Order of Precedence Between Local Laws of Cities with Subordinate Districts and Regulations of Provincial Governments Clarifying Premises for Discussion Based on the Characteristics of Laws

The lack of descriptions regarding the order of precedence between the local laws of cities with subordinate districts and the regulations of provincial governments in Legislation Law of the People's Republic of China(Legislation Law) has led to two divergent views. One holds that "the local laws of cities with subordinate districts should take precedence over the regulations of provincial governments," while the other supports the exact opposite. This is a value judgment issue in legislation. To reach a solution, we need to clarify the premises based on the characteristics of the laws in question so that a basic common ground can be established for discussion. The first premise for traditional legislation is that a law should be based on experience as well as logic; the second is that the experience of authority subjects, plus the three aspects of logic should outweigh the experience of social subjects, plus the three aspects of logic. With respect to postmodern legislation, the first premise is that experience should override logic, and the second is that the experience of the authority subject should take precedence over that of social subject, with no requirements for logical consistency. Since Legislation Law fal s into the category of postmodern legislation, according to the premises, the argument that the local laws of cities with subordinate districts should take precedence enjoys wider acceptance, but the view is logically challenged in terms of conceptual consistency, system consistency and principle consistency. More studies must be conducted to facilitate the discussion.

Conflict： Efficient State or State Under the Rule of Law？-- The Hungarian Case of the Victory of the Efficient State over the State Under the Rule of Law

This study is seeking an answer as to whether the efficient state and the state under the rule of law are indeed irreconcilable, as well as to whether these two categories are by nature to be seen as contrary concepts. The basic issue is whether efficiency is to be handled as an ＂extralegal＂ category, or whether legal regulation, in accordance with public administration traditions in Europe, can in itself meet the requirement of efficiency. Also the study presents the formation of the issue of conflict between the effective state and the state under the rule of law in Hungary after the election held in 2010 in the practice of economic policy and legislation of the Orban government. We are trying to answer the question of the tendency of power concentration to really menace the principles of a traditionally-formed state under the rule of law, as well as whether the economic policy of the government can be implemented effectively in a strongly centralized political and state administrative system.

The Concept of the Soul of Multiverse as a Genuine Supporter of Wildlife and Biodiversity on Earth

This work used the cosmological neuroscientific concept of Soul of Multiverse for placing the problem of wildlife and biodiversity protection into a new philosophical environment where religious,scientific and philosophical approaches are in harmony.It resulted in the thought that the obligation of protecting wildlife and biodiversity on Earth,just as the sanctity of caring for all human lives,originated in cosmic laws set in the divine blueprints of the Soul of Multiverse.These laws seem to relay that in the 21st century the time has come on Earth to stop killing animals for food,to stop overhunting and overfishing,to stop industrial activities responsible for deforestation,desertification,air pollution and climate change,and to run animal experiments for science and medicine only in the extremely limited,most justified cases and only until new technologies make them no longer necessary.The conclusion was that to achieve these goals,new global governing mechanisms are needed.Specifically,the establishment of a Government of Earth,the next step of the political process that started with the United Nations in the first place,may be necessary to solve the global problems of wildlife and biodiversity protection since meaningful solutions for global problems require global governing mechanisms.

Revisiting the Spirit of the UDHR and Discussing Human Rights Development——Summary of Views from the Seminar Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

On December 4,2023,the China Society for Human Rights Studies hosted a seminar in Beijing commemorating the 75^(th) Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Participants discussed topics such as the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,China’s theories and practices in respecting and safeguarding human rights,the three global initiatives and global human rights governance,human rights protection in the digital age,and telling Chinese stories of human rights in the new era.The discussions led to a broad consensus and achieved positive results.

On the Duty of the Government to Safeguard the Right to Water

The right to water is an emerging sort of human rights aiming to protect the right to water indispensable for the survival and development of individuals. From the perspective of International Human Rights Law, the paper analyzes the standards stipulating the international obligations to safeguard the right to water, inspects the state quo of the protection of the right to water in China and demonstrates the lawful suggestions to safeguard the right to water.

