German Conversation · Level 168
29 words
German word
Rechtsstaat
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈʁɛçtsˌʃtaːt/
Meaning
- masculine nounconstitutional state
Example
Der Rechtsstaat schützt die Grundrechte.
The constitutional state protects fundamental rights.
More examples
Bürger erwarten von einem Rechtsstaat faire Verfahren.
Citizens expect fair procedures from a constitutional state.
Core concept
A state is placed under an enforceable legal order that makes official decisions reviewable and protects citizens from arbitrary power.
Common phrases
in einem Rechtsstaat
in a constitutional state
den Rechtsstaat verteidigen
defend the constitutional state
Vertrauen in den Rechtsstaat
trust in the constitutional state
Similar words
Rechtsstaatlichkeit: Respect for legal limits on public power and for governance according to law.
Gewaltenteilung: The distribution of state power among bodies that restrain one another.
Verfassung: A written supreme law establishing the fundamental framework of a state.
Definition in German
Ein Rechtsstaat bindet staatliches Handeln an Recht und Verfahren, sodass Willkür verhindert und Grundrechte gesichert werden.
Word origin
Rechtsstaat combines the nouns Recht and Staat, expressing the idea that the state itself must act within law and established legal procedures.
Usage tips
- Rechtsstaat commonly appears with verbs such as verteidigen, sichern, and stärken, as in den Rechtsstaat stärken with the accusative case.
Other meanings
- rule of lawnoun
Opposites
- Unrechtsstaatlawless statenoun
- Diktaturdictatorshipnoun
Related words
- Rechtsstaatlichkeitrule-of-law governancenoun
- rechtsstaatlichrule-of-lawadjective
- Rechtsstaatsprinziprule-of-law principlenoun