How did the congress keep Southern officials out of government?

Congress kept Southern officials out of government during the Reconstruction era primarily through the use of the Reconstruction Acts, which divided the South into military districts governed by Union generals. Additionally, the 14th Amendment barred former Confederate officials from holding public office unless they were granted a special pardon. These measures aimed to reshape Southern political structures and ensure that loyal Unionists and freedmen could participate in governance, thereby diminishing the influence of former Confederates.