Rule of law
U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) glossary · Civics
Definition
The principle that everyone - including leaders - must follow the law.
Rule of law in plain English
"Rule of law" means the law is the boss — not any single person, no matter how powerful. Even a president, a general, or a billionaire has to follow the same rules as everyone else, and if they break them, they can be held accountable in court. Think of a soccer game: the referee's rules apply to the star player exactly as much as to a rookie, and even the best player can get a red card. That idea — nobody is above the rules — is one of the core reasons the U.S. was set up the way it was.
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