Megan Lewis – Welsh Youth Ambassador at the Attorney General’s Office and Co-Creator of RoL Models
You may have heard politicians or lawyers talk about the ‘rule of law’ online or on the news when something big or controversial is happening. But they rarely explain what it means, despite it actually being one of the most important ideas behind the services you use every single day, and something you don’t realise is gone until it stops working.
That’s why in this blog, I break down what the rule of law is, why it exists, and why it matters to you.
So, what actually is the rule of law? Despite its grand-sounding name, the rule of law simply means that everyone plays by the same rules, including the people in charge, and that there’s a fair process for sorting things out when they go wrong.
That might sound obvious, but think about how much of everyday life only works because we trust that everyone else is playing by the same rules. Take football: we expect the referee to treat all players the same, and when someone commits a foul, they’re held accountable through a yellow or red card, no matter how good a player they are, or which team they’re on. The rule of law is that same idea, just applied to the whole country.
What does making sure everyone plays by the same rules involve?
When it comes to the law, making sure everyone is treated the same is important due to the scale of the impacts these decisions can have on people’s lives. Therefore, certain systems are in place to make sure that it is done. These systems include:
· Making sure the law is public and accessible to everyone, not hidden away.
· Making sure people in power cannot make decisions based on their own opinions or feelings. They have to explain and justify them to Parliament and the public.
· Having an independent court, so judges deciding cases aren’t biased.
And this isn’t just an English or Westminster idea — the same applies here in Wales too. Wales has its own Senedd that holds the Welsh Government to account, independent judges and courts and there’s even a law (the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019) whose whole job is making sure Welsh law is public, clear and readable by everyone.
What happens when the rule of law breaks down?
The rule of law plays a huge role in protecting everyday rights. So when it breaks down, and decisions start being made based on power, popularity or personal opinion rather than rules, it can have terrible consequences.
Around the world, you can see what happens in places where the rule of law is weak or ignored. It’s often linked to corruption (people in power using their position unfairly, for their own benefit), unfair treatment, and people no longer believing they will be treated fairly. “Take Afghanistan, for example, where there’s no independent court system to fairly enforce laws, and basic legal protections don’t exist — especially for women and girls, such as the right to go to school. It’s a stark reminder of what is at stake when the rule of law disappears.
Rules should be applied fairly at all levels. That is why the rule of law is considered one of the building blocks of a fair society, with laws designed to protect people’s freedom, safety and rights.
The thing is, the rule of law only works if we all know about it and don’t just take it for granted – we’re lucky to have it and it’s easy to assume it’ll always be there.
What can you do?
You can:
· Notice it in action. Once you know what to look for, you’ll start spotting the rule of law (or the lack of it) everywhere — in the news, in school and even in games with friends.
· Ask questions. If a decision seems unfair or a rule is being applied differently to different people, it’s worth asking why.
· Talk about it. Share what you’ve learned with friends or family. The more people understand the rule of law, the harder it is for it to be quietly ignored.
· Keep learning. Follow the news or reliable social media sources like RoL Models on Instagram and TikTok for more bite-sized explainers like this one.
Understanding the rule of law isn’t just something for politicians and lawyers to worry about. It affects your school, your community, and your future — it is just as important that young people here in Wales know about it too.
Useful links
The Rule of Law and why it matters Explained – Portal
RoL Models website