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.

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4,757 Articles
A statue of a Kuomintang soldier points a gun through a fence on February 04, 2021 in Lieyu, an outlying island of Kinmen that is the closest point between Taiwan and China. Across the water is seen the skyline of the Chinese city of Xiamen.

Taiwan vs. Tyranny: The US Must Redouble Its Commitment to Secure this Shining Hill of Democracy in East Asia

US backing for Taiwan can stymie China’s relentless creep in East Asia, and preserve a democratic beacon in the global march of illiberalism.
Flags of USA and Iran

War Powers Guard Rails Can Keep the U.S. From Sliding into a New Middle East War

"Because so much power has accreted in the executive branch when it comes to matters of war and peace, the risk of stumbling into a new Middle East War for insufficiently examined…
The Statue of Liberty at sunset. The sky is a mix of red and orange and the Statue of Liberty is seen as a silhouette. Construction can been seen as silhouettes in the background.

Reforming the FISA Process: Tweak or Overhaul?

Earlier this month, Adam Klein, the outgoing chair of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, took the unusual step of issuing a unilateral “Chairman’s White…
A U.S. Army serviceman sits at the tailgate of a helicopter carrying US Defence Secretary, after leaving the Resolute Support headquarters, in the Afghan capital Kabul on April 24, 2017. The city below is lit up in lights against the darkening sky.

New Just Security Series: Reflections on Afghanistan on the Eve of Withdrawal

A series of essays that considers the legacy of America’s longest war as well as what the future holds for Afghanistan.
A phone shows a download/open button for Parler.

Assessing Parler’s Letter Documenting Warnings It Gave FBI of Jan. 6 Attack

One of the significant moments in the recent House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the Jan. 6 insurrection was the revelation that the social media platform Parler had…
Egypt's interim prime minister Hazem Beblawi gives an interview to a journalist from the Agence France-Presse at his office in Cairo on November 24, 2013 as Egypt's interim president approved a controversial law regulating demonstrations. The Egyptian flag stands behind his chair.

Parsing an Immunity Decision at the Heart of U.S.-Egypt Relations  

A suit between a US citizen and the former PM of Egypt raises sticky questions of diplomatic immunity - and tees up a potential constitutional clash between the executive and judiciary.…
A police officer carrying zip ties.

The Méndez Principles: The Case for US Legislation on Law Enforcement Interviews

Americans are increasingly interested not only in reallocating police resources, but also making policing more effective and more ethical.

The Méndez Principles: Beware Crossing the Line to Psychological Torture

As the UN marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, a reminder of the many forms of such abuse that are prohibited.
US Capitol building at night.

Putting AUMF Repeal Into Context

A detailed analysis of secret wars and why reforming the 2001 AUMF is hard but necessary.
A pillar of smoke rises among destroyed buildings after a US-led airstrike in Mosul. July 9, 2017

Toward a True Account of Collateral Damage in U.S. Military Operations

The Pentagon reports annually on how many civilians were killed in U.S. operations, but silent on damage to civilian homes, markets and other civilian infrastructure vital to human…
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., talks with Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, during a hearing with Zalmay Khalilzad, special envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation, at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill on April 27, 2021 in Washington, DC. They do no wear face masks despite the pandemic.

Five Senators Threaten to Derail Repeal of 2002 AUMF: Why Their Timing and Claims Are Wrong

A dissection of the 5 Senators' letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair.
Police fire water cannons at demonstrators. A cannon hits a demonstrator flinging them through the air. The air is orange and hazy.

Duque’s War in Colombia: High Stakes For UN, OAS, and Biden Administration as Human Rights Crisis Spins Out of Control

Amid widespread protests, continued US support for Duque will further erode implementation of the peace accords and spur deeper conflict.
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