“Running China in Accordance with the Law” Ensures Development of Human Rights

I. A Review of China＇s Judicial Protection for Human Rights To effectively protect human rights, a country needs to specify in its laws a complete series of basic rights its citizens shall enjoy. Meanwhile, the legal rights for an individual citizen would be meaningless even though such rights are prescribed in laws if, when the person＇s rights are infringed upon, he or she has no access to judicial relief. Administration of justice is the last resort, in fact the most effective, means.

The Three Pillars of Sustainability Framework: Approaches for Laws and Governance

The three pillars of sustainability framework is a multidisciplinary implementation and solutions oriented approach that recognizes most successful and scalable sustainability solutions require the presence of, and are driven by, all three pillars simultaneously: 1) technology and innovation;2) laws and governance;and 3) economics and financial incentives. The three pillars framework is strategic because it often reveals or describes specific and feasible changes that advance sustainability solutions within markets and institutional settings. The section on technology discusses the crucial role that technology plays in creating new ways for doing more in our rapidly urbanizing communities by using less resources and energy inputs. The section on economics discusses problems with current conceptions of economic welfare that measure growth (flow) rather than the asset base (wealth), and explores possibilities for integrated and multidisciplinary analysis for coupled economic and social systems. The section on laws and governance considers the role of legal frameworks related to incentives, regulatory baselines, and in public policy formation, including influences and feedback effects from social norms, changing culture, and sustainability education. Technological development and engaging economic markets are at the center of our best and most rapidly deployable sustainability solutions. In that context, a specific focus is given throughout the discussion sections to the key role of laws and governance in supporting relevant, effective, and sustainable technological and economic development, as well as to highlight the crucial (often final) steps the law plays in successfully implementing new sustainability projects. As the discussions and examples (taken from Asia, the US, and Europe) demonstrate, the three pillars framework is flexible and useful in a number of contexts, as a solutions template, as an integrated planning approach, as a decision making guide, and for determining project priorities.

Law, the Nigerian Economy and Corruption

Corruption has had severe negative consequences on the economic growth and development of nations all over the world especially on developing countries. It has various implications for both the developed and developing economies. Corruption hampers development and thus raises the level of poverty in any economy that finds itself entrenched in corrupt practices. Corruption creates uncertainty and risk in the growth and development potential of any country. This paper presents a review of corruption as it relates to the economic development of Nigeria. By using a theoretical method of analysis, the study reveals that corruption is Nigeria＇s biggest challenge. It is clear to every citizen that the level of corruption in the country is high because it is found in every sector of the society. In public or private sector, corrupt practices are easily observable. Corruption has been a deterrent to economic development in Nigeria. The findings show that corruption has a significant negative effect on economic growth and development. The paper examines historical connection between the law and the economy and discusses the theoretical and conceptual issues in corruption and economic development and the role of lawyers in the economy. The paper also seeks to provoke debate on the role of law in the anti-corruption crusade, strengthening the rule of law and promoting economic development. It also identifies and discusses the impact and effects of corruption on economic development in Nigeria, while proffering policy recommendations that should underpin the road to Nigeria becoming the ＂next surprise＂, on indices such as transparency, accountability, and the application of the rule of law, in dealing with corruption leading to improved consumer price index （CPI） ranking, induce investment, and foster economic growth and development.

