 Locke believed political truths come from
nature.
 Ancient Greeks and Romans: natural law
(innate right and wrong) protect natural rights
 England Common Law claimed to be
“discovering” natural law ideas
 English legal system develops concept of Rule
of Law
 Set of Principles (5)
 Determines if laws supports freedom or not;
protects freedom
 “The laws must be general”
 Apply broadly, do not single out before
passing law
 Ethnicity, religion, political group, sexual
preference, SES
 “Equality under law”
 “The laws must apply to future action, not
past”
 Indiv. Should have choice to obey law or not
 E.g. Punishing for not voting in past election
 “Laws must be both known and certain”
 Well publicized and enforceable
 If laws are not enforced, people will not follow
them
 “The laws must be generally acceptable to
those who must live by them”
 Elections and following Constitution
 Holds true if you can change laws that you do
not support
 “The laws must be administered impartially”
 Guilt or innocent, with no other questions
 Establish trials, defenses, punishments
 If all 5 principles met, then the law supports
freedom (a.k.a. liberty)
 https://americanheritage.byu.edu/Pages/Gam
esandActivities/Games-and-Activities.aspx
 http://ruleoflaw.ctlbyu.org/#page=StartPage