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.
4,711 Articles
US Government’s $300 Million for West Africa — How to Make it Count
To turn the tide in democracies under stress, the US needs to balances near-term increases in stability with aid for democratic governance.
Why and How the Senate Should Swiftly Dismiss the Impeachment Charges Against Mayorkas
"The articles are also facially and substantively defective in many other respects. Upon convening as a court of impeachment, the Senate should swiftly reject the articles as a…
As Senate Considers New Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Human Rights Focus Would Strengthen US Policy
As government forces battle armed groups in Burkina Faso, civilians face daily abuses, even death, amid a range of violations of their security and their property. At least 6,201…
Not Reassuring: NSM-20 and the Limits of Law-of-War Assurances in the Transfer of U.S. Arms
Analysis of how Biden's National Security Memorandum (NSM-20) may operate in regulating the transfer of U.S. arms amid concerns of international humanitarian law violations.
The Real “Robert Hur Report” (Versus What You Read in the News)
"To clarify thinking about this topic, let’s consider another way Hur could have represented his actual findings on page 1 of his executive summary."
A Welcome US Course Adjustment – But Now the Western Balkans Needs a Full Policy Recalibration
Recent warnings to Bosnian separatists and other obstructionists are helpful, but deeper changes are needed. The upcoming Biden-Scholz meeting is a chance.
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 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.
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.
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…
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.