2. In the United Kingdom the rule of law is a long-standing principle of the way the country is governed, dating from Magna Carta in 1215

3. What emotions would you being feeling right now, freedom or fear?!
Imagine this scenario...
Helicopters appear above this Hall and announce the following news:
“There are no more laws. Repeat: all laws have been abolished. Any action you perform will have no legal consequence as there are no laws. There will be no police or military as there are no laws to enforce. This applies as of now and applies throughout the world.”
All over the world similar announcements are being made. There are no more laws, no legal systems, no courts, no police, no parliament, no crimes – as of now!
What emotions would you being feeling right now, freedom or fear?!
Thomas Hobbes, a famous philosopher argued that if such a scenario existed “Life would be nasty, brutish and short”

4. Why have rules and laws? They protect and safeguard people
They create order and harmony in society.
They protect and safeguard people

5. The Rule of Law in the UK
The rule of law is one of the fundamental principles of the UK' s unwritten or uncodified constitution.
The key idea of the rule of law is that the law should apply equally to all, rulers and ruled alike.
As John Lock put it, ‘whenever law ends, tyranny begins’.
The most important sub principles of the rule of law are that
no one is above the law,
that there is equality for all before the law,
that the law is always applied and
that legal redress is available through the courts.

6. Our school promotes the importance of the rule of law through such things as:
School uniform and haircuts
Lining up for the canteen
Following teacher instructions
Sanctions and merits
Following the 10 commandments
Obeying the law of the land
Can you think of any others the school promotes?

7. Most people accept laws …
… especially those against violent behaviour and protecting property
People are less enthusiastic against laws restricting freedom
Liberty has challenged such laws
Acceptance of the law would have meant that slavery remained legal and that women were wrong to campaign for equality. This is where democracy comes in.