agreement among the people of an organized society in which the people agree to give up some freedoms and in exchange the government is expected to protect their natural rights

a principle of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches

a period in European history when many educated people stressed the importance of learning and reasoning; education was considered the key to understanding and solving society's problems

the structure of the federal government, according to the U.S. Constitution, that sets up three branches with their own distinct powers and responsibilities

Philosopher who theorized that are persons and endowed with natural rights and that rulers who fail to protect those rights may be removed by the people, by force if necessary.

believed that the best form of government was one in which the legislative, executive, and judicial powers were separate and kept each other in check to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful.