The Rule of Law | English Legal System - Hukukun Üstünlüğü: İngiliz Hukuk Sistemi Esasları

 

The Rule of Law in the English Legal System

Introduction

This document summarises the key concepts related to the rule of law as discussed in the provided source, which focuses on the English legal system and its foundational principles. The source highlights the complex and somewhat abstract nature of the rule of law, emphasising its importance and the ongoing scholarly debate surrounding its precise definition. It makes clear the rule of law will be examined on at least two occasions in the coming weeks, as part of the legal system and also as a fundamental constitutional theory.

Key Themes and Concepts

1. Foundational Principle: The rule of law is presented as a core, perhaps the most foundational principle of the English legal system and the wider UK constitutional system. It's described as "arguably...the most foundational principle." This underlines its significance in shaping how the legal system operates.
2. Theoretical and Difficult to Define: The source acknowledges that the rule of law is a highly theoretical concept, making it challenging to define precisely. It notes that there hasn't been any attempt to define the concept in a single sentence, and most legal scholars instead focus on characterising it as a system of principles rather than a single codified definition. This difficulty in pinpointing a definition doesn't diminish its importance, but underscores its complexity.
3. Core Principles: Despite the difficulty in precise definition, the source outlines some core principles generally associated with the rule of law:

• Accountability and Subjection to the Law: "All people are both subjected to the law and that they are accountable to the law." The rule of law means everyone is subject to and answerable to the law.
• Fairness and Proper Enforcement: The law should be "fair and properly enforced." This highlights the need for just application of the law, not just its existence.
• Punishment According to Law: "Punishment and sanction...done in accordance with the law and not done on some arbitrary basis." This stresses the importance of due process and legal justification for any state sanctions.
• Equality Before the Law: "Law represents equality...applied to everybody equally" and "nobody is above the law." This principle ensures that the law applies to everyone, regardless of their status or position, so long as they are within the relevant jurisdiction. The source gives the example of company law applying equally to all company owners.
• Clarity of Law: "Law must be clear for those to understand it." This indicates that laws should be accessible and understandable to the general public.

1. The Rule of Law and the Nature of Law: There is the consideration that a law failing to adhere to the basic principles of the rule of law may not be "law" at all. It is a question of "ontology about what law actually is" that "some argue that law doesn't exist where the rule of law doesn't exist". This suggests the rule of law is not just an aspirational ideal but a foundational element that gives "law" its validity. The source highlights that a law applied unfairly or in a discriminatory fashion would be a "substantial violation of the rule of law".
2. The Tension between Law and Equity: The historical tension between the common law and principles of equity is raised to highlight the need for fairness and justice. The source explains that equity developed to rectify "unfair or unjust outcomes" where the common law was correctly applied but led to unjust outcomes. "Equity could maybe step in to rectify and to balance out some of the unfair potentially unjust outcomes of the common law." This historical tension shows how the English legal system has grappled with the need to balance legal procedure with concepts of fairness. The text notes that the subsequent judicature acts have seen a fusion of law and equity.
3. Rule of Law in Law Making: The rule of law is not just about the application of law, but also how laws are created. "The rule of law is a principle which permeates the process of law making, not just the application of legal principles". This point highlights that new laws should be made in accordance with the principles of the rule of law.

• Democratic Mandate: The dominance of the House of Commons, with its democratic mandate derived from election, is presented as aligned with the rule of law and democratic principles. "The government in the House of Commons democratically proposing new bills is considered to be something of a of a rule of law principle". The source notes that the fact the government holds a majority in the House of Commons "suggests that the wills of the people collectively support the government in their decisions".
• Power Dynamic: The greater power of the elected House of Commons compared to the unelected House of Lords is seen as consistent with the rule of law because "it would probably be seen as something of a violation of or contravention of the rule of law if the House of Lords was significantly more powerful than the House of Commons given the fact that the Lords are unelected".

Quotes and Supporting Evidence:

• "The concept of the rule of law is the most foundational principle of the of the English legal system and potentially the the constitutional system that exists within England and Wales."
• "We can't have a very specific and niche definition of the rule of law."
• "All people are both subjected to the law and that they are accountable to the law."
• "The punishment and sanction of an individual by the state should not be done on the basis of some kind of arbitrary rule or the whims of a particular leader within government."
• "Law represents equality it means that it is applied to everybody equally."
• "Nobody is above the law".
• "Law must be clear for those to understand it."
• "The rule of law is a principle which permeates the process of law making not just the application of legal principles".
• "The party with the largest majority in the House of Commons therefore has the mandate to propose the creation of new legislation."

Conclusion

The rule of law is presented as a complex yet essential concept within the English legal system. While difficult to define with precision, its core principles emphasize equality, accountability, fairness, clarity, and due process. The source makes it clear the rule of law is a foundational principle that impacts both the application and the creation of law. The discussion highlights the importance of the rule of law as a guiding principle for any legal system aiming to be just and legitimate. The source indicates that this is just an initial discussion and the rule of law will be discussed further in subsequent lectures.

