The purpose of the Guide to Rule of Law Country Analysis is to assist USAID Democracy and Governance (DG) officers in conducting a rule of law assessment and designing rule of law programs that have a direct impact on democratic development. There is a special focus on empowering poor and vulnerable groups and promoting economic development and security. Within USAID's DG assessment framework, five elements comprise democracy: rule of law; consensus; competition; inclusion; and good governance. This Guide presents a strategic framework for conceptualizing the rule of law, analyzing a country's strengths and weaknesses with regard to rule of law, and designing strategic programs to address rule of law challenges. It will help DG officers maximize the impact of rule of law programs on democracy and governance strategic objectives. The Guide reflects the understanding that the justice sector is part of the larger political context. Effective rule of law programming may need to look beyond traditional approaches that focus on operations of the courts and other components of the justice system. When the goal is democratic governance, the analysis that informs rule of law program decisions must be broad and comprehensive, and programming must reflect a holistic appreciation of country dynamics.