Executive Branch
Just Security’s expert authors provide analysis of the U.S. executive branch related to national security, rights, and the rule of law. Analysis and informational resources focus on the executive branch’s powers and their limits, and the actions of the president, administrative agencies, and federal officials.
4,604 Articles

Telegram: A Growing Social Media Refuge, for Good and Ill
It is used in some quarters as a tool of constructive political resistance, and in others abused to spread disinformation and illicit content.

Kunduz Airstrike Before European Court of Human Rights: Future of Jurisdiction and Duty to Investigate
The future of European Human Rights Court's jurisdiction and the future of States' duty to investigate civilian casualties in wartime.

Is Climate Change a National Emergency?
Declaring a national climate emergency would convey a powerful signal from the White House about the urgency of the climate crisis —while also activating several legal authorities…

How Domestic Civic Movements Could Reshape US Foreign Policy
Nonviolent and inclusive, they can provide the energy, dynamism, and power-shifting ability needed to address the world’s interconnected crises.

Biden Risks Playing into the Hands of Iranian Hardliners
President Biden still has not made a demonstration of good faith by tangibly diverting from Trump’s maximum pressure approach on Iran. By not doing so, he is falling into the…

Biden Needs a Foreign Policy Focused on Sustainable Peace
War and weapons cannot solve today’s most urgent challenges. They require peacebuilding, diplomacy, and conflict-sensitive development.

Trump’s War Powers Legacy and Questions for Biden
Will Biden rein in near-limitless claims of presidential authority to use force without congressional authorization and commit to restoring the balance of war powers between the…

Unpacking Biden Administration vs. Congressional Tension in the McGahn Case
Awkward transitions to “unified government” and what it portends.

Fulfilling Biden Campaign Pledge on Saudi-UAE Policy Will Require a Full Overhaul
Regular and direct US criticism of Saudi and UAE human rights abuses should be a fundamental part of a Biden administration reassessment.

US Can Restore Leadership on Human Rights by Promoting Accountability in Sri Lanka
The Biden administration should press the UN Human Rights Council for action and impose its own measures, including further sanctions.

Women, Peace, and Security: Is DOD Turning a Human Rights Corner?
The push to protect women and girls in conflict and involve women in security decision-making increases attention to human rights in military operations.

Leaving the War in Yemen: The Mostly Good, the Bad, and the Muddled
An assessment of President Joe Biden's new approach to Yemen, including the remaining uncertainties about the new policy.