---
entity_slug: expense_of_justice
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:25:30.012556'
overall_score: 4.4
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition is precise and captures a distinct concept - the sovereign's
    specific financial responsibility for maintaining justice administration. It clearly
    delineates this as protection from "injustice or oppression" rather than using
    vague terms, though it could be slightly more specific about what constitutes
    "exact administration."
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's text from Book V, Chapter
    1, where he explicitly discusses the sovereign's duty to establish justice administration
    as the second primary obligation. The language and conceptual framework align
    closely with Smith's original exposition of sovereign duties.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Regulation" domain assignment is correct, as this represents the
    sovereign's regulatory function in establishing and maintaining institutional
    frameworks for justice. This fits perfectly within the broader category of governmental
    regulation of social and economic relations.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to S3 (internal regulation/audit) as it represents
    the system's mechanism for maintaining internal order and ensuring compliance
    with established rules. It also has elements of S2 (coordination) in preventing
    conflicts between societal members.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating the structural
    mechanism through which civil government maintains social order and protects property
    rights. It reveals the economic logic behind justice administration as a foundational
    requirement for market functioning, though it could elaborate more on the specific
    mechanisms involved.
---

# Evaluation: Expense Of Justice

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition is precise and captures a distinct concept - the sovereign's specific financial responsibility for maintaining justice administration. It clearly delineates this as protection from "injustice or oppression" rather than using vague terms, though it could be slightly more specific about what constitutes "exact administration."

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's text from Book V, Chapter 1, where he explicitly discusses the sovereign's duty to establish justice administration as the second primary obligation. The language and conceptual framework align closely with Smith's original exposition of sovereign duties.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Regulation" domain assignment is correct, as this represents the sovereign's regulatory function in establishing and maintaining institutional frameworks for justice. This fits perfectly within the broader category of governmental regulation of social and economic relations.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to S3 (internal regulation/audit) as it represents the system's mechanism for maintaining internal order and ensuring compliance with established rules. It also has elements of S2 (coordination) in preventing conflicts between societal members.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating the structural mechanism through which civil government maintains social order and protects property rights. It reveals the economic logic behind justice administration as a foundational requirement for market functioning, though it could elaborate more on the specific mechanisms involved.