The Venice Commission has updated its Rule of Law Checklist, a key reference tool for assessing how the rule of law functions in practice across different legal systems. The Checklist sets out a comprehensive framework covering core principles such as legality and legal certainty, including transparent law-making, legal clarity, and the predictability of laws. It also examines safeguards against the abuse of power, equality before the law and non-discrimination, and effective access to justice, with particular attention to the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. The updated Checklist places stronger emphasis on the functioning of checks and balances between the legislature, executive, and judiciary, as well as the role of constitutional courts and other review bodies in ensuring accountability, protecting fundamental rights, and upholding democratic governance. The Checklist serves as a non-binding but authoritative benchmark for EU and Council of Europe institutions, national authorities, courts, and civil society when monitoring and evaluating rule-of-law standards.Read more here.
Source: COE
