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.

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3,366 Articles

The Just Security Podcast: Hungary After Orban

Zsuzsanna Vegh joins Viola Gienger to explore the Hungarian opposition's win, Magyar's priorities, and how Hungary’s domestic and foreign policies might change.
Federal agents block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a nearby licensed cannabis farm on July 10, 2025 near Camarillo, California. Protestors stood off with federal agents for hours outside the farm in the farmworker community in Ventura County. A Los Angeles federal judge is set to rule Friday on a temporary restraining order which would restrict area immigration enforcement operations. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Is the Government Using Counterterrorism Surveillance Tools to Surveil American Companies?

Section 702 surveillance and parallel construction may be quietly driving aggressive ICE workplace raids, hiding constitutional violations from workers and businesses.
A U.S. ​flag flies on the side of the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters building on September 15, 2024, in Washington, DC.

The Presidential Records Act is Constitutional

Presidents have complied with the Act without serious objection, and there is essentially no scholarly or other commentary questioning the Act’s constitutionality.
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The Just Security Podcast: Sudan Enters Its Fourth Year of Civil War

Quscondy Abdulshafi joins host Viola Gienger to discuss how Sudan got to this point, how the international community has responded, and where to go next. 
Department of Justice building in Washington, DC, with blurred lines of moving traffic in foreground

Separating Fact from Fiction in FACE Act Enforcement

The Trump administration’s new report claims DOJ’s enforcement of the FACE Act unfairly targeted religious Americans. Each of its claims fail against the enforcement record.
The U.S. Capitol is seen after the House narrowly passed a bill forwarding President Donald Trump's agenda at the U.S. Capitol on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Bogus “Antifa” Designations and FBI Warrantless Access to Americans’ Communications

"Any expert of national security surveillance law following the government’s escalating actions on “antifa” can connect the dots to FISA electronic surveillance."
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (L) speaks alongside Assistant Attorney General for Fraud Enforcement Colin McDonald during a news conference at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice building on April 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. Blanche addressed the department's work on anti-fraud efforts and announced the creation of a National Fraud Enforcement Division. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The Trump Administration’s Fraud Problem

The Trump administration invokes “fraud” to justify freezing Medicaid, SNAP, and family aid, sidestepping legal safeguards and turning vital programs into political weapons.
The Washington Monument reflects in the Capitol Reflecting Pool at sunset on a warm evening on June 2, 2025 in Washington, DC.(Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability

This Anti-Corruption Tracker focuses on the erosion or dismantling of oversight and accountability systems within the United States Executive Branch.
(L/R) US Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio look on as US President Donald Trump holds up a resolution document that he signed during the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace" at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, on February 19, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

Some Questions for Congress About Trump’s Request for Funding for the Board of Peace

Close scrutiny of the administration’s plans for contributions to the Board of Peace is warranted in light of the large dollar amounts involved.
Mourners hold their candles in the air during a moment of silence during a vigil to mark one week since the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, on the corner of Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, on October 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

No, There Isn’t a Trans Shooter Problem

Reactions to mass shootings often fixate on gender identity, ignoring extremist ideologies. This misplaced focus fuels scapegoating and deepens division.

The Tightrope Walk of Democratic Defense: Lessons from Taiwan’s Platform Governance Challenge

The safeguards emerging from Taiwan's effort to address information manipulation risks offer democracies a platform governance roadmap.
Women embrace in front of memorial flowers on October 28, 2018 outside of the Tree of Life Synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Global Crises, Local Impacts: How Mayors Need to Prepare

Global conflicts are fueling local polarization and extremism. Mayors must act early to protect their communities before violence erupts.
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