Congress

Just Security’s expert authors offer analysis of U.S. Congress’ role in national security, foreign affairs, the rule of law, and rights. Coverage includes analysis and informational resources related to the legislative process, oversight and investigations of the executive branch, and major debates on the separation of powers and Congress’ constitutional role.

× Clear Filters
2,549 Articles
A local law enforcement official on a bike drives past the entrance to Mar-A Lago. Palm trees surround the area.

Myths & Misunderstandings Relating to Mar-a-Lago Documents Investigation

Five myths broken down by J. William Leonard who, in government service, was responsible for the oversight of classified information for the entire executive branch.
Pile of stickers with text "I Voted" and US flag image

Independent State Legislatures and Presidential Elections: Addressing Misconceptions About Current Law and Prospects for Reform

An expert explainer of the independent state legislature theory, the Electoral Count Act and proposals for reform, and the relationship -- and differences -- between the two.
Members of the DC National Guard are deployed outside of the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. - Donald Trump's supporters stormed a session of Congress held today, January 6, to certify Joe Biden's election win, triggering unprecedented chaos and violence at the heart of American democracy and accusations the president was attempting a coup.

Trump and the Insurrection Act: The Legal Framework

University of Chicago Law Professor Al Alschuler writes that the evidence is sufficient to indict Trump under Insurrection Act, 18 U.S. Code § 2383.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - JULY 08: Counter protestors are held back by riot police as the Ku Klux Klan leaves a staged rally on July 8, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Five Years After “Unite the Right”: Reflections on Charlottesville for Today’s Threat Landscape

Charlottesville was a watershed moment in US politics and a wake-up call to the counterterrorism community. What lessons have been learned on how to counter white supremacist extremism?
The US Department of Homeland Security building

DHS IG Cuffari’s Actions Exhibit Clear Pattern: Unwillingness or Inability to Meet the Mission

President Biden may be tempted to let the inspector general community police their own, but that might tacitly approve inferior performance.

Declaring a Climate Emergency Won’t Save the Planet — Energy Security Could

The Biden administration should shift messaging on climate change by sharpening the focus on economic gains and national security.

Top Experts Raise Questions Regarding Legal Basis of Zawahiri Strike

A note from co-editors-in-chief Tess Bridgeman and Ryan Goodman: Although Just Security is on hiatus this week, we wanted to be sure to examine and reflect on the U.S. airstrike…
Members of the DC National Guard are deployed outside of the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. - Donald Trump's supporters stormed a session of Congress held today, January 6, to certify Joe Biden's election win, triggering unprecedented chaos and violence at the heart of American democracy and accusations the president was attempting a coup.

The Biden Administration’s Senseless Opposition to Congress’s Effort to Prevent Abusive National Guard Deployments

Section 516 of the NDAA is a commonsense reform that would prevent a president from borrowing the National Guard of a political ally to use it as a domestic police force in an…
A compilation of images pertaining to the January 6th House Select Committee.

Highlights from the Criminal Evidence Tracker’s Reports on Seven Hearings by the January 6th Committee

A compendium of what each major witness said during the January 6th Hearings of relevance to two federal crimes and one state (Georgia) crime.
Trump, shrouded in shadows, raises a hand.

The Easiest Case for the Prosecution: Trump’s Aiding and Abetting Unlawful Occupation of the Capitol

Albert W. Alschuler, Julius Kreeger Professor of Criminal Law Emeritus at Univ of Chicago, writes about the failure to respond to takeover of U.S. Capitol.
Trump speaks to supporters from The Ellipse near the White House on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

8 Top Experts on Strength of Dominion Suing Trump for Defamation, If It Wants To

"Almost every expert said a defamation suit brought by Dominion against Trump would be very strong."
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 12: Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone is seen on a video display during the seventh hearing held by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol on July 12, 2022 in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC. The bipartisan committee, which has been gathering evidence related to the January 6, 2021 attack at the U.S. Capitol for almost a year, is presenting its findings in a series of televised hearings.

The January 6th Hearings: Criminal Evidence Tracker Seventh Edition

Tracking two federal crimes and one Georgia state crime with evidence presented by the House Select Committee investigating January 6th.
1-12 of 2,549 items

DON'T MISS A THING. Stay up to date with Just Security curated newsletters: