Rule of law
Modern legal traditions
It seeks to subject power to public, relatively stable rules applied by competent institutions.
Historical context
The ideal of the rule of law has been formulated in different legal traditions. Much modern debate distinguishes formal properties of law from substantive demands of justice.
Overview
A public and relatively stable rule lets people anticipate consequences and contest decisions. An administration changing criteria retroactively weakens those possibilities even if its decisions are effective.
Main claims
The exercise of power should be assessable through public rules and legal procedures.
Debates and nuances
Formal and substantive approaches disagree over including rights in the definition.
This entry provides educational context.