Rule of Law
A foundational principle of governance asserting that all individuals, institutions, and entities, including the state itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated.
A foundational principle of governance asserting that all individuals, institutions, and entities, including the state itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated.
Example: The resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974, facing certain impeachment and removal due to the Watergate scandal, is often cited as a definitive demonstration of the rule of law, showing that no one is above the law.
Common misconception: The rule of law simply means that there are many laws. It specifically means that the law applies equally to everyone, including government officials, and that laws are applied predictably and fairly, not arbitrarily or selectively.
Sources: https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/watergate-constitution/chronology.html — National Archives Watergate chronology: Nixon's resignation August 9, 1974, after House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment