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.
4,597 Articles

The Just Security Podcast: U.N. General Assembly Recap
Returning to the show to discuss what we learned from the U.N.’s High-Level week is Richard Gowan, U.N. Director at Crisis Group.

This Summer Previewed the Security Threats of Climate Change: The U.S. Needs to Do More
U.S. policymakers must recognize the critical security risks climate change poses, and make serious efforts to anticipate and mitigate them.

The Ongoing National Security Threats Posed by Senator Bob Menendez
Two former intelligence officers assess the counterintelligence concerns raised by the DOJ allegations against Senator Bob Menendez.

Concealing Surveillance: The Government’s Disappearing Section 702 Notices
The impending sunset of FISA Section 702 gives Congress an opportunity to examine how it is working in practice and ensure sweeping reform.

Pivoting to Prevention: How the Biden Administration Can Accelerate Implementation of the Atrocity Prevention Agenda
The U.S. can more effectively anticipate and halt atrocities worldwide through prioritizing atrocity prevention and leveraging tools.

Why “Associated Forces” Should be Kept Out of Any New AUMF
Any new AUMF must be limited to only the clearly specified non-state armed groups Congress has voted to authorize war against.

Questions for Congress to Ask the Biden Administration at the AUMF Hearing
Congress should seek to determine how the executive branch interprets and relies on the 2001 AUMF and where the administration stands on proposed reforms that have been widely…

At UNGA and Beyond, the World Is Already Turning a Blind Eye to Cambodia’s Stolen Election
Hun Manet's father, Hun Sen, selected him as prime minister last month. He's finding support at the U.N. and with U.S. companies.

Congress Should Pass the SAFEGUARD Act to Overhaul Arms Sales Law and Protect Human Rights
The SAFEGUARD Act provides a pathway for Congress to push for accountability for the violence linked to U.S. arms sales.

Baby on Board! How Kleptocrats and Associates Use Family Members to Evade Sanctions
In many countries, it is possible for young children -- even babies -- to be corporate shareholders, offering a workaround for their parents.

Analyzing Previously Undisclosed Use of Force Reports: Challenges of Congressional Oversight of the War on Terror
The executive branch, through noncompliance and defiance, has delayed providing Congress with sufficient information on the war on terror.

How the Expansion of “Self-Defense” Has Undermined Constraints on the Use of Force
Legal Scholar Oona Hathaway examines how expansive U.S. interpretations of "self-defense" have shaped international law.