2008 civics test · Question 12 of 100 · Principles of American Government

What is the “rule of law”?

Q: What is the “rule of law”?

Everyone must follow the law.; Leaders must obey the law.; Government must obey the law.; No one is above the law. The rule of law means that laws apply to everyone equally. Ordinary people, leaders, and the government itself must all obey the law, and no one is above it, not even the President. Any of the four official phrasings is correct, and they all express this same idea.

In Chinese 什么是“法治”？

Official answers

Everyone must follow the law.人人都必须遵守法律。
Leaders must obey the law.领导人必须遵守法律。
Government must obey the law.政府必须遵守法律。
No one is above the law.任何人都不能凌驾于法律之上。

Any one of these answers is accepted unless the question asks for more than one.

Why this is the answer

The rule of law means that laws apply to everyone equally. Ordinary people, leaders, and the government itself must all obey the law, and no one is above it, not even the President. Any of the four official phrasings is correct, and they all express this same idea.

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Also on the 2025 test as question 13

Source: USCIS 100 Civics Questions (PDF)

What is the “rule of law”?

Official answers

Why this is the answer

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