A democracy functions properly only when political power is exercised within a framework of law. That framework is known as the rule of law.

Before laws are written, before governments act, and before institutions exercise authority, there must be agreement on one fundamental question: who has power, how it may be used, and where its limits lie. A constitution exists to answer that question.

The terms law and policy are often used interchangeably in public discussion. They are not the same. While both influence how government operates and how decisions are made, they serve different functions within a constitutional system.

When people hear the word law, they often think first of rules, punishments, or long documents written in technical language. But at its core, law is much more practical — and much more human.