American Higher Education and the Empire of the Spending Clause
The battle over higher education is the product of a century of constitutional overreach. Congress, presidents, and the Supreme Court expanded federal power over colleges and universities through a broad reading of the Spending Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause
From Nixon to Trump: The Constitutional Limits of Presidential Tariff Authority in Economic Emergencies
The US Court of International Trade (USCIT) ruled against president Trump’s tariff policy executed globally under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 1977 (IEEPA, 1977) marking a watershed moment in the constitutional evolution of presidential authority over imposing tariffs. The
Accidental Revolution: The Quiet Origin of Thinking Machines
The meeting of a neurophysiologist and a teenage autodidact during World War II laid the foundation for one of the most influential theories in the history of Artificial Intelligence. The McCulloch–Pitts model showed that brain activity could in principle be
Debunking Taboos in the Workplace? Portuguese Reforms Supporting “Menstrual Leave” and its Constitutional Context
In a landmark move blending medical science with progressive labor policy, Portugal has become one of the first countries in Europe to legally recognize the debilitating effects of menstrual “disorders” in its employment laws. As of April 2025, workers diagnosed
Do Reasoning Models Really Reason?
A recent study by Apple offers a new perspective on what we mean when we talk about artificial intelligence “thinking.” According to the paper, today’s so-called reasoning AI models may give the appearance of high-level cognitive abilities, but they are
What Should We Do with Synthetic Data? A Necessary Tool with Risky Side Effects
As AI systems grow more powerful, the role of synthetic data is coming under increasing scrutiny. Once seen as a niche solution, it is now a central tool in addressing data scarcity, privacy concerns, and training efficiency. But with its
Pressure Under the Rule of Law, or the Rule of Law Under Pressure? Philosophical Reflections from an EU Perspective (Part I)
An elephant stands in a great, dark room. Five “wise men” – who have never encountered such a creature – are granted entrance by the king and asked to describe it. The first goes in, touches the elephant’s leg and,
Executive Orders and Hungarian Government Decisions – Navigating Normative Boundaries in Executive Power
In recent decades, the use of executive orders by U.S. Presidents has increasingly drawn attention, particularly when these instruments effectively create or significantly modify policy frameworks without explicit congressional legislation. Although the U.S. Constitution clearly designates legislative authority to Congress,
The New Enemies of Romanian Militant Democracy (Part II): Fighting Manipulative Social Media
The annulment of the Romanian presidential elections in December 2024 presents multiple challenging analytical difficulties. It should be addressed within the same analytical framework as preventing individuals from running for the presidency: militant democracy is inherently both preventive and reactive.
Climate Directors’ Duties under the pressure of sustainable corporate governance
As climate policy becomes a central pillar of EU corporate regulation, directors are under increasing pressure to align governance with sustainability goals. Recent legislative developments—most notably the CSRD and CS3D—embed transition planning, double materiality, and stakeholder engagement into corporate responsibility.
