Democracy & Rule of Law
Just Security’s expert authors provide analysis on threats and challenges to democracy and the rule of law in the United States and globally. Coverage includes analysis of the separation of powers, good governance, democratic backsliding, authoritarianism, judicial independence, freedom of the press and association, and accountability for rule of law violations.
Highlights:
Reinvention Blueprint No. 5: Reinvigorating Federal Enforcement to Fight for the Public
The next administration should lean into enforcement as a strategy to advance fairness, justice, and the rule of law.
Foreign Threats to U.S. Elections Are Maturing Faster Than the Defenses to Counter Them
It is uncertain whether the U.S. election-security system can adapt at the same pace as foreign capabilities are expanding.
Foreign Interference and the Democratic Self-Defense Trap: A European Perspective Going into the 2026 Midterms
How to safeguard elections against genuine foreign interference while preventing incumbent governments from exploiting allegations of interference to undermine voting rights?
Dissecting DOJ’s Letter to California Election Officials: Empty Threats of Criminal Liability
Legal expert breaks down the Justice Department's letter to California election officials over purported noncitizens voting and mail ballots.
Servant of the Law: The President as Chief Prosecutor
An examination of the constitutional, legal, and ethical constraints on the president when he exercises his power as chief prosecutor.
The “Presumption of Regularity” in Trump Administration Litigation (5th edition)
The most comprehensive study of court cases involving the Trump administration from January 20, 2025 to present
3,538 Articles
Guantanamo Dispatches: Trial Judge Finds Defendant in USS Cole Bombing Case Competent to Face Trial
The ruling clears the way for jury selection to start Nov. 2 in the first capital case by the military commission at Guantanamo Bay.
Guantanamo Dispatches: USS Cole Defense Lawyers Make 11th Hour Plea for Delay of Trial Starting Monday
With jury selection set to begin in just a few days, the senior military defense lawyer in the USS Cole bombing case asked the judge to postpone the trial by six months.
Why is the Government Hiding Court Rebuke on Warrantless FISA Surveillance?
Government agencies have been misusing FISA 702 and the Trump administration is now breaking the law to hide this misconduct from the public.
What Leaders Can do Now and Next to Lower Risks of Election Violence
Congress could take several obvious steps to make it safer to participate in the American democratic system.
Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions
A public resource tracking all the legal challenges to the Trump administration's executive orders and actions.
Collection: Just Security 2026 Midterm Election Analysis and Commentary
This collection brings together analysis of the legal and policy issues surrounding the 2026 U.S. midterm elections published on Just Security.
Boots Off Ballots: Impact on Civil-Military Relations
A deployment around an election that is perceived to be politically motivated would irreparably harm the military's standing with the public.
Filling the Accountability Gap in AI Governance Series
As the risks of artificial intelligence continue to mount, the expert analysis in this series engages the fundamental question of what ought to happen when AI risks manifest into…
Might The Gambia v. Myanmar Help Establish Genocidal Intent in Russia’s War on Ukraine?
The Gambia v. Myanmar case before the ICJ will test legal propositions central to assessing whether Russia's war in Ukraine constitutes a genocide under international law.
Timeline of Boat Strikes and Related Actions
A timeline that chronicles major events in the Trump administration’s campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Guantanamo Dispatches: Army Doctor Diagnosed USS Cole Bombing Defendant with PTSD and Depression, Found Him Fit for Trial
A U.S. military psychiatrist found the USS Cole bombing suspect to be suffering from PTSD but cogent enough to face trial at Guantanamo Bay.
Welcome to Just Security’s Reinvention Blueprints
Just Security's Reinvention Blueprints series features expert proposals to rebuild U.S. government institutions so they serve the public and meet today's challenges.