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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. Roman magistrates had immunity from prosecution as long as they held office. But they could be held to account for any transgression once their terms expired. (This system didn't cover senators since they were former magistrates who, at least in theory, merely advised their successors.) In imperial times, the emperor had full legal immunity (''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. Roman magistrates had immunity from prosecution as long as they held office. But they could be held to account for any transgression once their terms expired. (This system didn't cover senators since they were former magistrates who, at least in theory, merely advised their successors.) In imperial times, the emperor had full legal immunity (''legibus solutus'').  

The ''Magna Carta'' of 1215 established the principle that the king of England is subject to the law. This may not have been the original intention of the document, but it has been consistently interpreted this way, most authoritatively by Sir [[Edward Coke]]. 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'', Voleume 1, page 441 (1827).</ref> In the English Civil War (1642–1651), the king asserted that his "divine right" took precedence over the law. [[Samuel Rutherford]] argued for rule of law in ''Lex, Rex: The Law is King'' (1644), while Robert Filmer defended divine right in ''Patriarcha'' (1680).

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'', Voleume 1, page 441 (1827).</ref> In the English Civil War (1642–1651), the king asserted that his "divine right" took precedence over the law. [[Samuel Rutherford]] argued for rule of law in ''Lex, Rex: The Law is King'' (1644), while Robert Filmer defended divine right in ''Patriarcha'' (1680).

==See Also==

==See Also==