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.
3,168 Articles
Did the Supreme Court Tip Its Hand on How It Will Rule on the Travel Ban?
Today, the Supreme Court partially stayed and partially upheld the lower court injunctions in the travel ban litigation. The way in which the Court split the baby is perhaps the…
It’s All About that Stay (and Its Surprising Limits)
Preliminary thoughts (reserving the right to add more as the day goes on!): The Court nominally granted certiorari in the two “travel ban” cases today, but for reasons…
Norms Watch: Democracy, the Trump Administration, and Reactions to It (June 16-June 23)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to the latest installment of Norms Watch, our series tracking both the flouting of democratic norms by the Trump administration and the erosion of…
Political Parties as Critical Infrastructure?
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson testified Wednesday before the House Intelligence Committee as part of the House investigation into Russian interference in the…
When Collusion with Russia Becomes a Crime: Part III — “Aiding and Abetting”
House investigators have scheduled an interview with the Trump campaign digital director to question him about any campaign coordination with Russian-financed Internet advertising.…
About that Executive Privilege “Policy”: Congress Should Call the Bluff
During last week’s hearing of the Senate intelligence committee, Attorney General Jeff Sessions generated withering criticism by repeatedly refusing to answer Senators’ questions…
Why It Does Not Matter Who Rachel Brand Is
Last week, amid speculation that Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein may be forced to recuse himself from the expanding Russia investigation – unless he gets fired first –…
The Making of a Russian Spy: A Roadmap for the FBI to Resolve Russia Gate
James Comey’s testimony has established that either President Donald Trump or the former FBI Director is lying, given the clear discrepancies in their versions of the conversations…
Why There’s No Basis to Think Rod Rosenstein Will Recuse
Some commentators are already speculating what Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand will or should do when she becomes Acting Attorney General for purposes of the Russia investigation…
Norms Watch: Democracy, the Trump Administration, and Reactions to It (June 9-June 16)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to the latest installment of Norms Watch, our series tracking both the flouting of democratic norms by the Trump administration and the erosion of…
The Other Person in the Room with Comey and Sessions
During all of the intense debate over the testimony of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, perhaps the most important statement by Sessions has gone largely overlooked. During…
The Evolving Testimony of a Strangely Incurious Attorney General
Parsing the testimony of Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding a critical conversation that he had with FBI Director James Comey reveals an important evolution in the Attorney…