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.
3,181 Articles
Trump’s Extortion of Ukraine Is an Impeachable Abuse of Power
The publicly known facts about President Trump’s interactions with Ukraine constitute a prima facie case for impeachment based on abuse of presidential power.
For Scientific Integrity in Government, Fix Political Appointments Process
The Brennan Center's National Task Force on Rule of Law and Democracy recommends ways to rein in abuses by converting long-held norms into law.
Ukrainian Funding Delay Created a Paper Trail That Congress Should Follow
The Office of Management and Budget prevented the release of the Ukraine funding through its apportionment authority, a bureaucratic process that necessarily creates a paper trail.
Pompeo’s Letter Is the Trump Administration’s Opening Salvo of Obstruction
The Trump administration now seems to be reverting to its previous strategy of total obstruction based on maximalist interpretations of executive authority.
Greg Craig: The Government’s Latest Swing at FARA Enforcement & What Comes Next
In an offshoot of the Paul Manafort case in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, former Obama White House counsel and veteran Washington lobbyist Greg Craig was acquitted…
Deciphering the Pompeo-House Clash Over Witnesses
Top congressional oversight expert breaks it down — what are the competing claims, and which ones are stronger or weaker?
Bringing the Rule of Law to Sudan
The country's new civilian ministers of justice and foreign affairs outlined their plans at the United Nations and appealed for international support before the window of opportunity…
There Is No Constitutional Impediment to an Impeachment Inquiry that Concerns National Security
The Constitution assigns the House of Representatives the impeachment power precisely to address situations where an urgent national security risk means accountability can’t…
Trump Goes Full Putin—Capitulation Inside the Oval Office
Trump's following Putin's whataboutism not simply for public consumption. He’s apparently internalized it and turned it against the United States.
Top Expert Backgrounder: Trump’s Impeachment–What Comes Next?
Yale Law School's Harold Koh describes the next set of decisions on the current road to impeachment of President Trump.
A New National Security Framework for Foreign Interference
Campaign-finance laws are inadequate to address today's foreign interference threat. Instead, a national security approach is needed.
The Iceberg’s Tip: Ukraine Phone Call and the Months-Long Conspiracy to Violate Federal Campaign Finance Laws
Top election law expert writes about "the absurdity of the Justice Department’s refusal to investigate."