Democratic accountability requires that citizens can use the law, as well as be subject to it. For example, these countries have laws that prohibit seizures of land without due process and compensation for the owner; that bar public servants from accepting bribes; and that require government funds to be spent on the public good, not for private gain.
不少非洲国家都拥有令人印象深刻的法律武器——独立的法院系统；但挑战在于不偏不倚的执行。民主问责要求公民能够使用法律，也受法律约束。比如，这些国家都有禁止在未经正当程序和补偿所有者的情况下征收土地的法律；有禁止公职人员收受贿赂的法律；也有要求政府资金用于公共品而不是个人利益的法律。