Or, one could just point out that the 72% of Republicans who identify themselves as conservative in that fascinating tombstone-shaped bar chart Tom published, are authoritarians, and to authoritarian conservatives the law has magical powers. It has such a hold on them that they believe that it creates reality itself, and thus, to have the power to make or define the law is the power to control reality itself.

Authoritarian conservatism is the fuerherprincip as implemented by lawyers: Sublimate obedience to a literal Glorious Leader into obedience to the law. You might also call it "constitutional authoritarianism" and evoke the fierce defense by conservatives of the literal truth of the Constitution and the inviolability of its sacred text.

Don't misunderstand, I think the Constitution is a brilliant and worthy document...but it is just a document, and not a holy relic. Understood as a document, it's understood as an intellectual tool by which we're supposed to govern ourselves, not worship at its altar.

EXTRA CREDIT: From the study of what comes the term "authoritarian conservatism"?