Hukukun Üstünlüğü (İngiliz Hukuk Sistemi)

Giriş:

Bu brifing belgesi, İngiliz hukuk sisteminde temel bir kavram olan hukukun üstünlüğünü ele almaktadır. Kaynak, hukukun üstünlüğünün, İngiltere ve Galler'deki hukuk sisteminin ve potansiyel olarak Birleşik Krallık'taki anayasal sistemin en temel ilkesi olduğunu belirtmektedir. Ayrıca, bu kavramın teorik yapısı ve kesin bir tanımının zorluğu vurgulanmaktadır.

Temel Temalar ve Fikirler:

• Hukukun Üstünlüğünün Tanımlanmasındaki Zorluk: Hukukun üstünlüğü, karmaşık ve teorik bir kavram olduğundan kesin bir tanım yapmak zordur. Hukukçular ve anayasa teorisyenleri, hukukun üstünlüğünü tek bir cümleyle tanımlamak yerine, onu bir dizi ilke olarak karakterize etmeye çalışırlar.
• Kaynaktan Alıntı: "because it is difficult and Incredibly theoretical it means that the definition of the rule of law as a basic principle within the United Kingdom or specifically within England and Wales is difficult to Define we can't have a very specific and niche definition of the rule of law"
• Hukukun Üstünlüğünün Temel Unsurları: Genel olarak, hukukun üstünlüğü, tüm insanların hukuka tabi olması ve hukuka karşı sorumlu olması gerektiği görüşünü kapsar. Hukukun adil ve düzgün bir şekilde uygulanması beklenir.
• Kaynaktan Alıntı: "we can really broadly understand the rule of law as encapsulating the view that all people are both subjected to the law and that they are accountable to the law as well and that the law in this regard ought to be uh fair and properly enforced"
• Eşitlik İlkesi: Hukukun üstünlüğü, hukukun herkese eşit olarak uygulanmasını ve hiç kimsenin hukukun üzerinde olmamasını gerektirir. Ancak, hukukun belirli alanlarının (örneğin şirketler hukuku) yalnızca belirli gruplara uygulanabileceği unutulmamalıdır.
• Kaynaktan Alıntı: "law represents equality it means that it is applied to everybody equally and it is applied to everybody um regardless of what position you are in within the particular legal system this encapsulates the view that nobody is above the law"
• Adalet ve Açıklık: Hukukun adil ve anlaşılır olması gerekir. Karmaşık ve anlaşılması zor yasalar, hukukun üstünlüğüne aykırı olabilir.
• Kaynaktan Alıntı: "La there's one idea here that law must be clear for those to understand it if the law is convoluted and complicated such that the an ordinary individual cannot understand what you are supposed to do then this seems to be a violation of the rule of law"
• Hukukun Üstünlüğü ve Yasa Yapma Süreci: Hukukun üstünlüğü ilkesi, yalnızca hukukun uygulanmasında değil, aynı zamanda yasa yapma sürecinde de geçerlidir. Parlamentoda yasa tasarılarının hazırlanması ve kabul edilmesi, hukukun üstünlüğü ilkelerine uygun olarak gerçekleştirilmelidir.
• Kaynaktan Alıntı: "when we look at the principles of the rule of law we have to think about how the rule of law is a principle which permeates the process of law making not just the application of legal principles"
• Demokrasi ve Parlamentonun Rolü: Halk tarafından seçilen hükümetin, yasa tasarılarını önerme yetkisine sahip olması, hukukun üstünlüğü ilkesinin demokratik yönünü yansıtmaktadır. Avam Kamarası'nın (House of Commons), atanmış üyelerden oluşan Lordlar Kamarası'ndan (House of Lords) daha güçlü olması da bu ilkeyle uyumludur.
• Kaynaktan Alıntı: "the idea that there is an inherent link between the rule of law and basic principles of democracy the party with the largest majority in the House of Commons therefore has the mandate to propose the creation of new legislation"
• "Equity" Kavramı: Hukukun doğru uygulanmasına rağmen adaletsiz sonuçlar doğurabileceği durumlarda, "equity" kavramı devreye girerek bu tür adaletsizlikleri gidermeyi amaçlar.

Sonuç:

Hukukun üstünlüğü, İngiliz hukuk sisteminin temel bir ilkesidir. Ancak, karmaşıklığı ve teorik yapısı nedeniyle kesin bir tanım yapmak zordur. Bu ilke, hukukun herkese eşit uygulanmasını, adil ve anlaşılır olmasını, yasa yapma sürecinde de geçerli olmasını ve demokratik değerleri desteklemesini gerektirir.