Summary Rule of Law Crib Sheet

Rule of Law

What? Dicey: What? Lord Biogham:
 All persoos/bodies subject to law i.e.  Law must be accessible/iotelligible, clear,
executve aod laymao Eotck v Carriogtoo, predictable R(Purdy)
M v Home Ofce, A v UK  Laws should apply equally
 Nobody cao be made to sufer peoaltes  Public ofcers should exercise powers io
except for breach of law before court good faith, fairly R(Reilly) oo.2
 Rights protected by courts  Law must aford adequate protectoo for
What? R(Reilly): fuodameotal HR (substaotve)
 Parliameot aod Executve  Access to the courts
recogoise/respect SofP  Adjudicatve procedures provided by state
 Abide by priociple of legality (i.e gov’t should be fair
caooot override rights by  Must comply with ioteroatooal aod oatooal
geoeral/ambiguous wordiog, courts to obligatoos
ioterpret it as though rights are protected)
 Legislatoo ought oot be retrospectve – Who?
favours Executve io oogoiog litgatoo  Dicey (above), commoo law = beter
protectoo of rights thao coosttutoo
of rights.
3 aspects:  Lord Biogham (above)
 Law aod order is beter thao aoarchy –
 Joseph Raz – formal i.e capable of
coosttutooalism woot thrive uoless legal
guidiog cooduct, iodepeodeot
restraiots apply to govt.
judiciary, access to courts.
 Gov’t accordiog to law – priociple of legality,
orgaos of state must operate through law
Values:
 Rule of law as broader doctrioe – what
 Curb abuse of power (sofP)
powers ought gov’t to have? (substaotve)
 Protectoo of rights
R(Reilly) oo.2