The judiciary’s role in the political system varies considerably from one country to another. All countries have some form of legal structure, and the role of the judiciary is rarely limited to deciding criminal cases. Courts in authoritarian systems generally have little or no independence and their decisions are controlled by the chief executive. Constitutional courts, which serve to defend the democratic principles of a country, are the highest judicial body that rules on the constitutionality of laws and other government actions. In this unit we will look at the varying degrees of rule of law (the idea that all people are treated equally under the country’s legal procedures) in each of the six core countries. As you will see, some enjoy a high degree of rule of law, while others fall short.

Questions to consider:

• What type of judicial system do the six core countries have?
• What is Rule of Law?
• To what degree does each of the six core countries adhere to rule of law?
• What examples indicate a low adherence to rule of law?

Select the appropriate legal system, judicial review, and independence answer for each country.

Rule of Law Ordering

On a scale of 1-6 (1 being the highest), rank the AP Comparative 6 core counties on their adherence to rule of law.

China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia