Sources of Law

• The Rule of Law: the concept that both citizens and their rulers (government), know it and obey it.

  • The rule of law prevents anarchy or arbitrary government
• Key aspects of the Rule of Law:

  • No-one should be punished unless they've broken the law
  • Everyone is equal before the law
  • The law must be certain
• No-one should be punished unless they have broken the law:

  • This means the state can only punish those that have received a guilty verdict.
  • This avoids any abuse of power
• The law must be certain:

  • This is so the law is easily enforced and people know in society when and if they are breaking the law
• Everyone is equal before the law:

  • This means that everyone in society is treated fairly and equally before the law with no advantage or bias
  • This holds up integrity in our English legal system
  • Entick v Carrington (1765)