Rechtsstaat

Rechtsstaat (German: [ˈʁɛçt͡sˌʃtaːt] ^ⓘ; lit. "state of law"; "legal state") is a doctrine in continental European legal thinking, originating in Dutch and German jurisprudence. It can be translated into English as "rule of law", alternatively "legal state", state of law, "state of justice", or "state based on justice and integrity".^[1] It means that everyone is subjected to the law, especially governments.

A Rechtsstaat is a constitutional state in which the exercise of governmental power is constrained by the law.^[2] It is closely related to "constitutionalism" which is often tied to the Anglo-American concept of the rule of law, but differs from it in also emphasizing what is just (i.e., a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity). Thus it is the opposite of Obrigkeitsstaat (German: [ˈoːbʁɪçkaɪ̯t͡sʃtaːt] ^ⓘ) or Nichtrechtsstaat (a state based on the arbitrary use of power),^[3] and of Unrechtsstaat (a non-Rechtsstaat with the capacity to become one after a period of historical development).^[4]

In a Rechtsstaat, the power of the state is limited in order to protect citizens from the arbitrary exercise of authority. The citizens share legally based civil liberties and can use the courts. In continental European legal thinking, the Rechtsstaat is contrasted with both the police state and the État légal.^[5]

^ The word Rechtsstaat also occurs, with the same meaning, in Dutch.
^ Carl Schmitt, The Concept of the Political, ch. 7; Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy
^ The Legal Doctrines of the Rule of Law and the Legal State (Rechtsstaat). Editors: Silkenat, James R., Hickey Jr., James E., Barenboim, Peter D. (Eds.), Springer, 2014
^ Gerd Roellecke (15 June 2009). "War die DDR ein Unrechtsstaat?". FAZ.net. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
^ Mockle, Daniel (1994). "L'État de droit et la théorie de la rule of law". Les Cahiers de droit. 35 (4): 823–904. doi:10.7202/043305ar.

[1] The word Rechtsstaat also occurs, with the same meaning, in Dutch.

[2] Carl Schmitt, The Concept of the Political, ch. 7; Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy

[3] The Legal Doctrines of the Rule of Law and the Legal State (Rechtsstaat). Editors: Silkenat, James R., Hickey Jr., James E., Barenboim, Peter D. (Eds.), Springer, 2014

[4] Gerd Roellecke (15 June 2009). "War die DDR ein Unrechtsstaat?". FAZ.net. Retrieved 2 July 2009.

[:0-5] Mockle, Daniel (1994). "L'État de droit et la théorie de la rule of law". Les Cahiers de droit. 35 (4): 823–904. doi:10.7202/043305ar.

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