A conspiracy also known as a plot is a secret plan or agreement between people (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose such as murder treason or corruption especially with a political motivation while keeping their agreement secret from the public or from other people affected by it. In a political sense conspiracy refers to a group of people united in the goal of usurping altering or overthrowing an established political power. Depending on the circumstances a conspiracy may also be a crime or a civil wrong. The term generally connotes or implies wrongdoing or illegality on the part of the conspirators as it is commonly believed that people would not need to conspire to engage in activities that were lawful and ethical or to which no one would object.