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.
3,129 Articles
Timeline of Jeffrey Epstein-Ghislaine Maxwell Law Enforcement Failures (1996-2025)
A comprehensive timeline of the failure of federal law enforcement to address Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes.
Trump, the National Guard, and the District of Columbia: What You Need to Know
The president’s maximalist legal approach in deploying the military may well foreshadow broader use of the military in other American cities.
Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of Trump Administration Executive Actions
Coverage of key developments, including in concise “What Just Happened” expert explainers, legal and policy analysis, and more. Check back frequently for updates.
How to Truly Keep Washington, DC Safe: President Trump’s militarized approach undercuts what’s been working
The spectacle in DC is a warning: presidential authority is being stretched simply to grab power. History tells us that’s how liberty erodes.
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.
Just Security Podcast: What Just Happened – Federalization of Law Enforcement in Washington DC
Carrie Cordero and Donell Harvin join David Aaron to discuss legal and policy considerations regarding federalization of law enforcement in DC.
Brazil’s Digital Sovereignty Is Under Attack: How Courts, Platforms, and Constitutional Law Are Redefining Democracy Online
At the heart of Brazil’s approach to digital constitutionalism is a legal framework that treats platform governance as essential to democracy.
The Human Costs of Systemic Corruption
When core functions of the state become warped into tools of personal enrichment or political control, ordinary people suffer. The poor and marginalized are hit hardest.
In Congress, a Welcome, and Well-Executed, Next Step to Stop Trump’s Transfers to Torture
Six new bills demanding that the executive branch provide basic information about deportations from U.S. shores should pass unanimously.
Three Thorny Issues to Watch in Congressional Investigations
Amidst an escalation of interbranch tension, the authors explore three emerging legal issues affecting the law of congressional oversight and separation of powers.
The Trump Administration’s Use of State Power Against Media: Keeping Track of the Big Picture
Tracking the use of State power requires systematically identifying linkages between individual developments and broader trends. This graphic offers one method.
The Freedom of Information Act and Deteriorating Federal Transparency Infrastructure
Weakening FOIA does not merely impair public knowledge — it also reduces the likelihood that abuses will be detected and deterred.