Final answer:
The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, first established the principle of the Rule of Law, asserting that no individual is above the law and introducing due process. Thinkers like Montesquieu and Blackstone expanded on this to incorporate ideas of separation of powers and presumed innocence. This principle is central to modern democratic legal systems and constitutionally-based governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historic document that first established the principle of the Rule of Law is the Magna Carta, signed in 1215. This charter placed the king under the law, establishing that even the monarch was not above the law and setting the stage for modern concepts of due process and equality before the law. Other documents, like Hammurabi's Code and the Ten Commandments, did set out laws but did not establish a democratic system where the people had a say in the creation and enforcement of laws. Additionally, the philosophy of the Rule of Law was further developed by such thinkers as Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, and Sir William Blackstone. Montesquieu advocated for the separation of powers to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful, an idea that is central to many modern constitutions, while Blackstone's similar focus on legal principles like presumed innocence laid the groundwork for many legal systems, including that of the United States.
The Rule of Law is an essential democratic ideal that ensures all individuals and institutions, including the government, are accountable under the law. Key aspects of the Rule of Law include government accountability, just laws, open government, and accessible & impartial dispute resolution. The United States Constitution embodies these principles and is regarded as the supreme law of the land, highlighting that no person or entity, regardless of status or power, is above the law.
The Magna Carta also influenced the due process principles encapsulated in the U.S. Constitution. With its codification of the concept that a free man could only be penalized by a lawful judgment of his peers, it set a precedent for the fair and equitable application of laws that remains a cornerstone of constitutional governance to this day, contributing to the unification of diverse societies under a common legal framework.