Constitutional Checks

Testing Constraints: Executive Power First, Constitutional Limits Later

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Testing Constraints: Executive Power First, Constitutional Limits Later See my companion analysis: “Presidential Conflicts of Interest“ Let’s take a look at constitutional limits on executive power. Since late 2024, executive action across four constitutionally distinct domains: foreign policy, constitutional text, separation of powers, and domestic enforcement has followed a consistent pattern: legal and institutional constraints … Read more

Presidential Conflicts of Interest: How Preventive Safeguards Failed in Trump’s Second Term

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Presidential Conflicts of Interest: How Preventive Safeguards Failed in Trump’s Second Term Last substantively updated: October 17, 2026 Oversight systems intended to prevent presidential conflicts of interest now act only after transactions close, rather than beforehand. In President Donald Trump’s second term, this shift created a recurring pattern: regulatory pressure decreased, private actors gained access … Read more

Trump’s Intervention in Venezuela: Law Enforcement or War?

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Trump’s Intervention in Venezuela: Law Enforcement or War? Last substantively updated: October 17, 2026 President Trump has said the United States will “run the country” in Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition,” and that Venezuela’s oil sector will be opened to American companies, with U.S. firms prioritized in future production. The administration describes … Read more