Have you heard the phrase 'Rule of Law' a lot recently, but don't know what it means? Here's how one of England's greatest lawyers has defined it.

Tom Bingham, former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (1996 - 2000) was described as the greatest lawyer and jurist of his generation. In 2010, he published a short book called the?Rule of Law.

He chose this topic as he kept hearing people use that term, but he felt that people didn't know what it meant.

Here's how he defined the core features of a country governed by the 'Rule of Law':

• All?people and authorities?(public or private) of a country would have to?follow certain laws.
• People and authorities would?enjoy the benefits of these laws.
• These laws would be?made in public forums.
• Each law would generally?come into effect?on a date after it had been made.
• The?courts of the country would decide?whether these laws are being followed.
• Court proceedings would take place?before the eyes of the public.

These factors ensure that everyone in the country can see when a state authority is flouting the laws of the state.

In countries where the rule of law applies,?the law is the supreme ruler, in other words,?the law is the king.

Here's how you can figure out for yourself if your country is being governed by the 'Rule of Law':

In countries ruled by a supreme ruler,?the king is the law. Such countries differ from 'Rule of Law' countries as follows:

• People have to follow the king.
• The king decides who gets to enjoy the laws.
• The king passes laws in private.
• The king decides to make the law applicable as per his whims and fancies.
• The king's own courts decide whether the laws are being followed.
• The king decides whether his court proceedings would be open for the public.

In free countries,?the law must be the king. Else the country is not free.

Bingham said that citizens who live in free countries are better off, as citizens of countries governed by supreme rulers might face the following troubles:

• Sudden disappearances of people;
• Fake trials;
• Confessions extracted through torture
• The practice of genocide or ethnic cleansing;
• Waging of aggressive war.

Bingham wanted people to understand the meaning of 'rule of law' so that they could protect themselves when it was being flouted by authorities in power.

Which are the countries in the modern world that are not governed by the Rule of Law?