10 benefits of rule of law

Rule of law is one of the most fundamental principles of a free and fair democratic society. It is a value that has shaped western civilization into the juggernaut it is today. Seeing as it is such a quintessential value, it is important we know what the benefits of rule of law are. This post aims to do just that. Below you will find the 10 benefits of rule of law clearly laid out.

The 10 benefits of the rule of law are:

Equality
Ensures freedom
Good governance
Upholds democracy
Individual liberty
Less bureaucracy
Upholds fundamental institutions
Ensures justice
Prevents arbitrariness
Preserves fundamental values and principles

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Equality

The first benefit of rule of law is that it ensures equality. This is because the rule of law decrees that no individual is above the law. This inherently means every individual is equal under the law. Rule of law makes sure equality is given to all regardless of an individual’s status, class, race, gender, faith, or sexuality. It means that no discrimination is carried out on certain groups and it emphasises the fact that no one group is above any other. Equality under the law is crucial to preserving a free and fair democratic society.

Freedom

The second benefit rule of law has is that it ensures freedom. The importance of a free society is enshrined within the principles of the rule of law. It emphasises the importance of freedom by bestowing individual freedom on every single individual. This means individuals are free in thought, free in speech, and free in expression. These are values crucial to preserving a healthy democracy and ensuring a society is free and fair.

Good governance

The third benefit of rule of law is that it ensures good governance. This is because a healthy democracy and democratic process is at the heart of what the rule of law is about. It makes sure that elected officials are sworn into public office through the will of the people. It holds those in power accountable and stresses the fact no individual is above the law. Lastly, it makes sure public officials work in the best interest of the general public, especially considering it was the general public who elected them. Rule of law is fundamental in ensuring good governance, which is important for a free and fair democratic society.

Upholds democracy

The fourth benefit of rule of law is that it upholds democracy. It ensures the correct implementation of a sound democratic process and makes sure the government runs as it is supposed to. It makes sure every citizen has the right to vote, which is a principle paramount to democracy. It ensures elected officials have been chosen by the people, and that they work in the best interest of the general public. Most importantly, it upholds the entire institution of democracy itself. It stresses the idea that no individual is above democracy, that democracy is put above all else, and that elected officials are merely just there to preserve it. Thus, rule of law upholds democracy, which is crucial to a free and fair democratic society.

Individual liberty

The fifth benefit of rule of law is that it ensures individual liberty. This is crucial to a healthy democracy. The individual must be liberated from any oppression or coercion by the state. The importance of the individual must be prioritised over the interests of bureaucrats. Rule of law emphasises the fact that the individual is free to live life on their own terms, as long as they don’t tread on the rights of others. Rule of law upholds the value of individual liberty and prevents it from being attacked by bureaucrats. Hence, individual liberty is a fundamental value of a free and fair democratic society. Rule of law makes sure that it is upheld at all costs.

Less Bureaucracy

Piggybacking on the last one, the sixth benefit of rule of law is that it restricts the power of bureaucrats. This is essential in maintaining a healthy democracy and a free and fair democratic society. Bureaucrats must only work in the best interests of the general population. If they do not, they undermine democracy and pose a constitutional threat to the fabric of a given society. Rule of law ensures elected officials serve the people who elected them. Restricting bureaucratic power prevents any form of tyranny which could damage society. Thus, restricting the power of bureaucrats is essential for maintaining a free and fair democratic society.

Upholds fundamental institutions

The seventh benefit of rule of law is that it upholds fundamental institutions that are crucial to the correct function of a given society. The biggest one is democracy. It ensures that a society’s democratic process runs as it is supposed to and protects democracy from any outside intervention or arbitrary uses of power. Rule of law upholds the legal system, which is of vital importance to the correct functioning of society. It upholds trade and commerce, which contribute to a society’s prosperity. Thus, rule of law upholds the fundamental institutions that ensure the correct functioning of a free and fair democratic society.

