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Baron de Montesquieu

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the philosopher who believed in separation of powers when establishing a government

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checks and balances

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a principle of government that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches

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consent of the governed

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the idea that government gains its power/authority from the people

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Enlightenment

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an intellectual and philosophical movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that focused on reason, ideas on government, and the value of happiness

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John Locke

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a philosopher who believed in natural rights and social contract

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natural law

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a system of right or justice held to be common to all humans and derived from nature rather than from the rules of society

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natural rights

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rights an individual is born with that cannot be given or taken by government (ex. life, liberty, pursuit of happiness); also known as inalienable/unalienable rights

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separation of powers

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a principle of government that sets up a structural division of responsibilities within distinct branches, each with their own powers and processes

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social contract

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an implied agreement among the people of an organized society that defines the rights, duties, and limitations of the governed and the government

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Founders/Founding Fathers

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The men who established the American system of government.