[marvin]

That's an interesting distinction. I don't know how this is expressed in English, but the Norwegian language has a term called "the principles of a state that follows law/rights", (the word 'law' is the same word as 'right', as in French - full term "rettsstatsprinsippene").

This term is commonly translated as "the rule of law", but strongly implies the distinction that you're saying the English term does not.

Central parts of "rettsstatsprinsippene": Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law, laws cannot be reteroactive, the accused is innocent until proved guilty, the arrested must be presented to a court within 24 hours, the accused have a right to a state-appointed defender.