When is it right to Disobey the Law? The law consists of a set of rules and regulations, enforced by a ruling authority, to govern behavior. The rule of law consigns all individuals within a given community under the same regulations and constraints. This promotes safety and a greater sense of freedom as the community works to promote the generally accepted social good. The obligation to obey the law arises from the fact that individuals in the society have agreed upon a set of rules to offer a general sense of direction that results in the greater good. The law forms the basis that forms states. Every citizen who enjoys the advantages proffered by the state is therefore under obligation to obey the law. To assess cases where we can disobey the law, it is important to analyze what justifies the rule of law. I will argue that individuals have the right to disobey the law under three conditions. First, when the duty to obey the law goes against a generally accepted universal moral code. Secondly, when the disobedient action has an apparent and socially accepted reason and can improve or amend the existing law. Third, when moral and social rewards exceed the cost of disobeying the law. Over the years, many theorists have debated the reasons why individuals should obey the law. According to Kramer, the obligation to obey the law has four characteristics. The first characteristic is the universality of this obligation. This means that the duty to obey the law applies to all the individuals that exist within the jurisdiction of the law (Kramer 2005). The second characteristic, that the duty is content independent, means that the obligation to obey the law is not dependent on the goals or motivations of the individuals but exists simply because it is the law. The third characteristic is that the obligation to obey the law is comprehensively applicable, laws should be obeyed in their entirety and individuals cannot pick which parts of the law to obey. The final characteristic is that it is a prima facie duty. This means that while the law is binding under normal circumstances, certain moral considerations can overrule its authority (Rawls, 1971). The duty to obey the law forms the foundation of states and liberal democracy. Individuals living within a centralized political structure are obligated to conform to their laws. All individuals within a given state enjoy protection and benefits because of their citizenship. This implies consent, either explicit or tacit, to obey the laws of the state. According to Horton, laws outline the terms of association within a polity, hence obedience to laws promotes the welfare and interests of the polity (Horton 1992). Laws, being universally borne, ensure that individual acts in a manner that is socially acceptable by the majority of the state. Hume however argues that many individuals within a given jurisdiction have no power to consent voluntarily to the rule of the state (Hume 1953). Since these individuals do not take any action or inaction to acquire the obligation to obey the state, they thus do not have a duty to obey the laws. In the late 1950s and the 1960s, Martin Luther King engaged in civil disobedience geared to promote social equity in America. He was involved in civ