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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4,597 Articles
A uniformed person with their back to the camera, setting razor wire next to a river.

Biden Can, But Shouldn’t, Federalize the Texas National Guard

Invocation of the Insurrection Act in response to Texas' obstruction of CBP agents at the U.S.-Mexico border would be inappropriate.

Protected Persons and the ‘Geographic Nexus’ Requirement in the DoD Law of War Manual

A critical assessment of how the Department of Defense Law of War Manual narrowly defines "protected persons" under the Geneva Conventions.
The episode title is shown with sound waves behind it.

The Just Security Podcast: How Should the World Regulate Artificial Intelligence?

While States face a common problem in regulating AI, approaches differ and prospects for global cooperation appear limited. 
Two uniformed people cut through razor wire.

The Biden Administration Must Use Civil Rights Enforcement to Push Back Against Texas’s Racist Invocation of Invasion

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's invocation of "invasion" is based in the white supremacist "great replacement" conspiracy theory.
Eye biometric scanning and futuristic digital screens.

The Facts About Electronic Surveillance Reform

"It is my hope that, with section 702’s expiration date now extended to April 2024, members of Congress and the administration can engage in substantive discussions, identify…
U.S. Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks during the UN General Assembly emergency special session on the Israel-Hamas war at the U.N. headquarters on December 12, 2023 in New York City. The General Assembly resumed its 45th plenary meeting after Egypt and Mauritania invoked Resolution 377, known as "Uniting for Peace," to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the two-month-long war between Israel and Hamas after the U.S. vetoed a similar vote in the Security Council.  The death toll in Gaza had passed 18,000 by then during Israel's offensive, after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that Israel says killed 1,200 people and saw 240 people taken hostage. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Planning Ahead: How the US May Recover Its Diplomatic Standing at the UN After the Gaza War

Amid the tensions, the Biden administration can try to win back some goodwill with careful steps to bolster a fragile multilateral system.
White trucks drive along a dusty road in Mexico.

Immigration Is Not an “Invasion” under the Constitution

The claim that a large increase in the number of migrants gaining entry at the southern border is an “invasion” is constitutional nonsense.
Shot of the court room in the International Court of Justice

Why the ICJ Ruling Misses the Mark: Mitigating Civilian Harm With An Enemy Engaged in Human Shielding

Former CENTCOM Commander General (ret.) Joseph Votel and Professor Claire Finkelstein critically analyze South Africa's positions before the International Court of Justice in…
macro of a US visa in a UK passport

Shaming without Naming: The Limits of Anonymous U.S. Visa Sanctions for Accountability

The Biden administration needs to use visa sanctions more transparently if they are to have a serious political impact.
Global Positioning System Global Communication Network

Congress Must Strengthen Oversight on Intelligence Sharing and Civilian Harm

Congress must do more to track how intelligence sharing with allies and partners contributes to civilian harm.
President Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Salman stand next to each other.

The Democratic Price of Countering Authoritarianism

The US need to contend with China and Russia may obscure the accumulation of risk from many individual tradeoffs.

Why Fani Willis Is Not Disqualified Under Georgia Law

Analysis of Georgia law on disqualifying prosecutors.
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