Trust and Structural Response to Natural Disaster： Some Implications to Government Reform

The Philippine government is a representative democracy. It has three co-equal branches of government namely the executive, legislative, and judicial, operating on the principle of check and balance. Issues that had riddled top officials of government remained unresolved hitherto; and, the local government units had their own lingering issues. The government structure therefore did not seem to have the mechanism to correct itself. This paper argues that responses to, as well as the ensuing conditions of the survivors of natural disasters, are affected by how much trust the incumbents of relevant government structures have of each other and that actors outside of the government hierarchy can offer avenues for reform. Tropical Storm Washi that hit Cagayan de Oro City could be a case in point. It left thousands of people dead or missing, millions of dollars in damages, and thousands of internally displaced persons （IDPs）. The local government, tasked by the local government code to handle matters related to social welfare, did not seem to have performed as expected. In an apparent lack of trust, donor agencies preferred to course cash and relief items through conduits others than the local government. While the system remained unable to correct itself, the victims of the disaster continued to suffer. Civil society organizations and non-government organizations were trying to re-establish people’s trust in the system through legal measures, and hope that electoral reforms could be instituted.

Research on the Scientific Meaning of Rule of Law in China

Beyond the existing academic viewpoints, clarifying the scientific meaning of the rule of law in China in the binary interaction between subject and object is the prerequisite for reifying the rule of law in China from an abstract symbol to a logic in action. The subject dimension of rule of law in China subsumes the legal consciousness, self confidence, independence and self-improvement of the subject. The object dimension of the rule of law in China focuses the relation mode and governance pattern between right and power. In the dimension of time, the rule of law in China is the unification of history and reality of China model. In the dimension of space, the rule of law in China is committed to seeking the right to speech, governance, management and development from the perspective of globalization.

The general laws of the evolution of the county governance in our country before the founding of the new China

Since the Qin Dynasty started the county system to the foundation of China, ＂county＂ has been the basic unit of the centralized state in our country. Although the county-level governance mode is stable, its evolution has laws to follow. Generally speaking, the rules are that the scale of the county government is small for a long time and the governmental functions in the long term are fixed. The roles of the clan organizations in the social governance are increasingly strengthened and the slow development and roles of other social organizations outside the clan organizations are increasing.

Implications of Declining Ground Water and Water Quality in the US Southeastern Coastal Plain Ecoregion and Areawide Environmental Impact Statement Required for Mining in the Greater Okefenokee Swamp Basin—Part 1

Karst aquifers occur worldwide and exhibit groundwater flow responses that differ considerably from aquifers lacking fractures, bedding planes, and other karst conduits where significant and rapid groundwater flow can occur. The regional, karst Floridan aquifer system underlies the United States (US) Southeastern Coastal Plain Physiographic Region and exhibits hydrologic interconnections with overlying surficial aquifers and throughout other zones of the aquifer system, as is characteristic of other karst aquifer systems. Anthropogenic groundwater declines in this regional karst aquifer system have been documented in published literature for decades, but the impacts of those declines in this coastal plain region and the embedded ecosystems that provide essential and critical habitat for native, endemic, and federally endangered and threatened species have not been considered previously. Those anthropogenic groundwater declines reduce surfacewater levels and flows due to the capture of both groundwater and overland flow of surfacewater, resulting in induced recharge through semi-confining zones and interbasin flow through fractures and other karst conduits. This case study identifies examples from the Greater Okefenokee Swamp Basin study area and comparison areas of how those declines result in loss of historic base flow to surface waters and other capture of surface waters, ultimately increasing saltwater intrusion. Those results alter and degrade the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters, in violation of the US Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972. Historic groundwater declines from mining and other anthropogenic groundwater withdrawals from this regional karst aquifer system already threaten the survival and recovery of federally endangered and threatened species, as well as existing and proposed critical habitat for those species within this regional extent, in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. This case study and its companion publication (Part 2) appear to be the first to provide scientific support for this regional karst aquifer system as the unifying factor in habitat responses to irreversible groundwater impacts on aquatic and marine ecosystems. These adverse impacts strongly suggest that the extent of the regional Floridan aquifer system should be designated as the Southeastern Coastal Plain Ecoregion for the purpose of managing natural resources. Mining activities continue to expand in our study area, which is the Greater Okefenokee Swamp Basin. Despite that fact, no comprehensive Areawide Environmental Impact Statement (AEIS), similar to the AEIS required for phosphate mining within the Central Florida Phosphate District (CFPD) approximately a decade ago has been conducted for any of the numerous mining projects that are occurring and are proposed within the Greater Okefenokee Swamp Basin. This case study also provides examples of why a comprehensive AEIS is essential to consider all of the adverse direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of those mining activities to the CWA, the ESA, and the irreversible losses to local economies, because federal agencies responsible for considering those adverse impacts rely on public comments to identify those adverse impacts. The mining activities authorized throughout the regional Floridan aquifer system under Category 44 Nationwide Permits (NWP) result in the same type of adverse impacts as the mining activities evaluated under Individual Permits in that region. Therefore, those Category 44 NWP mining activities also should be required to obtain Individual Permits and be evaluated under an AEIS in the Greater Okefenokee Swamp Basin. This case study also describes how Florida’s assumption of the CWA Section 404 regulatory authority in 2020 severs four sub-basins within the Greater Okefenokee Swamp Basin study area at the state line between Florida and Georgia.

