Administration by Law - Law by Law

Japanese: 法律による行政 - ほうりつによるぎょうせい

The principle that administration is based on the law and must not violate the law. It is the most fundamental principle in the field of administrative law in modern and contemporary countries governed by law, and corresponds to the principle of criminal legality in the field of criminal law. It is also called the "principle of administration governed by law" or "rule of law in administrative law." Originally, this principle generally originated in the attempt to realize the rule of law and thereby guarantee the rights and freedoms of the people by contrasting the subjective and arbitrary rule of state power in absolutist countries with objective and rational law in general. In terms of the system, it is based on the idea of separation of powers (separation of the three powers) and the superiority of legislative power, and is expressed in relation to administrative power.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

行政は法律に基づき，かつ法律に違反してはならないという原理。近代的･現代的法治国家の行政法の分野におけるもっとも基本的な原理であって，刑法の分野における罪刑法定主義に対応するものである。　〈法治行政の原理〉または〈行政法における法治主義〉ともいう。もともと，この原理は，一般に，絶対主義国家における国家権力の主観的恣意的支配に客観的合理的な法一般を対置し，法による支配を実現し，それによって国民の権利自由を保障しようとしたところに端を発するものであり，制度的には，権力分立＝三権分立と立法権の優位の思想を背景とし，それを行政権とのかかわりで表現したものである。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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