Conceptualizing and Measuring Institutional Variation in National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) * . Ryan M. Welch University of Tampa rwelch@ut.edu Jacqueline H.R. DeMeritt University of North Texas jdemeritt@unt.edu Courtenay R. Conrad University of California, Merced cconrad2@ucmerced.edu Abstract A wealth of literature argues that domestic institutions can sometimes restrain govern- ment repression. In this article, we highlight an institution tasked specifically with pro- tecting and promoting human rights: the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI). Although common international standards exist, NHRIs exhibit substantial variation in their organization, the rights that they protect, the activities they permit, and the manner in which they appoint their members. Scholarship to date has conceptualized and measured NHRIs dichotomously; an NHRI either exists or it does not. We present data that highlights NHRI heterogeneity collected via content analysis of NHRI an- nual reports, NHRI websites, national constitutions, government legislation, and other sources. Using these data, we show NHRIs that can publish their findings and NHRIs that can punish offenders are each associated with less state torture. These data will allow future researchers to better explore important questions regarding NHRI origins, design, processes, and effectiveness. Accepted at Journal of Conflict Resolution Keywords: national human rights institutions, data, human rights, content analysis Word Count: 8692 * We dedicate this article to Will H. Moore, without whom its origination and completion would not have been possible. Earlier versions of this article were presented to audiences at Griffith University, the University of Texas at Dallas, the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Peace Science Association (International), the 2018 Annual Meeting of the International Studies Asso- ciation, the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Florida Political Science Association, and the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association. We are grateful to Daniel Arce, Patrick Brandt, Suparna Chaudry, Vito D’Orazio, Paul Diehl, Patrick LaRue, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and discussions on previous drafts and to Alyssa Ball, Emily Batt, Amanda Fildago, Dan Hollister, Ashley Huddleston, Nichole Jeter, Phil Marino, Eric Martinez, Maria Savarese, Courtney Schaefer, and Austin Wilkins for invaluable research assistance. Replication material can be found at that National Human Rights Data Collection Website–https://nhridata.weebly.com/research.html.