Constitutional Principle Examined: Article 1, Section 8 - A Closer Look at the Foundations of Government in the United States

Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution embodies several principles, but the main one is the principle of Limited Government. This section specifically outlines the powers that Congress has, therefore limiting its authority to those specifically granted in the Constitution. However, it can also be seen as an example of the principle of Separation of Powers, since it clearly distinguishes responsibilities of different branches of the government. Federalism is also present, as it establishes the relationship between state and federal governments.