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.
4,711 Articles
The Legal Line Crossed in Bolton’s Attack on the ICC
National Security Adviser John Bolton’s Sept. 10 speech on U.S. policy towards the International Criminal Court (ICC) – prompted by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber’s impending…
Sessions’ Recusal and Rosenstein’s Appointment of a Special Counsel—Both Were Legally Required
President Donald Trump made 5,001 false or misleading claims, as of Sept. 12, 2018, according to a running tally kept by the Washington Post. This included an astonishing 79 such…
Trump’s Ability to Classify Mueller Report Is Greater Threat Than Executive Privilege
The prospect of the President invoking Executive Privilege to keep the Special Counsel's report secret has received plenty of attention. Less well-known is this: there are no restrictions…
Why Bolton’s Assault on the ICC Is Not in U.S. Interests
As a personal crusade, John Bolton’s frontal attack on the International Criminal Court (ICC) is not surprising. He led the charge against the ICC early in the George W. Bush…
Rear Admiral Hutson: Why Senators Should Vote No on Kavanaugh
Why the U.S. military and national security are poorly served by Kavanaugh's support for extreme Presidential Powers.
“Abolish ICE” Is a Dangerous Distraction from Real Immigration Reform
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become a political lightning rod in recent months. Out of the debate surrounding ICE and the Trump administration’s immigration…
Executive Privilege and the Public Interest: Why the President Can’t Block Release of the Mueller Report
For more than a year, President Donald Trump’s lawyers have bragged about his “unprecedented” level of cooperation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation,…
Civilian Control of the Military During an Age of Trump and “Administrative Coups”
Since President Donald Trump’s election, concerns about the health of civilian control of the military and civil-military relations have garnered considerable media attention.…
It’s a Start – Why the Global Compacts on Refugees and Migration Matter
Both documents contain significant weaknesses. But they emerge at a time of urgency and provide a route for the crucial discussions that will still be needed going forward, because…
Trump Declassifying Page, Ohr Records Will Have Broader Effects
President Donald Trump plans to declassify documents as early as this week about the FBI’s surveillance of campaign advisor Carter Page pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance…
Woodward’s Book Places Trump’s Policy on Afghan War in a Good Light–But his leadership ultimately falls short
Woodward's book Fear has critical insights into Trump's Afghan war policy--analyzed here by a top expert who was worked the issue for years.
Why John Bolton vs. Int’l Criminal Court 2.0 is Different from Version 1.0
"This time around, the consequences for the court and the rule of law in the world will likely be far graver, and the return to a constructive relationship with the ICC in the…