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.
3,435 Articles

Expert Q&A with David Aaron on FISA Section 702 Reauthorization and Reform
Seasoned intelligence law expert and DOJ alum David Aaron explains why Section 702 must be reauthorized, why reforms that help the program evolve over time are useful, and where…

Analysis of the Lawfulness of Kenneth Chesebro’s Elector Plan Under Federal Election Law
This report analyzes the legal propriety of multiple slates of elector-nominees casting ballots purporting to be their state’s votes in the Electoral College. Kenneth Chesebro…

Hidden Women: Carceral Secrecy and (In)Security
Harm exposure is concentrated in Black and Latine communities through the hyper incarceration of racial minorities and women and the racialized and gendered spaces in which they…

On Eve of Elections, Polish Democracy is Subverted by Autocratic Media Advantage
Pro-democracy allies and organizations should call out such media capture and other tools of domestic election interference.

The PCLOB Stubs Its Toe on Use of U.S. Person Queries with FISA Section 702
A critique of the PCLOB recommendation that Congress require FISC authorization when U.S. person query terms are used in the FISA Section 702 database.

Key Takeaways from September 28 House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on AUMF Reform
The HFAC hearing clarified the shallowness of the Biden administration’s conception of AUMF reform, divisions between the political branches and within the House, and the risks…

National Security Law and the Originalist Myth
Any genuine project of national security reform requires more than reviving a fictive eighteenth century of checks and balances. It instead entails treating foreign interventionism…

The NY Trump Civil Fraud Trial: From Tipping Point to Toppling Over
What to expect in the coming days and weeks, including the risk-rewards Trump faces in testifying.

In the Shadow of a Flawed Election, How Can Zimbabwe – and Its International Partners — Move Forward?
Pressures from African countries and concerns about China and Russia gaining control of valuable minerals will require deft diplomacy.

Tracking UNGA 78: Notable Moments and Key Themes
During the next two weeks, Just Security will highlight expert analysis and issues relating to the 78th United Nations General Assembly.

Pivoting to Prevention: How the Biden Administration Can Accelerate Implementation of the Atrocity Prevention Agenda
The U.S. can more effectively anticipate and halt atrocities worldwide through prioritizing atrocity prevention and leveraging tools.

Questions for Congress to Ask the Biden Administration at the AUMF Hearing
Congress should seek to determine how the executive branch interprets and relies on the 2001 AUMF and where the administration stands on proposed reforms that have been widely…