The rule of law

Law is the whole system of rules that citizens that citizens of a country or place must obey. When people are in a place to avoid conflict through ignorance, there must be law that will guide everyone in that very place. While the rule of law is one of the fundamental principles of all democratic governments. The government cannot operate without the law. Therefore the government and everybody must act or do things according to the law. The rule of law emphasizes equality, impartially and fundamental human rights. The rule of law tells us that every citizen is equal before the law. The law should not be bent because someone is rich or someone is poor. It does not permit impartiality. Some of the benefits of the rule of law as against arbitrary rule are as follows

The law must apply to all citizens. No one must be too big before the law

All accused people must be tried in the open place and not hurriedly done in the secret to favour some people

People are allowed to call witnesses to support their cases. All must be listened to as against the arbitrary judgement

The law is clear before everybody unlike the arbitrary where it is not clear and you cannot challenge it

Punishment for each offence must be clearly stated out. There is no arbitrary bending of judgement to favour a rich man or a person because gratification has been collected from him or her

Punishment for breaking the Law

Rule of law means the superiority of the law above all arbitrary exercise of power by those who are in government or of people in the community that we live. Where there is no law, there is no offence.

Murder case – Life Imprisonment

Robbery – Ten years and above imprisonment

Fraud – Ten years and above imprisonment

The rule of law stipulates that anybody found guilty no matter his status must be punished for his offence.

Equality of Citizens before the Law

In a decent society where rule of law operates, the law is no respecter of any person. Those in government who know that they have been elected to serve the people, normally obey the law they command people to obey. It is only in an indecent that people in government arrogated power of disobedience to themselves and feel they are above the law.

ASSESSMENT

List THREE benefits of the rule of law?