The idea behind the "rule of law" is that (S1) _________________laws, not human beings with their irrational and (S2)____________tastes and judgments, should govern the formal aspects of social (S3)__________________________________. "We live under a rule of law, not of men," American teachers tell their students. The students accept the idea. They believe that "no man is above the law," that laws apply equally to all people (S4)____________of their wealth, personal connections, or station in life. Their faith in the rule of law explains the conviction many Americans held, and many foreigners could not understand, the President Richard Nixon should be (S5)______________from office as a result of his (S6)______________in connection with what was called the" Watergate (S7)________________"Nixon had broken the law and therefore should be punished, Americans believed, even if he was the president. (S8)_____________________________________. Getting a job with a government agency, for example, or getting a government grant for a research project, fulfills following published requirements. Personal connections are not supposed to matter under the rule of law.(S9)_______________________________________They may. What is said above describes the ideal to which Americans subscribe. In reality, connections can sometimes help a person get a government job. (S10)____________________________________But in general the rule of law prevails, and Americans are proud that it does. S7