Limited government - Definition

A type of government in which the functions and powers exercised by that government are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law, usually in a written constitution.

Limited government in the United States

Probably the clearest example of limited government is in the United States, where the constitution both creates a structure of national government and enumerates the powers to which that government is entitled. The Constitution reserves certain powers for the Federal Government and precludes certain powers from the same; it also reserves certain powers for the State governments, and precludes other powers from them. Lastly, the 10th Amendment specifically states that The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.