Abstract
The limitation of government powers is of vital prominence worldwide and is a prerequisite for the rule of law. This study aimed to analyze changes in factor one of the rule of law following the World Justice Project (WJP) Index, namely, the “Constraints on Government Powers” (CGP) between 2023 and 2024, including the six sub-factors: oversight by legislative, judicial, and independent auditing entities; sanctions for misconduct; non-governmental checks; legal rules for power transitions; and non-governmental checks. The “Paired t-test” is employed to assess whether there is a significant difference in mean scores between 2023 and 2024 for each sub-factor and the overall factor of CGP. The analysis compares mean values based on paired t-tests worldwide for the overall factor (CGP) and its three subcomponents: legislative oversight, non-governmental checks, and adherence to the law in transitions of power. Significant declines have occurred across all three domains. In contrast, countries with higher levels of economic development tend to be stable, albeit with isolated threats to independent checks from non-governmental organizations, suggesting institutional fragility in the context of predicted declines. These results underscore the need for targeted reforms to enhance governance mechanisms and accountability frameworks, thereby supporting the rule of law in various contexts.
Keywords: Constraints on Government Powers, International Investigations, Paired T-Test, Rule of Law