Ensures justice

The eighth benefit of rule of law is that it ensures justice. Justice is a fundamental principle of a free and fair democratic society. It makes sure each and every individual is held accountable for their actions. It ensures that there is a clear societal expectation that individuals don’t break the law. It allows for a better democracy and a healthier, better educated, more prosperous and safer society. Hence, justice is a vital element of a free and fair democratic society.

Prevents arbitrariness

The ninth benefit of rule of law is that it prevents arbitrariness. Democracy is always going to be challenged by outside intervention, tyranny, and any arbitrary uses of power. Rule of law is crafted specifically so it can prevent this from happening and preserve a healthy democracy. It does this mostly by restricting the power and reach of the state and bureaucrats. Despotism, absolutism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism are all at play when the state has too much power and starts flexing its muscles. It is crucial to any society that this be prevented at all cost. Hence, rule of law prevents arbitrariness which is paramount to a free and fair democratic society.

Preserves fundamental values and principles

The tenth benefit of rule of law is that it preserves the fundamental values and principles that pave the way for a free and fair democratic society. A lot of these have been touched on earlier. It upholds the values of freedom and personal liberty, both of which are crucial to a prosperous society. It emphasises the importance of equality before the law, making sure every individual has equal opportunity and an equal say in a given society’s democracy. Last but not least, it upholds the value of democracy itself. It makes sure a given democracy is by the people, for the people and that a society is run from the ground up, not the top down. Thus, rule of law preserves the fundamental values and principles that create a free and fair democratic society.

Photo by Miltiadis Fragkidis on Unsplash

Summary

The 10 benefits of the rule of law are:

Equality
Ensures freedom
Good governance
Upholds democracy
Individual liberty
Less bureaucracy
Upholds fundamental institutions
Ensures justice
Prevents arbitrariness
Preserves fundamental values and principles

Rule of law has many benefits for society. It is a value that has helped shape western civilisation into the powerhouse it is today. It is absolutely paramount for ensuring a free and fair democratic society.

What is the benefit of rule of law in democracy?

Rule of law is one of the quintessential values of a free and fair democratic society. Democracy and rule of law go hand in hand. It is important to know what the benefit of rule of law is in democracy, so we can understand why the two are so closely linked.

There are 3 main benefits of the rule of law in democracy. Firstly, it ensures the democratic process as a whole is sound and runs as it is supposed to. Secondly, it emphasises equality by deeming no individual is above the law, an important value for democracy. Thirdly, it ensures that a given democracy is by the people, for the people.

Democratic process

The first main benefit the rule of law has in democracy is that it ensures the democratic process operates as it is supposed to. The democratic process itself is an essential element for maintaining a healthy democracy. For a democratic process to run smoothly, there has to be legislation and systems in place that makes certain there is no corruption and the process is fair. Rule of law is the mechanism that is used to tick both of these boxes, laying the foundation for a healthy democratic process.

The democratic process decrees that each citizen is entitled to one vote. They may use this vote as they wish, and are free to back any candidate they believe is fit to be in public office. If done correctly, the candidates with the most votes will be appointed to public office, with the intention of working in the best interests of those who voted them there. Rule of law makes sure that this process has no flaws and runs as smoothly as possible. For this process to work, three criteria must be met. Firstly, democracy itself has the rule of law enshrined in its foundational basis to set the correct legislation, ensuring democracy is upheld. Secondly, the candidates running for public office must uphold the rule of law to prevent any use of arbitrary power or corruption. Thirdly, the voters themselves must take responsibility in voting for candidates that stick to the rule of law and have their best interests in mind.

These three criteria can easily be met if a given democracy has implemented the rule of law correctly. Rule of law is paramount in ensuring that the democratic process runs as it is supposed to. The democratic process is at the heart of a free and fair democracy. Therefore, the first benefit rule of law has for democracy is that it upholds the democratic process and protects it from any outside intervention or arbitrary uses of power.

Equality

The second crucial benefit the rule of law has for democracy is that it ensures equality for all citizens. The rule of law emphasises the fact that no citizen is above the law. This, in turn, means that each individual is equal before the law regardless of their status, class, race, ethnicity, gender, faith or sexuality. This equality is an essential basis of a healthy and prosperous democracy.

