On the structure of gauge invariant classical observables in lattice gauge theories

For a lattice gauge theory a necessary and sufficient condition on the gauge group is stated, which assures that the linear span of products of Wilson loop observables is dense in the space of continuous, gauge invariant functions on the configuration space. Some groups which fulfill this condition are exhibited, among themU(N) andSU(N),N=1, 2, 3, ... Finally we prove that generically it is fulfilled for all connected, compact Lie groups.