"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. "

-Thomas Paine

Despite the enormous size of modern governemnt, the US federal institution was originally intended to be weak and small in order to prevent the causes of the Revolution. The government had built in check and balances to keep any one person or body from becoming too powerful. At its conception parties were also banned, as the founders did not wish to see a large group support a single agenda.