Democracy holds that the voices of each and every individual matter, and must be heard. This can only be true if a given democracy ensures equality before the law for each and everyone of its citizens. Rule of law is the foundation that allows for such equality, and therefore plays an essential role in maintaining the values of democracy. Equality under the law makes sure that no individual is discriminated against, and that no single group within a society can discriminate against others. This is important, as democracy stresses the primacy of the individual. This cannot be met if a certain individual is discriminated against by other members of society. In a true democracy, every individual has a chance to succeed and use their voice, regardless of who they are and where they come from. Rule of law is the concept that ensures this can be met.

Equality is a vital element in a free and fair democratic society. It upholds all the core elements of democracy and ensures each and every individual’s voice is heard regardless of their background. Equality under the law is embedded in the rule of law. Therefore, another benefit of the rule of law in democracy is that it ensures equality under the law for each and every citizen.

By the people, for the people

The third benefit of the rule of law in democracy is that it makes sure that a given democracy is by the people, for the people. This is one of the main elements of democracy, and why it is the system of government most frequently used within free and fair societies. The whole point of democracy is that it is a system where the people use their voice to elect the public officials that will serve them best. The governance of a democracy should be a direct reflection of the values and interests of the majority within a given society.

Rule of law is the keystone of a democracy that is by the people, for the people. It stresses the fact that bureaucrats are not above the citizens who they serve. There is legislation in place to minimise the power and authoritative control of bureaucrats. As stated earlier, it makes sure the democratic process runs smoothly. This means that every citizen’s voice is heard and that elected officials absolutely must act in the best interests of those who elected them. Rule of law also protects democracy and the democratic process from any outside intervention, arbitrary use of power, corruption or tyranny. This is vital for upholding the values of democracy and making sure democracy prevails above all else. Democracy is the model of governance that best represents the will of the people, and therefore it is the best system for improving the lives of each and every individual.

Thus, a healthy democracy is one that is by the people, for the people. Rule of law is essential for ensuring that this is the case. It Implements all the correct legislation that maintains a healthy democratic process and restricts the power and control of bureaucrats. It protects from forces that could harm democracy and makes sure the individual’s voice is important, is heard, and is acted upon.

Summary

Rule of law ensures that a given democracy has a sound democratic process. The democratic process is one of the key elements of democracy. It makes sure every individual has a voice, and those elected to public office have the people’s best interest at heart. Rule of law is the foundation for a solid democratic process.

Rule of law allows for equality for all. Equality before the law is a crucial component of a healthy democracy. Rule of law makes sure that every individual is equal regardless of who they are and when they come from. This limits discrimination and means each and every individual is a valuable asset to a given society.

Rule of law makes sure that a democracy is by the people, for the people. This is a quintessential element of a free and fair democratic society. In democracy, everyone’s voice must be heard. Public officials must act in the best interests of those they serve. Rule of law ensures that this is the case. Thus, rule of law benefits democracy greatly, and is paramount for the survival of a healthy democracy.

What are the benefits of rule of law?

Rule of law is one of the most fundamental concepts that has helped shape Western civilisation. It is the concept that lays the foundation for all of society’s values and institutions. Seeing as it is such an integral part of society, it is important to know what the benefits of rule of law are.

The main benefit of rule of law is that it is the foundation for a free and fair democratic society. It ensures freedom and prosperity to all whilst protecting us from any arbitrary uses of power. It is the keystone to maintaining individual rights and equality for all.

Democracy

One of the biggest benefits of rule of law is that it is the key foundation of democracy. Democracy cannot exist if there is no solid framework to ensure it operates as it is supposed to, but also protects it from any outside intervention. The rule of law is the foundation that ensures these aims are met. Without rule of law, democracy would cease to exist.

Rule of law ensures that public officials, for example, are elected through a democratic process in which the people decide who gets appointed. It gives a democracy the best possible chance of electing leaders who respect and uphold rule of law. The citizens are responsible for this, too, as they are the voice which elects these officials. If done correctly, not only will elected officials uphold the rule of law, but they will also represent the people of a given society and implement policies that improve those people’s lives. That is the beauty of democracy, and why rule of law is a quintessential element in maintaining a free and fair democratic society.

