The rule of law is an ideal principle requiring that everyone within a territory is subject to the same set of laws and must obey those laws, regardless of their status or role in society. The rule of law stands in contrast to the “rule of men” where those with power make and uphold rules that benefit groups they favor and repress everyone else. Societies that make a commitment to the rule of law, even if imperfectly, have an incentive to preserve liberties since all will be subject to the same laws. An independent and nonpartisan judiciary is essential for the defense of the rule of law against groups that prefer the rule of men for their own interests.
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