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.

× Clear Filters
4,757 Articles
Close shot of Donald Trump between the legs of secret service agents with face bloodied

Political Violence in the United States Is Rising – and It Might Be Up to Americans to Say “Enough!”

How does this moment in the United States fit into trends of political violence, and what might be done to reduce the risk of escalation?
White House with red flowers in the foreground

America’s Overlooked National Security Threat

The United States' deepest constitutional and national security challenge involves not personalities, but structure.
The sign is in the colors of the rainbow flag, and the man is surrounded by a crowd of people all looking forward, presumably toward a speaker.

Public-Safety Reform and Preventing Targeted Violence: Two Sides of the Same Public-Health Coin

A call to breakdown silos by jointly addressing targeted violence and other public-safety issues for comprehensive, lasting solutions.

The ODNI’s New and Disappointing Prepublication Review Process

Intelligence Community Directive 711 contains modest improvements, but is a missed opportunity provide uniform standards across agencies.
Members of the D.C. National Guard stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial as demonstrators participate in a peaceful protest against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020 in Washington, DC.

The Anonymous Military Leaders with the Weight of the Election on Their Shoulders

The legal and ethical frameworks that senior civilian and military leaders need to consider.

Chronology of a Dozen Times Trump Pushed to Prosecute His Perceived Enemies

A deeply researched list of specific instances in which former president Trump used the Department of Justice and other levers of government power — including by directly, publicly…
U.S. Republican Presidential Candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks at the U.S.-Mexico border

‘Good Moral Character?’ Holding Trump to the Same Standards as the Immigrants He Vilifies

Were Trump an immigrant and subject to the same scrutiny as those he now maligns, he would be at high risk of being either refused entry, denied a green card, or rejected for citizenship.…
Wiley and Zuckerberg are sitting at a table in a hearing room, with others seated behind them, against a backdrop of a heavy-looking dark red curtain.

Don’t Downplay Risks of AI for Democracy

In the midst of the first-ever round of AI-influenced elections globally, it’s important to guard against a false sense of security.
A large UN meeting room.

The UN Cybercrime Convention: Analyzing the Risks to Human Rights and Global Privacy

A detailed analysis of the human rights and digital privacy implications of the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime.
The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Presidential Immunity Decision May Have Implications for Congressional-Executive Divide on Criminal Contempt

With Trump v. United States, a majority of the Supreme Court appears ready to resolve a longstanding dispute over prosecutorial discretion in contempt of Congress cases in favor…
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…
1-12 of 4,757 items

DON'T MISS A THING. Stay up to date with Just Security curated newsletters: