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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4,711 Articles
The three former political prisoners are laughing as they sit at a table in front of microphones against a blue backdrop displaying the logo of German news agency Deutsche Welle, which organized the press conference.

Magnitsky Sanctions and Political Prisoners: Lessons from the Case of Vladimir Kara-Murza

The US and allies can build on the coordinated Magnitsky-like sanctions in his case to continue turning up the heat on repressive regimes.
The U.S. Department of Justice Building, where the Office of Legal Counsel resides.

Warrantless “Defensive” Searches of FISA Section 702 Data Violate the Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment requires that queries of the FISA Section 702 database for information about U.S. persons be performed pursuant to a court order, regardless of whether the…
The blue flag of the International Criminal Court flies outside of the organization's headquarters.

Expert Explainer: The US for the first time submits a formal brief to the International Criminal Court on the ‘Situation in Palestine’

A Q&A with Todd Buchwald, former U.S. Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice at the U.S. Department of State.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 01: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks from the Blue Room balcony of the White House on August 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. Biden announced that over the weekend, U.S. forces launched an airstrike in Afghanistan that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri. Zawahiri, 71, took over leadership of al-Qaeda in 2011, shortly after American forces killed Osama bin Laden. The president said there were no civilian casualties. (Photo by Jim Watson-Pool/Getty Images)

A Presidential Proclamation to End the Iraq War: Unilateral Executive Action to Defang a Zombie AUMF

President Biden should proclaim the conflict authorized by the 2002 resolution to be over and determine that it is no longer “necessary and appropriate” to use force for the…
Save Our Allies workers hand out toys in a supply tent in an Afghan refugee camp on November 4, 2021 in Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

US Is Finally Aiding Stranded Afghan Allies, But Congress Needs to Step Up

Crucial bipartisan legislation has been stalled for years, placing the burden of care on hardworking Americans instead.
A white sign with blue writing on it reads "Camp Justice" with a blue sky behind it and a U.S. flag flying above.

Revoking the 9/11 Plea Deals: Human Rights Consequences

Defense Secretary Austin's decision to discard the 9/11 plea deals at the Guantanamo military commissions is a missed opportunity for the United States to achieve a rule of law-compliant…
Nuclear submarine at sea at sunset.

Why Congress Shouldn’t Fund a New Sea-Launched Nuke

Reviving the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile not only goes against sound military doctrine, it also undermines the basic national interests the US Navy has always protected.…
Digital generated image of multi coloured data against black background.

The Double Black Box: AI Inside the National Security Ecosystem

The use of AI to advance U.S. national security will complicate the application of constitutional checks and balances.
A helicopter hovers over lines of tan-colored Humvee-like military vehicles on a tarmac.

Three Years on From Taliban’s Takeover, What’s Next Amid Afghanistan’s Impasse?

Unfocused efforts to break the logjam over human rights and diplomatic recognition raise questions about how to move forward.
Supporters of the Sudanese armed popular resistance, which backs the army, ride on trucks in Gedaref in eastern Sudan.

Breaking the Deadlock: New Talks Needed to Help End Sudan’s Violence and Offer a Glimmer of Hope

Unless parties are willing to come to the table, there is no pathway from war toward restoring civilian rule and a democratic transition.

The Year(s) of Magical Thinking on Sudan

Three fallacies have dominated -- and damaged-- US diplomacy in the current war and the lead-up to it.

The Perils of Expertise: How the DOJ Indictment of Sue Mi Terry Can Chill the Think Tank World

Former White House Counsel Greg Craig with a scathing critique of the Justice Department's prosecution.
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