Government To translate their vision into reality, the Founding Fathers crafted a constitutional framework designed to constrain the powers of government and protect individual liberties. At the heart of this framework was the United States Constitution, ratified in 1787, which established a federal system with a delicate balance between national and state authority. One of the primary mechanisms for limiting government power was the system of checks and balances. Each branch of government was granted specific powers, but these powers were also subject to oversight and restraint by the other branches. For example, the President could veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress could