The rule of law is the legal principle that law should govern a nation, as opposed to being governed by arbitrary decisions of individual government officials. It primarily refers to the influence and authority of law within society, particularly as a constraint upon behaviour, including behaviour of government officials. The phrase can be traced back to 16th century Britain, and in the following century the Scottish theologian Samuel Rutherford used the phrase in his argument against the divine right of kings. The rule of law was further popularized in the 19th century by British jurist A. V. Dicey. The concept, if not the phrase, was familiar to ancient philosophers such as Aristotle, who wrote "Law should govern".

Rule of law implies that every citizen is subject to the law, including law makers themselves. In this sense, it stands in contrast to an autocracy, dictatorship, or oligarchy where the rulers are held above the law. Lack of the rule of law can be found in both democracies and dictatorships, for example because of neglect or ignorance of the law, and the rule of law is more apt to decay if a government has insufficient corrective mechanisms for restoring it. Government based upon the rule of law is called nomocracy.

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. What does the rule of law imply?
2. Even lawmakers?
3. What does this differ from?
4. Why?
5. What is the principle of the rule of law?
6. As opposed to what?
7. What does it mainly refer to?
8. Where can the phrase be traced back to?
9. Who used it in their argument against the divine right of kings?
10. Who was he?
11. When did it become more popular?
12. By whom?
13. Who was he?
14. Who was familiar to the concept?
15. Like who?
16. What did he do?
17. Where can a lack of this rule be found?
18. What is an example?
19. What is it called when government is based on that rule?
20. Does it apply to government officials?
1. that every citizen is subject to the law
2. Yes
3. an autocracy, dictatorship, or oligarchy
4. Because that is where the rulers are held above the law.
5. that law should govern a nation,
6. to being governed by arbitrary decisions of individual government officials
7. the influence and authority of law within society
8. 16th century Britain
9. Samuel Rutherford
10. Scottish theologian
11. in the 19th century
12. A. V. Dicey.
13. British jurist
14. ancient philosophers
15. Aristotle
16. He wrote "Law should govern".
17. in both democracies and dictatorships
18. because of neglect or ignorance of the law, and the rule of law is more apt to decay if a government has insufficient corrective mechanisms for restoring it.
19. nomocracy.
20. Yes