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What exactly is the Rule of Law?<\/p>\n
Stripped of its legal jargon, the Rule of Law is a set of enduring principles. That no one \u2013 not even the government \u2013 is above the law.<\/p>\n
That laws are clear, applied consistently and enforced by independent courts. And that, every person, whatever their status or means, is equal before the law and is entitled to a fair hearing.<\/p>\n
The Rule of Law is not an abstract ideal. It is what gives every citizen confidence that he or she will be treated fairly in court. It is what gives every business the assurance that a contract will be honoured. And it is what gives every investor certainty that the rules will not change overnight.<\/p>\n
For a small city-state with no natural resources, trust is everything.<\/p>\n
Singapore inherited its modern legal system from the British. In 1826, the Second Charter of Justice established Singapore\u2019s modern legal and judicial system and, for the first time, a common body of law applied to everyone on the island \u2013 regardless of race, language or religion. It was a significant moment.<\/p>\n
But for much of the colonial era, the law was wielded less for the benefit of ordinary inhabitants than to advance the interests of empire and trade.<\/p>\n
Click here to explore early milestones that helped lay the foundations of Singapore\u2019s legal system.<\/i><\/p>\n