"A government that abides by the rule of law is seen as good and worthy of respect."
~ Brian Z. Tamanaha
"Here is the definition: The rule of law means that government officials and citizens are bound by and abide by the law. I repeat: government officials and citizens are bound by and abide by the law.
This is a simple and basic definition. I have selected it because it is a proposition that everyone who thinks about the topic would agree with. Many who write about the rule of law would add more than this, but no one would say that the rule of law involves less than this. It is the minimum content of the rule of law. A society in which government officials and citizens are bound by and abide by the law is a society that lives under the rule of law."
~ Brian Z. Tamanaha
"For the rule of law to exist, people must believe in and be committed to the rule of law. They must take it for granted as a necessary and proper aspect of their society. This attitude is not itself a legal rule. It amounts to a shared cultural belief."
~ Brian Z. Tamanaha
"A widely shared cultural belief that the law should rule is the essential element of the rule of law—and that is the hardest to achieve. Above all else, for this cultural belief to be viable, people must identify with the law and perceive it to be worthy of ruling. The populace must believe that the law reflects their values and serves their interests."
~ Brian Z. Tamanaha
"When the government exercises coercion against a citizen, it must do so in accordance with legal rules stated in advance, in a manner consistent with the dictates of formal legality. Legal rules must affirmatively authorise the government action. The government action cannot transgress any standing legal restrictions. At some point there must be recourse to an independent court dedicated to upholding the law that will make a determination of the legality of the government’s action. And
the ruling of the court must be respected by government officials.
The rule of law demands this much, at least."
~ Brian Z. Tamanaha