Executive Power
79 Articles
Collection: Just Security’s Coverage of Trump Administration Executive Actions
Coverage of key developments, including in concise “What Just Happened” expert explainers, legal and policy analysis, and more. Check back frequently for updates.
The U.S. Attack on Iran Was Unconstitutional
Trump’s strike on Iran violated constitutional limits on the president's unilateral power to take the nation to war—an authority the Framers reserved for Congress.
The Trump Administration’s Use of State Power Against Media: Keeping Track of the Big Picture
Tracking the use of State power requires systematically identifying linkages between individual developments and broader trends. This graphic offers one method.
Nondelegation and Major Questions Doctrines Can Constrain Power Grabs by Presidents of Both Parties
Enforcing the nondelegation and major questions doctrines can help curb the danger posed by sweeping authority concentrated in a president of either party.
Trump’s Use of Federal Troops in Drug Raid Outside of Los Angeles: An Alarming Escalation
"An alarming escalation of the president's efforts to use the military as a domestic police force. Based on currently available information, it appears to be illegal, as well"
American Businesses Still Face International Human Rights Obligations, Even as Oversight Diminishes at Home
Even amid domestic retrenchment of business regulation and oversight, corporations must adhere to internationally recognized human rights responsibilities.
Posse Comitatus Act Meets the President’s “Protective Powers”: What’s Next in Newsom v. Trump
"Congress has been far more clear than is widely believed about what its view is..."
The Legal Defects in the Trump Administration’s Attempts to Deregulate Without Notice and Comment
The Trump administration's efforts to circumvent the APA's notice-and-comment requirements risk setting a damaging precedent.
The “Unwilling or Unable” Test for Sending U.S. Military to Los Angeles
"The state of California, however, has not yet raised this point in the ongoing litigation. That is a missed opportunity ...."
Relocating Nationwide Injunctions
Consolidating cases allows a clear, expedited path to Supreme Court review, helping quickly address matters involving executive orders.
What are “Wartime Authorities” and When Can the President Use Them? An Expert Q&A
It is essential to understand the line between war and peace, scrutinize the application of wartime powers, and interrogate the president’s assertions when he triggers them.
The Just Security Podcast: Keeping Track of the Big Picture–Challenges to Press Freedom and Beyond
A discussion with Rebecca Hamilton about the use of State power and how to identify linkages between individual developments and broader trends in press freedom and beyond.