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.
4,605 Articles

Cambodian Rights Activist and 55 Others Face Trial as Crackdown on Dissent Intensifies
Given the control that Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party wields over the judiciary, their odds of getting a fair trial are slim.

Mass Deportations to Cameroon Undermine US Foreign Policy and Violate International Law
Trump’s immigration policy increasingly undermines U.S. foreign policy goals, as seen with the recent deportation of Cameroonian asylum-seekers.

COVID-19 and International Law Series: Human Rights Law – Civil and Political Rights
[Editor’s Note: This article is part of a Just Security series, COVID and International Law. All articles in the series can be found here.] States around the world have had…

Why a Self-Pardon Is Not Constitutional
The 2020 election results are in. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. is the President-Elect of the United States of America. Sometime before January 20, 2021, Donald Trump will recognize the…

How a New Administration—and a New Congress—Can Fix Prepublication Review: A Roadmap for Reform
The new administration, and the new Congress, should act more decisively to reform this broken system.

How to Fight Truth Decay: Protect the Truth Tellers
What better way of protecting the truth than by offering a safe haven for journalists who risk their lives to inform us.

On Accountability and the Next Presidency, Starting With the Cabinet
To truly “Build Back Better,” as Biden promised, he must not nominate, appoint, or otherwise hire anyone for his administration who has seriously abused power.

Getting the T’s and C’s Right: The Lessons of Intelligence Reform
"We have been part of every iteration of the ODNI and have seen the highs and lows, the good and the bad, as the IC has remade itself. We have learned valuable—and painful—lessons..."

Why Biden May Try to Return to Iran Nuclear Deal Before Renegotiating It
With only five months between President-Elect Biden’s inauguration and Iranian presidential elections in June, in which hardliners are likely to prevail, a clean U.S. return…

The Next Attorney General’s Allegiance Must Be to the Rule of Law
The key credentials of the next AG should be significant prosecutorial experience at the federal or state level and an abiding fidelity to the apolitical administration of justice.

Not a Coup at DOD: How Acting Sec. Miller’s Reorganization May Improve Special Ops Oversight
"The key question is whether Miller’s move will actually increase civilian oversight of Special Operations Forces."

Mali: The “Good” Coup d’État?
Will the military, having violated democratic norms, work with a civilian-led government to bring the country back to rule of law and peaceful development?