# Why Government Power Must Be Limited **URL:** **By** Barbara Galletti **Published:** June 4, 2026 --- If only the right people were in power, could they fix everything? The idea of limited government begins with a simple observation: because human beings are imperfect, government power must be constrained. The authorities granted to today’s leaders will eventually belong to tomorrow’s leaders, and perhaps people with very different values. In this introduction to limited government, we explore where the idea came from, why it emerged, and the institutions that help preserve it today. From the Magna Carta and the struggle to limit monarchs, to the American Founding and constitutional government, this video examines one of the most important principles that helps maintain societies free. In this video: 00:00 – Introduction 00:55 – What Is Limited Government? 01:38 – The Origins of Limited Government 04:00 – US Founding and Limited Government 04:33 – Institutions That Limit Government Power 05:24 – Why Does Limited Government Matter? This is the seventh episode of our Learning Hub series. Subscribe to never miss one of our lessons! Resources: [Limited Government, Stephen Davies](https://www.libertarianism.org/limited-government-0) [Are libertarians anti-government?, David Boaz](https://www.libertarianism.org/essays/are-libertarians-anti-government) [Separation of Church and State, Jason Kuznicki](https://www.libertarianism.org/separation-church-and-state-0) [Limited Government and the Rule of Law, Tom Palmer](https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-9th-edition-2022/limited-government-rule-law) [Limited Government, David Boaz](https://www.britannica.com/topic/libertarianism-politics/Libertarian-philosophy)