The inquiry is seeking to understand the rule of law as a constitutional principle and what the state of the rule of law is in the UK. The committee will consider the different understandings of the rule of law, both at home and internationally and explore how the principle works in practice across Parliament, the judiciary and the executive. The inquiry will also consider the role of education, the media and civic society in creating and maintaining a culture that values the rule of law.

Questions the committee is seeking evidence on include:

• What are the components of the rule of law?
• How well is the rule of law understood by politicians and the public?
• What threatens the effective operation of the rule of law in the UK?
• What is Parliament’s, Government’s and the Judiciary’s role in upholding the rule of law? Are the roles being performed well, and how can they be improved?
• Is there a role for the public in upholding the rule of law and international influence?
• Is there a greater role for education, the media and civic society in promoting the rule of law?
• How important is the rule of law for the UK’s economy and international influence?
• What threatens the effective operation of the rule of law globally?

The committee invites interested individuals to submit written evidence by 5pm on Tuesday 15 April. The full call for evidence and further information is available on the committee’s website.

Lord Strathclyde, chair of the Constitution Committee said: “The meaning of rule of law is being increasingly debated and appears to be becoming more controversial. As a result, for the public and politicians alike, there is less clarity and more confusion about this important constitutional principle.

“The current government has identified upholding the rule of law as one of its key priorities. The attorney general has argued that the UK needs to strengthen Parliament’s role in upholding the rule of law and promote a rule of law culture, but does this have any real meaning in practice?

“Recent debates in Parliament have shown that there continues to be disagreement about what the rule of law means and what it encompasses, with some commentators suggesting that the rule of law has either come under threat in the UK or is encouraging greater judicial activism.

“Therefore, as a committee we have set out to seek answers on what this principle means today. Has it evolved? Is it threatened? How is it understood and upheld by politicians and the public alike? And, how, in a complicated 21st century society, can it continue to be a valued concept? We will also look at international comparisons and whether the UK has a role in helping shape the rule of law globally.

“We encourage anyone with knowledge or expertise in this area to come forward and share their views, knowing that they are a valuable contribution to this inquiry.”