rule of law
Laws govern everyone
Rule of law is the principle that everyone in a society—including its leaders—is bound by and accountable to the same laws.
It implies that laws are applied fairly and consistently, not arbitrarily by those in power.
The peaceful transfer of power depends on the rule of law.
The phrase often appears in discussions of democracy, human rights, and government legitimacy.
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- governmentAuthority over a state
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
administration · oversight · enforcement · statute · bureaucracy · institution · legislature · executive
Rights limiting government power
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- freedom of speechProtected right to speak
- equalitySame status for all
- legal protectionRights enforceable by law
privacy · liberty · freedom of assembly · freedom of religion · non-discrimination · right to life · freedom of expression · property rights
Just and equal treatment
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
- legal systemStructure governing justice
judiciary · tribunal · prosecution · defense · litigation · arbitration · magistrate · appeal
Formal choosing of officials
- representativeOne who acts for another
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- votingFormally registering a choice
- citizenshipStatus as state member
pluralism · accountability · transparency · civil society · political parties · referendum · federalism · enfranchisement
Compelling compliance with rules
- policeCivil law enforcement
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- controlAuthority to direct
authority · obedience · security · peacekeeping · public safety · deterrence · punishment · sanction
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- governmentAuthority over a state
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
authority · administration · oversight · enforcement · statute · bureaucracy · institution · legislature · executive · judiciary
civil liberties
Rights limiting government power
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- freedom of speechProtected right to speak
- equalitySame status for all
legal protection · privacy · liberty · freedom of assembly · freedom of religion · non-discrimination · right to life · freedom of expression · property rights · due process
fairness
Just and equal treatment
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- impartialityFreedom from prejudice
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
legal system · judiciary · tribunal · prosecution · defense · litigation · arbitration · magistrate · appeal · remedy
elections
Formal choosing of officials
- representativeOne who acts for another
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- votingFormally registering a choice
citizenship · pluralism · accountability · transparency · civil society · political parties · referendum · federalism · enfranchisement · consensus
enforcement
Compelling compliance with rules
- policeCivil law enforcement
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- stabilityResistance to displacement
control · authority · obedience · security · peacekeeping · public safety · deterrence · punishment · sanction · incarceration
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- Liberalismindividual liberty, individual rights, civil liberties, classical liberalism, free market
- political reformpolitical reform, electoral reform, campaign finance, term limits, redistricting
- GDR Lawpenal code, district courts, district court, defense attorneys, defense attorney
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, branches of government
- justicecourtroom, trials, retributive justice, courts, gavel
rule of lawtyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
despotism · autocracy · rule of man · dictatorship · absolutism
rule of lawanarchy
Disorder from absent authority
chaos · lawlessness · disorder · state of nature · law of the jungle
rule of lawpolice state
Regime controlling through surveillance
kangaroo court · show trials · impunity · divine right of kings · theocracy
law, rule, ruler, rules, ruling, ruled, laws, lawful, lawless