<P> The rule of law is the legal principle that law should govern a nation , as opposed to being governed by decisions of individual government officials . It primarily refers to the influence and authority of law within society , particularly as a constraint upon behaviour , including behaviour of government officials . The phrase can be traced back to 16th century Britain , and in the following century the Scottish theologian Samuel Rutherford used the phrase in his argument against the divine right of kings . John Locke wrote that freedom in society means being subject only to laws made by a legislature that apply to everyone , with a person being otherwise free from both governmental and private restrictions upon liberty . The rule of law was further popularized in the 19th century by British jurist A.V. Dicey . The concept , if not the phrase , was familiar to ancient philosophers such as Aristotle , who wrote `` Law should govern '' . </P>
<P> The rule of law is the legal principle that law should govern a nation , as opposed to being governed by decisions of individual government officials . It primarily refers to the influence and authority of law within society , particularly as a constraint upon behaviour , including behaviour of government officials . The phrase can be traced back to 16th century Britain , and in the following century the Scottish theologian Samuel Rutherford used the phrase in his argument against the divine right of kings . John Locke wrote that freedom in society means being subject only to laws made by a legislature that apply to everyone , with a person being otherwise free from both governmental and private restrictions upon liberty . The rule of law was further popularized in the 19th century by British jurist A.V. Dicey . The concept , if not the phrase , was familiar to ancient philosophers such as Aristotle , who wrote `` Law should govern '' . </P>
who does the rule of law apply to
who does the rule of law apply to
to the influence and authority of law within society , particularly as a constraint upon behaviour , including behaviour of government officials .
to the influence and authority of law within society , particularly as a constraint upon behaviour , including behaviour of government officials .