John Adams was/ one of the Founding Fathers/ and the second president/ of the United States./ He wrote that/ our country is,/ “a government of laws,/ and not of men./” No person/ or group is/ above the law./

The rule/ of law means that/ everyone (citizens and leaders) must obey/ the laws./ In the United States,/ the U.S. Constitution is/ the foundation/ for the rule of law./ The United States is/ a “constitutional democracy/” (a democracy with a constitution)./ 

In constitutional democracies,/ people are willing/ to obey the laws/ because the laws are made/ by the people/ through their elected representatives./ If all people are governed/ by the same laws,/ the individual rights/ and liberties/ of each person are/ better protected./ The rule of law helps/ to make sure that/ government protects/ all people equally/ and does not violate/ the rights of certain people./