The rule of law is foundational to life as we know it in the United States because it ensures that everyone, regardless of status or power, is subject to the same set of laws. The rule of law is intended to uphold justice, protect individual rights, and maintain order by providing clear and consistent legal standards. By preventing arbitrary governance and holding leaders accountable, the rule of law fosters trust in institutions and promotes stability, fairness, and equality within a democratic society. In short, the rule of law touches a wide range of topics and issues.
In the wake of myriad threats to the rule of law, UW Law was quick to establish a new category of student fellowships: Rule of Law Fellows. These fellowships pair students with a faculty advisor to explore in-depth topics relevant to the rule of law and surface the findings for laypeople in service of the public good. These materials are for public use and intended to broadly educate and advocate for the rule of law.
These materials are based on the work of the first six Rule of Law Fellows; we will be regularly adding to these resources, so feel free to bookmark the page for reference. For more rule-of-law specific content, see our Rule of Law webpage
Submissions from 2025
A Brief History of Tax Exemption, University of Washington School of Law
Bob Jones University and the Rule of Law, University of Washington School of Law
How does a court determine the tax-exempt purposes of an organization?, University of Washington School of Law
Layers of Mascara, Layers of History: A Tale of Tax-Exempt Organizations, University of Washington School of Law
Reaganomics: History Repeats Itself, But Louder, University of Washington School of Law
Rule of Law – Public Q&A, University of Washington School of Law
Tax Exempt Research Guide, University of Washington School of Law
Tax Incentives, the TCJA, and the Rise of the Philanthropist Class, University of Washington School of Law
The Tax Exempt Innovation Cycle, University of Washington School of Law
Why the Rule of Law Matters for Nonprofits, University of Washington School of Law