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Rule of law is a rebuke to rulers who argue that they are exempt from the law from due to divine right or other rationale. The concept was familiar to ancient philosophers such as [[Aristotle]], who wrote "Law should govern".<ref>Aristotle, Politics 3.16</ref> It was a principle followed during the Roman Republic. "We are all servants of the laws in order that we may be free," Cicero wrote. Magistrates were immune from prosecution as long as they held public office. But they could be legally held to account once their terms expired. (Senators were former magistrates who, at least in theory, merely advised their successors. The Senate had neither immunity nor legal responsibility for any policy.) In imperial times, the emperor was declared to be immune from law (''legibus solutus'').  

Rule of law is a rebuke to rulers who argue that they are exempt from the law from due to divine right or other rationale. The concept was familiar to ancient philosophers such as [[Aristotle]], who wrote "Law should govern".<ref>Aristotle, Politics 3.16</ref> It was a principle followed during the Roman Republic. "We are all servants of the laws in order that we may be free," Cicero wrote. Magistrates were immune from prosecution as long as they held public office. But they could be legally held to account once their terms expired. (Senators were former magistrates who, at least in theory, merely advised their successors. The Senate had neither immunity nor legal responsibility for any policy.) In imperial times, the emperor was declared to be immune from law (''legibus solutus'').  

The ''Magna Carta'' of 1215 established the principle that the king of England is subject to the law. The phrase "rule of law" is found in a petition to King James I submitted by parliament in 1610.<ref>Hallam, Henry. ''The Constitutional History of England'', Volume 1, page 441 (1827).</ref> In 1644, Samuel Rutherford give the principle theoretical foundation in the book ''Lex, Rex: The Law is King''.

The ''Magna Carta'' of 1215 established the principle that the king of England is subject to the law. The phrase "rule of law" is found in a petition to King James I submitted by parliament in 1610.<ref>Hallam, Henry. ''The Constitutional History of England'', Volume 1, page 441 (1827).</ref> Samuel Rutherford gave the principle a theoretical foundation in his book ''Lex, Rex: The Law is King'' (1644).

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