What is loose construction and strict construction?

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Strict construction means that the Federal government has very limited powers. Loose construction means that the Constitution gives the Federal government broad powers to do what is necessary.



Considering this, what is strict and loose construction?

Strict construction means that the Federal government has very limited powers. Loose construction means that the Constitution gives the Federal government broad powers to do what is necessary.

Also Know, why is loose construction important? The other party, the Federalists, was led by Alexander Hamilton. By contrast the Federalist party of Hamilton favored a loose or broad construction of the Constitution, which would allow the expansion of federal government power to meet important needs of national scope.

Herein, what is an example of strict construction?

Strict constructionism refers to the practice of applying a narrow, or 'strict', interpretation of the U.S. Constitution or other legal texts. Key examples and cases that serve to illustrate strict constructionism include Thomas Jefferson's opposition to Alexander Hamilton's idea of a national bank, the Scott v.

What is a loose constructionist?

loose construction is where you bend the constitution. Hamilton said that if it was not in the constitution than you could do it.

32 Related Question Answers Found

What is the rule of strict construction?

The rule of lenity (also called the rule of strict construction) is a principle of criminal statutory interpretation that requires a court to apply any unclear or ambiguous law in the manner most favorable to the defendant.

What does broad construction mean?

broad construction. A theory of interpretation of the Constitution that holds that the spirit of the times, the values of the justices, and the needs of the nation may legitimately influence the decisions of a court, particularly the Supreme Court. Sometimes called judicial activism.

Which political parties are most associated with strict construction?

The use of the term strict construction in American politics is not new. The term was used regularly by members of the Democratic-Republican Party and Democrats during the antebellum period when they argued that powers of the federal government listed in Article I should be strictly construed.

What is strict construction in terms of the Constitution?

strict construction. (narrow construction) n. interpreting the Constitution based on a literal and narrow definition of the language without reference to the differences in conditions when the Constitution was written and modern conditions, inventions and societal changes.

What is the difference between a strict and a loose interpretation of the powers of Congress in the Constitution?


strict:Constitution states that the government of the United States holds only those powers specifically granted to it by the Constitution;loose:interpretation of the Constitution posits that the government of the United States hold all powers that are not specifically denied to it by the Constitution.

How would a strict constructionist characterize the federal government?

One faction, the strict constructionists, was led by Thomas Jefferson. Arguing that "that government is best which governs least," the strict constructionists desired a small federal government, one that would leave most power to the states and to the people.

Was the Louisiana Purchase strict or loose?

He believed people should follow exactly what was stated and allowed in the document. When it came to the national bank, he believed in a strict interpretation, as well. On the contrary, he believed in a loose interpretation of the Louisiana Purchase.

Was Madison a loose constructionist?

When Jefferson became President, he ruled in the way a traditional loose-constructionist would have done. James Madison, also known as the “Father of the Constitution,” was another strict-constructionist whose actions during his presidency contradicted his beliefs before he was president.

When did strict construction?

The Age of Strict Construction explores the growth of the federal government's power and influence between 1789 and 1861, and the varying reactions of Americans to that growth.

What is the opposite of strict constructionist?


Strict construction is the opposite of liberal construction, which permits a term to be reasonably and fairly evaluated so as to implement the object and purpose of the document. An ongoing debate in U.S. law concerns how judges should interpret the law.

What is the definition of strict interpretation?

Also referred to as "strict interpretation" or "original intent," because a person who follows the doctrine of strict construction of the Constitution tries to ascertain the intent of the framers at the time the document was written by considering what the language they used meant at that time.

What is the doctrine of original intent?

Original Intent. The theory of interpretation by which judges attempt to ascertain the meaning of a particular provision of a state or federal constitution by determining how the provision was understood at the time it was drafted and ratified.

What does strict interpretation of the Constitution mean?

Strict construction refers to a philosophy of constitutional interpretation that holds that the Constitution should be interpreted and applied based on a precise reading of the text and the text alone.

What is liberal construction?

Liberal construction refers to interpretation of a statute or a written document in a loose and liberal way. In this type of interpretation the words are interpreted in a fair and reasonable manner in accordance with the objects and purposes of the instrument.

What is the process of judicial interpretation?


Judicial interpretation refers to how a judge interprets laws. Different judges interpret the laws of their state or the country in different ways. Some judges are said to interpret laws in ways that cannot be sustained by the plain meaning of the law; at other times, some judges are said to "legislate from the bench".

What does strictly construed mean?

What is STRICTLY CONSTRUED? This means that a court must make a decision based on the language used in writing a statute and must make no interpretation of a law.

What does living Constitution mean?

In United States constitutional interpretation, the Living Constitution is the claim that the Constitution has a dynamic meaning or that it has the properties of an animate being in the sense that it changes.