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.
4,713 Articles
DHS’s Newest Target: Atlanta “Cop City” Activists
Homeland security organizations are injecting federal spy agencies into local political matters, often without meaningful restrictions.
Disinformation in a Triple Threat: How Old and New Challenges Make Peacekeeping More Dangerous
As the largest financial contributor – and debtor – to UN peacekeeping, the US is uniquely positioned to reverse the trend.
How Much Prison Time Does Former President Trump Face? Applying the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
Calculating a potential prison sentence, with some caveats, in the case of former President Donald Trump's indictment.
Recovering a Role for the Courts in Decisions to Wage War: How Congress Can Overcome the Political Question Doctrine (Some of the Time)
Congress should consider when and how the laws it enacts will be enforced and take steps to empower members of Congress to effectively challenge illegal wars in court.
Normalization Pushes Millions of Syrians into Deeper Uncertainty
The push to normalize diplomatic relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad poses risks to millions of Syrians inside and outside of the country.
The Just Security Podcast: An Insider View of Trump’s Second Indictment
Espionage Act cases often require a balancing of the need to protect sensitive intelligence information and a defendant’s due process rights.
National Security Implications of Trump’s Indictment: A Damage Assessment
The former president's retention of highly classified intelligence has potentially grave implications for U.S. national security.
Four Takeaways From the Department of Justice Audit on Countering Domestic Terrorism
The Office of the Inspector General advises a department-wide strategy to bring together separate efforts from across all sections.
Expert Backgrounder: Secret Evidence in Public Trials
How, in prosecutions for mishandling classified documents, the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) is designed to protect both U.S. national security secrets and defendants'…
Two Experts Debate the Path Forward on Sudan
EJ Hogendoorn and John Prendergast are two leading experts on the conflict in Sudan, but they have different views on the way forward. The dialogue below highlights their ideas…
Model Prosecution Memo for Trump Classified Documents
"The authors have decades of experience as federal prosecutors and defense lawyers, as well as other legal expertise. Based upon this experience and the analysis that follows,…
Dispelling Myths: How Classification and Declassification Actually Work
Must the president follow any specific procedures when declassifying government information? The answer is a resounding no.