Power without legal constraint tends toward arbitrariness. The rule of law is the principle that individuals, institutions, and the government itself are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated.

Key elements include supremacy of the law, equality before the law, accountability, legal certainty, and access to justice. Independent courts, transparent legislation, and restraints on executive discretion support the ideal in practice. Corruption, selective enforcement, and secret rules undermine it.

The rule of law is both a political aspiration and a practical checklist for institutional design. Societies measure progress by how consistently official action tracks published legal norms rather than personal or partisan favor.

• Principle that all are subject to publicly known laws
• Requires equal enforcement and independent adjudication
• Opposed to arbitrary or secret exercise of power
• Supported by transparent institutions and access to courts