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.
3,157 Articles
How the FY23 NDAA Can Strengthen U.S. Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Civilian Harm (Part I)
Overhauling U.S. policies for preventing and responding to civilian harm will require sustained engagement from Congress.
Human Rights in the Crosshairs
"Some of the critiques of human rights have merit. … But some critiques go too far."
The US Must Help Fight the Criminalization of Activism in Central America, Not Make It Worse
Without safeguards, promoting private-sector investment to slow migration risks fueling a crisis for human rights defenders.
Seditious Conspiracy vs. Insurrection: Assessing the Evidence Against Trump
The Justice Department’s current investigation of criminal efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election apparently is taking two paths. One investigative…
Trump Associate’s Stated Plan to Publicly Release “Declassified” Documents
New revelations "could have significant legal implications for the Justice Department’s ongoing criminal investigation."
Oversight Reports Raise Questions About Value of DHS Counterterrorism Efforts
Twenty years after DHS was cobbled together in the wake of 9/11, it’s time to seriously examine which of its programs really protect us.
Myths & Misunderstandings Relating to Mar-a-Lago Documents Investigation
Five myths broken down by J. William Leonard who, in government service, was responsible for the oversight of classified information for the entire executive branch.
Independent State Legislatures and Presidential Elections: Addressing Misconceptions About Current Law and Prospects for Reform
An expert explainer of the independent state legislature theory, the Electoral Count Act and proposals for reform, and the relationship -- and differences -- between the two.
Trump and the Insurrection Act: The Legal Framework
University of Chicago Law Professor Al Alschuler writes that the evidence is sufficient to indict Trump under Insurrection Act, 18 U.S. Code § 2383.
Five Years After “Unite the Right”: Reflections on Charlottesville for Today’s Threat Landscape
Charlottesville was a watershed moment in US politics and a wake-up call to the counterterrorism community. What lessons have been learned on how to counter white supremacist extremism?
DHS IG Cuffari’s Actions Exhibit Clear Pattern: Unwillingness or Inability to Meet the Mission
President Biden may be tempted to let the inspector general community police their own, but that might tacitly approve inferior performance.
Lessons from Petraeus’s Guilty Plea for Trump’s Classified Docs Investigation
In the retired general's case, the FBI executed a search warrant at his home and seized notebooks allegedly containing classified material.