rule of law
noun phrase
: a situation in which the laws of a country are obeyed by everyone
The courts uphold the rule of law.
Examples of rule of law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And many within the Israeli government fought to expand the rule of law into the territories, with some success.
—
Mark Mazzetti Jonathan Davis Anna Diamond David Mason, New York Times, 16 May 2024
What could be more abusive or obscene than unilaterally absolving the would-be insurrectionists, nearly 900 currently, who have been fairly prosecuted and sentenced according to the rule of law that a president is sworn to uphold?
—Jackie Calmes, The Mercury News, 15 May 2024
The constituency for limited government, the rule of law, free enterprise, personal responsibility, etc., is very small.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 15 May 2024
But think about what their incomes would have been had they been born in a poor country, without the rule of law or the institutions, infrastructure, and human capital that make the economies of advanced countries work so well.
—Joseph E. Stiglitz, Fortune, 12 May 2024
Last year, in a November election, Poland ousted its nationalist governing party, Law and Justice, which had led an assault on the rule of law.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
In a five-minute speech at the White House on Thursday, the president tried to balance two fundamental principles — the right to protest and the rule of law.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
In a paper released this week, Vanessa Williamson, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said that businesses should be more concerned about the rule of law and democratic values.
—Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 3 May 2024
Rwanda Deportation Bill: Britain’s Conservative government finally won passage of its flagship immigration policy, enshrining a Rwanda deportation bill that human-rights campaigners say is inhumane and legal critics say has corroded the country’s reputation for rule of law.
—Megan Specia, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Mark Mazzetti Jonathan Davis Anna Diamond David Mason, New York Times, 16 May 2024
What could be more abusive or obscene than unilaterally absolving the would-be insurrectionists, nearly 900 currently, who have been fairly prosecuted and sentenced according to the rule of law that a president is sworn to uphold?
—Jackie Calmes, The Mercury News, 15 May 2024
The constituency for limited government, the rule of law, free enterprise, personal responsibility, etc., is very small.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 15 May 2024
But think about what their incomes would have been had they been born in a poor country, without the rule of law or the institutions, infrastructure, and human capital that make the economies of advanced countries work so well.
—Joseph E. Stiglitz, Fortune, 12 May 2024
Last year, in a November election, Poland ousted its nationalist governing party, Law and Justice, which had led an assault on the rule of law.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 5 May 2024
In a five-minute speech at the White House on Thursday, the president tried to balance two fundamental principles — the right to protest and the rule of law.
—Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
In a paper released this week, Vanessa Williamson, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said that businesses should be more concerned about the rule of law and democratic values.
—Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 3 May 2024
Rwanda Deportation Bill: Britain’s Conservative government finally won passage of its flagship immigration policy, enshrining a Rwanda deportation bill that human-rights campaigners say is inhumane and legal critics say has corroded the country’s reputation for rule of law.
—Megan Specia, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rule of law.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rule of law
Cite this Entry
“Rule of law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20of%20law. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
rule of law
1
: an authoritative legal doctrine, principle, or precept applied to the facts of an appropriate case
adopting the rule of law that is most persuasive in light of precedent, reason and policy—Wright v. Wright, 904 P.2d 403 (1995)
Wright v. Wright, 904 P.2d 403 (1995)2
: government by law : adherence to due process of law
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