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.
3,432 Articles
Expert Q&A on U.S. Military Actions in Venezuela and Boat Strikes
Expert FAQ on the U.S. military operations against Venezuela, high seas boat strikes, seizure of vessels and more.
The Epstein Files and the Seven Member Rule
In a polarized Congress, discharge petitions and the Seven Member Rule preserve a limited but vital role for the minority, strengthening oversight.
Maduro Capture Operation and the President’s Duty to Faithfully Execute U.N. Charter
A decades-old Office of Legal Counsel memorandum claiming the President can disregard the UN Charter does not withstand serious scrutiny.
Fact Checking Bari Weiss: The Stated Reasons for Spiking 60 Minutes “Inside CECOT”
"If 60 Minutes had 'explained this' as Weiss described, the segment would have included false or highly misleading information."
Nine Stories That Deserved More Attention in 2025 – and Might Shape 2026
What stories or topics merited more attention in 2025, and which might inform law and policy conversations in 2026?
No Indispensable Man: The Democratic Foundation of the 22nd Amendment
To violate the 22nd Amendment would be to discard the wisdom of those who sought to preserve U.S. democracy against the last rising tide of authoritarianism.
The Just Security Podcast: Can the U.S. Still Lead on Anti-Corruption? Understanding the Combating Global Corruption Act
Dani Schulkin is joined by former State Department officials Sky Miller and Adam Keith to discuss anti-corruption efforts in the U.S. and abroad.
The Assault on Law School Clinics is an Attack on Democracy Itself
Americans are witnessing a concerted effort to delegitimize legal defense for marginalized or politically disfavored people.
History and International Law Proscribe Amnesties for Russian War Crimes
Compromising on prosecutions for Russian atrocities would erode the system of international justice built since Nuremberg and undermine the rule of law itself.
Global Corruption, Local Hypocrisy: The Promises and Pitfalls of the U.S. Combating Global Corruption Act
The Combating Global Corruption Act presents an imperfect but useful opportunity to rebuild the U.S. government’s anti-corruption practices.
The (Flimsy) Legal Arguments Used to Justify Art Censorship
Liability fears are increasingly weaponized to justify removal of socially engaged art. Treating display as endorsement is legally wrong and culturally corrosive censorship.
When Loyalties Shift: Americans’ Growing Noncooperation with Federal Abuses of Power
Americans' refusals to accept apparent abuses of power by the federal government indicate that the political winds may be starting to shift.