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.
3,335 Articles
Hearsay and the Impeachment Trial
How big an issue is it that the Senate will allow hearsay objections as a basis to exclude evidence from the record?
Constitutional Crabgrass: President Trump’s Defenders Distort the Impeachment Clause
Leading scholar on history of impeachment pens a scathing critique of Dershowitz argument. Calls it "brazenly wrong."
What Sort of “Abuse of Power” Would Amount to an Impeachable Offense?
Philip Bobbitt writes that the Ukraine allegations amount to an impeachable abuse of power, but not the way some have framed it.
Pumping the Brakes a Bit on FISA “Reform”
Critics of FISA on both the left and the right are seizing on the DOJ inspector general's report as an opportunity to significantly alter FISA.
Four Fundamental Flaws in President Trump’s Impeachment Trial Memo
Leading impeachment law scholar pens a scathing critique of President Trump’s Trial Memo sent to senators on Monday.
15 Questions the Media Should Be Asking Lev Parnas
A list of specific questions reporters (and perhaps members of Congress, if the time comes) should be asking Lev Parnas.
GAO Decided Trump’s Hold on Ukraine Funding Was Illegal and It Wasn’t a Tough Call
In addition to the larger implications GAO's decision has for the Senate impeachment trial, a close reading of yesterday's report provides some important new insights.
Executive Privilege Is No Bar to John Bolton’s Testimony in the Senate
President Donald Trump’s impeachment team reportedly believes that executive privilege poses “significant and important” issues that could prevent former National Security…
How Late DCI William Colby Saved the CIA, and What That Can Teach Us Today
His willingness to tell truth to power and the challenges he faced in overseeing previously unimagined institutional reforms offer important lessons at this momentous juncture…
The 30-Day Clock: Recent Law Requires Trump Admin. to Make Full Public Report on Soleimani and Shahlai Strikes
A classified war powers report won't do it. A formal, public explanation of the facts and legal justifications is legally required thanks to Congress’ having recently passed…
How Should FOIA Be Reformed to Prevent Further Abuse of Redactions?
To ensure the FOIA is not weaponized and used as an instrument of secrecy, Congress should reform the statute to mirror how the deliberative process privilege is treated in the…
Reevaluating Our Counter-Terrorism Information Sharing Methods
Senator Hassan writes for Just Security about bipartisan legislation that she introduced with Republican Senator Johnson of Wisconsin, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental…