How are citizens and governments governed in Canada?

In Canada, citizens and governments are governed by laws. Discover Canada explains this directly through the principle of the rule of law: "Individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions. No person or group is above the law."

The rule of law is one of Canada's founding principles. Discover Canada describes Canada as having a "commitment to the rule of law", and notes that the Canadian legal system is built on a heritage that includes the rule of law, freedom under the law, democratic principles, and due process.

This means that even those who hold power — politicians, judges, the police — are subject to law in the same way that ordinary citizens are.

The rule of law is what distinguishes Canada from any system where rulers act on personal discretion. It guarantees predictability and equal treatment, and it is one of the core protections that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms strengthens.

This principle also underlies all other Canadian responsibilities: obey the law, respect the rights of others, and recognize that the law applies equally.