A government of laws, not men

As John Adams wrote in the Massachusetts Constitution (1780), in America, the government is to "be a government of laws and not of men.”  In other words, the law - and not the personal desires of the rulers - should govern.  No man, even the President, or Congress, is above the law. 

For more about the rule of law, check out Patriot Week and Americas Survival Guide.

King Arthur: My laws must bind everyone, high and low, or they're not laws at all.

In the movie classic Excalibur, King Arthur's wife, Guinevere, is accused of adultery with the King's champion, Sir Lancelot.  In the story, normally such a charge would be met on the field of battle by the husband of the wife, but Arthur defers the battle to Lancelot. Arthur, as King, must preside over the battle as judge to ensure that the battle follows the law and the pure of heart prevails.

Outraged that her husband refuses to champion her reputation, Guinevere confronts Arthur later that night, and the following exchange occurs:

Arthur to Guinevere: You [Lancelot and Guinevere] are the people I love best in the world. 

Guinevere: Then why can't you defend me? 

Arthur: The law!  My laws must bind everyone, high and low, or they're not laws at all. 

Guinevere:  You are my husband. 

Arthur: I must be king first. 

Guinevere: Before husband? 

Arthur: If need be.

Arthur exemplifies the First Principle of the Rule of Law.  He refuses to break his own law to ensure its integrity for the rest of his kingdom.  It was a concept alien to his own wife, and to most of world history.

As Arthur explained, a law is not a law if it does not bind everyone - from the lowest person to the highest - from the janitor to the CEO, from the prisoner to the judge, from the taxpayer to the President. Thankfully, America has taken a different path - one in which the rule of law prevails and our leaders are bound by the laws they make.

To learn more about the rule of law, check out PatriotWeek and Americas Survival Guide.

"[I]f the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted." --Noah Webster

Noah Webster was not just a great lexicographer, he had an astute political mind.  Although seemingly trite, his observation that a government full of unprincipled men must lead to corruption is very astute.  That men and women who run for office can leave principles behind in light of political or personal advantage is no surprise, but voting for a principled, honest politician has vexed American voters for generations.  Why is this so?  Are not the politicians simply an reflection of the people?  Perhaps principled government is hard to come by because we as a people have forgotten our principles and history.  The studies reveal that our citizenry is poorly informed of even the most basic tenants of our Constitution - is it no wonder that those who ask for our votes are often unmoored from it?  This is why initiatives like Patriot Week and books like America's Survival Guide are indispensable to preserving our liberty.  Save the republic - educate yourself and your family and vote accordingly.

YORKTOWN: "OH GOD! IT'S ALL OVER!"

Today (October 19), is just as much Independence Day as July 4 - it was on this day in 1781 that America won its independence from Great Britain.  British Commander General Cornwallis was forced to surrender his entire army to American troops under George Washington and French troops under Rochambeau.  The capitulation was won when French Admiral de Grasse appeared to trap the British with 28 ships of the line.

"Oh God! It's all over!" exclaimed British Prime Minister Lord North when he heard the news.  Although the peace treaty took another 2 years to negotiate, Lord North was right - and America had won its independence, and changed the world forever.