We are all familiar with the phrase, the rule of law. We tend to think of those words more in connection with the judiciary than the other two branches of government. However, the concept of the rule of law has a long heritage in the United States. Founding Father John Adams articulated the concept when he famously called a republic “a government of laws, not of men.” John Adams’ cousin and fellow Founding Father, Samuel Adams, observed that the rule of law means that “There shall be one rule of justice for rich and poor, for the favorite in court, and the countryman at the plough.” Today, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts lists the rule of law as “a principle under which all persons, institutions, and entities are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, independently adjudicated, and consistent with international human rights principles.” In short, the rule of law reflects the founders’ desire to create a system committed to promoting the fair and impartial application of the law. All segments of our society claim allegiance to this noble principle, yet the application of the rule of law looks different across the branches of government.