A Judiciary For The People: Adhering to the Rule of Law in the US and Argentina

Author: Ariana Bagherian
Major: Communication Studies
Approved: Spring 2016
Status: Completed

In countries around the globe the idea of strong adherence to the rule of law is largely based on public perception. The perceived “fairness” of the legal system and its ability to serve the people within its scope are both critically important to an effective legal system. The US and Argentina, despite their extremely similar judicial structures, are worlds apart in terms of their Rule of Law index[1] which ranks the US at number 18 for the best adherence to rule of law, but Argentina at 83. Through my distinction project I will endeavor to explore the difference between the rule of law in the US and Argentina. I will be examining the differences in these countries judicial systems and their adherence to the factors that contribute to the rule of law. I will conclude by offering insights and potentially remedies that could provide foundations to improve both judiciary systems.

[1] The Rule of Law Index is based off of data from The World Justice Project which uses a comprehensive system of 47 factors that combine to determine a country’s’ overall score and thus their competence in maintaining an adequate rule of law.