Rule of law also protects democracy from any outside intervention or arbitrary uses of power. This is essential for protecting society from tyranny and other arbitrary forces such as authoritarianism and totalitarianism. If society loses the rule of law, democracy is quick to fall, paving the way for corruption and the demise of society. It is important that a state remains a democratic one, as democracy is the surest method of giving voice to each and every individual. It is the system in which people get to determine who represents them, and what must be done to improve society. Rule of law ensures this is the case, which is highly beneficial to society and the individual.

Freedom

Another important benefit rule of law gives society is that it ensures freedom. Freedom is a very important concept, as it is freedom which allows society to progress and the individual to prosper. Free societies are almost always more prosperous than societies where freedom is restricted. Free societies on average have better economic conditions, GDP per capita, education, health, life expectancy and civil liberties. This shows how crucial it is for a society to remain free. The rule of law lays the foundation for a free society, as without it, freedom would be endangered.

For a society to remain free, it has to have rules in place to ensure that the rights and liberties of the individual are protected. Rule of law makes sure that the legal system puts an emphasis on individual freedom, and that the law protects the liberty of the individual. Rule of law decrees that no citizen is above the law. This is important for maintaining freedom as it prevents public figures and individuals who hold positions of power from restricting freedom and stripping away the fundamental rights of the individual.

Freedom is a quintessential concept of a free and fair democratic society. It is the one value that has allowed the western world in particular to progress as much as it has. It is therefore important that it is protected at all costs. Rule of law is the keystone for a free society, as without it freedom could not be preserved and society would be susceptible to the forces of tyranny. Hence, one of the main benefits of rule of law is that it maintains a free society.

Individual Rights

The third main benefit of rule of law is that it ensures individual rights. In a free and fair democratic society, it is paramount that the rights of the individual are protected at all costs. Rule of law decrees that every citizen is equal under the law. This is the ideal foundation for maintaining individual rights and protecting them from outside intervention or from arbitrary uses of power. Individual rights lay the framework for a society that is in unison and harmony. They must be protected at all costs.

Emphasising the rights of the individual and that every citizen is equal before the law is crucial in ensuring two things. Firstly, it prevents individuals in power from unjustly interfering in the lives of other individuals who they deem ‘lesser’ than them. Secondly, it limits any form of dicrimination under the legal system that would unfairly target a certain group within society. Maintaining the rights of the individual means that no-one is discriminated against on the basis of their status, class, race, faith, gender or sexuality. It makes certain that each and every individual has the same rights, freedoms and opportunities as everyone else. Every individual has the same chance to succeed in life. The rule of law stresses the importance of individual rights and equality for all.

Individual rights are paramount to a free and fair democratic society. They are important for maintaining a healthy democracy and ensuring the individual is free and protected under the law. The rule of law is essential in ensuring the rights of the individual are valued and protected, which therefore benefits society greatly as a whole.

Summary

The main benefit of the rule of law is that it is the foundation for a free and fair democratic society. It ensures freedom and prosperity to all whilst protecting us from any arbitrary uses of power. It is the keystone to maintaining individual rights and equality for all.

Rule of law is essential for ensuring a healthy democracy. It lays the foundation for a free and fair democratic society. It makes sure democracy works as it is supposed to. It guarantees that public officials are democratically chosen by the people, and that they maintain the rule of law and serve those who put them into office.

Rule of law is important in ensuring freedom. Freedom is a quintessential element of a free and fair democratic society. Freedom gives the individual more power and rights, leading to a more prosperous society overtime. Rule of law makes sure freedom is protected and valued by all members of society.

Rule of law ensures the rights of the individual. Individual rights are important, as it means every citizen is equal before the law. This is important for combating tyranny and any arbitrary uses of power. It also protects individuals from any forms of discrimination. Hence, rule of law is one of the most important concepts within a democracy, and one that has many benefits for society.