National Government Limitations

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The U.S. constitution contained several restrictions to limit the power of the National government. The framers of the constitution included these limits in order to avoid the abuse of power the colonists had seen in the past. Different limitations protect the rights of individuals from the national government while others protect the “political independence and other rights of public officials”. The restrictions on the national government protecting the rights of individuals are as follows: Citizens may report unlawful imprisonment to the court and request they determine if the imprisonment was unlawful(writ of habeas corpus). This right cannot be suspended unless “when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public safety may require it.” Other restrictions of the national government are the passing of ex-post facto laws and bills of attainder. …show more content…
Bills of attainder are may not be issued by the national government meaning punishment of a crime may not be determined by the Legislature instead it will be determined by the court. Also, the right to trial by jury during criminal cases may not be suspended by the national government. A limitation on the national government was put in place to avoid the accusation of treason. This was done by specifically naming and defining the crime. The definition of treason may only be altered by a change to the constitution and not by Congress. Restrictions are put in place to protect the rights of political independence and other rights of a public official. This means that unless a congressman commits treason, felony, or breach of the peace they can not be arrested “during attendance of their respective houses”. Congress is not allowed to require information on one's beliefs as qualification for

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