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.
4,623 Articles
Not Illegal: But Now The Hard Part Begins
I am no fan of the Trump Administration, which in its short life has attempted many illegal acts. But neither do I automatically conclude that everything it does is illegal, as…
Why the strikes against Syria probably violate the U.N. Charter and (therefore) the U.S. Constitution
[UPDATED] The Pentagon has issued the following statement about the U.S.’s use of 59 Tomahawk missiles against the Shayrat Airfield in the Homs governorate of Syria this…
The U.S. Public Deserves More than Trump’s Silence on Afghanistan
When I graduated from West Point in 2009, the war in Afghanistan was one of the hottest topics. President Barack Obama’s campaign and young presidency had been defined, in large…
Why Trump Associates Should Worry A Lot More About the Logan Act
In a Washington Post Op-Ed, I look into the history of the law that forbids Americans engaging with foreign governments to undermine official policies of the United States. The…
‘America First’ Leaves the Border Behind
Border security is a concept that, among Americans, usually conjures up images of dusty, desert expanses in our southwest. Maybe it includes a cactus or a dark-green clad Border…
President Trump’s Careless Rhetoric, Unlawful Command Influence, and the Bergdahl Court-Martial
Plenty of ink has already been spilled on the extent to which statements by President Trump and his advisers can and should be used as evidence of illicit motive in the context…
The Importance of Protecting Civilians—Through Law, Strategy, and Tactics
The spate of allegations of civilian deaths as a result of US operations in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen over the last few weeks has garnered significant interest from humanitarian groups…
To Senate Committee on Homeland Security: Five Questions for Secretary Kelly About Passwords Demands at the Border
On January 31, an NASA engineer and U.S. citizen, Sidd Bikkannavar, was informed by federal border agents he hat he was required to turn over the password to his smartphone on…
Top Human Rights Lawyers’ Views on Trump’s Human Rights Record
“Human rights are at a nadir in Egypt,” wrote Human Rights Watch on the eve of President Donald Trump’s Monday meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the…
Why Flynn Isn’t Getting Immunity Anytime Soon
[Editor’s Note: This post is part of a Just Security symposium on retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn’s legal jeopardy. Ready Alex’s earlier post, “Flynn’s…
A Primer on the Foreign Agents Registration Act—and Related Laws Trump Officials May Have Broken
About a week ago, I wrote a pair of posts about the increasing insinuation in various camps that, if in fact the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government to influence…
Trump’s Meeting with China’s Xi Is Risky with U.S. Asia Policy Up in the Air
“Everything is under negotiation, including One China.” Those words, said by president-elect Donald Trump in January as he questioned U.S. policy on Taiwan, could mark the…