Proportionality embodies a basic concept of fairness to strengthen the protection of individual rights at both the national and supranational level. The purpose of this book is to examine the impact of the principle of proportionality in the legal systems of Germany, France and the European Community, where the principle of proportionality plays a pivotal role in balancing the rights and obligations of the individual. The definition of proportionality as used in this work is quite broad: measures adopted by public authorities should not exceed the limits of what is appropriate and necessary in order to attain legitimate objectives in the public interest.