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

Coronavirus Legislative Responses in the UK: Regression to Panic and Disdain of Constitutionalism
Despite having finely-honed legislative models, the Unite Kingdom regressed to panic mode when faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Italy and COVID-19: A Call for an “Italian Emergency Constitution”?
The ongoing health crisis triggers consideration of the lack of an articulated emergency framework in the Italian Constitution, and whether existing tools are suitable to face…

Why No One Ever Really Wins a Proxy War
The harms outweigh the perceived benefits, short-term and long-term, says a recent study from an expert working group convened by the American Bar Association Center for Human…

DC Needs a New U.S. Attorney
Why the federal court should act to replace the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Timothy Shea, following his handling of the Roger Stone and Michael Flynn cases.

Emergency Powers in the Time of Coronavirus…and Beyond
There is much we still do not know about COVID-19, but there is also much that we do know. We know we are dealing with a highly transmissible virus that can spread easily from…

Here’s What the New DoD Policy on Civilian Harm Should Include
It should standardize good practice and set the bar where it belongs: safeguarding civilian life from the effects of U.S. military operations.

Grading DOD’s Annual Civilian Casualties Report: “Incomplete”
The new information demonstrates how much progress the department has made and yet how much of a paradigm shift is still needed for full accountability.

Iranian Gunboat Harassment and the Rules of Engagement
What to make of Trump's order to “shoot down and destroy” lranian boats that harass US vessels. International law and Standing Rules of Engagement place significant limits.

Barr Ignores Settled Justice Department Policies in Run-Up to 2020 Elections
Apparently seeking to support false claims about the Russia investigation and the president's reelection bid, the attorney general flouts long-settled DOJ policy.

Lessons From a Torture Advocate’s Failed Bid for a Key Human Rights Position
As society continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, most news has been gloomy. But there have been positive developments, and among them is a rare story of accountability…

Ratcliffe’s Radical Positions During the Impeachment Proceedings
"There were many paths open to congressional Republicans in how they addressed the impeachment process. Very few chose Ratcliffe’s approach."

The Looming Crisis of Emergency Powers and Holding the 2020 Presidential Election
A road map to how Trump could use presidential powers to suppress turnout, postpone, or contest election — and what Americans can do about it.