Does the American Public Accept the Rule of Law? The Findings of Psychological Research on Deference to Authority

Abstract

This Article presents psychological research that explores the reasons that people have for accepting the legitimacy of legal authorities and deferring to their decisions. The findings of this research suggest that Americans generally accept the principles underlying the rule of law and defer to legal authorities when they believe that the authorities are acting in accord with those principles. I will consider three principles associated with the rule of law: rule-based decisionmaking, respect for rights, and respect for persons.