The principle that all people and institutions, including government officials, are subject to and accountable under the law. It requires that laws be applied equally, predictably, and through fair procedures, with no one being above legal authority.
The concept originates in ancient Greek and Roman thought, but the English phrase emerged in the 17th century during conflicts between Parliament and the monarchy. It was popularized by legal scholar A.V. Dicey in the 1880s.
The rule of law was revolutionary because it challenged the ancient idea that kings ruled by divine right and were above human law! The 1215 Magna Carta first forced an English king to submit to legal limits, creating a precedent that would eventually topple absolute monarchies worldwide and establish modern constitutional democracy.
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