The rule of law principle and the effective functioning of democratic institutions Ristovska Mirjana*, Pelivanova Natasa** *M.SC. Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Administration and Information System Management Bitola, University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bitola **PhD Associate Professor, Faculty of Administration and Information System Management Bitola, University St. Kliment Ohridski, Bitola Online published on 11 April, 2014. Abstract The rule of law is one of the most debated topics in the legal science currently. This concept is dynamic, multidimensional and ever-changing as it varies depending on the political, cultural and historical traditions of each country. Today, the rule of law is a basic principle upon which modern democratic states and international (universal and regional) organizations (institutions) are based worldwide. This paper first analyzes the rule of law concept from a theoretical aspect in terms of effective functioning of democratic institutions by broadening its concept by including the concept of good governance. Then, the quantitative form of the rule of law measured trough the rule of law index is presented. This index leads to the conclusion that in different countries the rule of law is implemented in different ways. At the same time the index serves as a sufficient reliable indicator for the democratic capacities of modern states. The aim of this paper is to present the rule of law concept in the contemporary political and legal theory, to determine the elements of the concept in theoretical and practical terms as well as to show the quantitative forms of this concept for the Republic of Macedonia. These indicators are of great importance for the improvement of the rule of law concept in the Republic of Macedonia whose strategic priority is the Euro-Atlantic integration. Top Keywords Democracy, good governance, rule of law, rule of law index. Top |