The “rule of law” is a frequently used term which is rarely defined. Many organizations have done important work measuring aspects of the rule of law, but few attempts have been made to comprehensively measure adherence to it.Developing an assessment tool is critically important because the rule of law is the platform for communities of opportunity and equity and is essential to addressing the world’s most persistent and harmful ills. For this reason, the World Justice Project (WJP) is examining methodological issues related to measuring the rule of law and is developing a Rule of Law Index which is informed by existing, more focused indices.

The WJP working definition of the rule of law comprises four universal principles:

1. The government and its officials and agents are accountable under the law;
2. The laws are clear, publicized, stable and fair, and protect fundamental rights, including the security of persons and property;
3. The process by which the laws are enacted, administered and enforced is accessible, fair and efficient;
4. The laws are upheld, and access to justice is provided, by competent, independent, and ethical law enforcement officials, attorneys or representatives, and judges who are of sufficient number, have adequate resources, and reflect the makeup of the communities they serve.

The Index will assess countries' adherence to the rule of law. In its current version of the Index, the WJP has identified thirteen principle factors by which a country's adherence can be measured and is developing more specific corresponding indicators.

The WJP will prepare a Rule of Law Index Report that describes its findings in countries where the Index is administered. The Index is intended to be a constructive tool with useful information that government leaders and others will refer to in order to strengthen their countries' adherence to the rule of law.

The WJP is vetting and enhancing a “beta test version” of the Index at the "mainstreaming" multidisciplinary conferences [hyperlink to mainstreaming page] and other hearings in order to develop a public Version 1.0 by autumn 2007. The Index is structured to take into account a variety of governance systems, the gap between law on the books and actual practice, and the existence of informal justice systems.

The Index will be applied in up to ten countries prior to the World Justice Forum in July 2008. One of the countries where the WJP will administer the Index will be the United States. The WJP expects regularly enhanced versions of the Index to be periodically administered in countries around the world.