新《公司法》若干重要问题解读(笔谈)

新《公司法》修订所涉及的内容非常丰富,修订内容包括公司登记制度、股东出资责任、公司治理制度、公司资本制度、控股股东义务、董监高信义义务等方面。赵旭东教授指出,本次《公司法》修订在公司登记与信息公示制度、股东出资责任和法律后果、公司资本制度、公司治理制度、股东权益保护和控股股东义务这五个关键领域实现了重大突破和创新。周林彬教授集中解析了“国家出资公司组织机构的特别规定”一章,认为新《公司法》的亮点之一是通过新设这一章积极回应了我国国有企业治理的“本土实践”与“中国问题”,给出新时期国有企业治理的“中国方案”,推进了中国特色的国有企业治理制度的设计,重塑了国有企业的规范体系。刘凯湘教授对本次《公司法》修订中与公司资本制度相关的若干条文展开解析,包括限期认缴制、新增有限公司股东出资义务加速到期制度、股东违反出资义务的责任承担规则、董事会的催缴出资义务、股东失权制度、董监高对股东抽逃出资的连带责任、类别股的规定、授权资本制等。赵万一教授深入探讨了这次《公司法》修改的主要特点,认为新《公司法》既坚持了其商法属性,同时又充分考虑了《民法典》的既有制度内容,适当兼顾了与《民法典》之间的制度衔接关系,从而既为科学解决民法与商法的关系提供了理念和制度支持,也为中国式法律制度体系的创建提供了完美的立法实践样本。周友苏教授深入解析了新《公司法》在完善股东出资制度方面增加的股东出资缴纳、股东出资“加速到期”、股东失权、股东出资责任这四条新规定,认为新《公司法》在完善股东出资制度方面增加的这些新规定,积极回应了我国自2013年以来公司数量大幅增长所带来的股东盲目认缴、天价认缴、期限过长的现象突出,损害债权人利益的纠纷案件呈明显上升态势等问题,极大地强化了保护债权人的力度。李建伟教授深入解析了《公司法》修订中与法定代表人制度相关的若干条文,认为新《公司法》关于法定代表人的规定较之以往更加体系化,并有望基本解决困扰公司实践许多年的诸多难题,但其中亦存在不完全规范的问题。

论高校内部治理的症结及疏解策略

高校内部治理是高校治理的重要环节,关系着高等教育的质量和水平。科层制模式下,高校内部治理存在着政府外部行政权传导的高校内部行政权与高校办学自主权之间的矛盾、高校内部学术权力与行政权力之间的矛盾、学生组织与学校党政职能部门之间的矛盾,并表现为人事治理症结、财务治理症结、合同治理症结。究其原因,法治保障的缺乏、行政权力的过分倚重、机构权责不清、监督机制缺乏是高校内部治理矛盾和症结的成因。因此,必须从积极推进依法治校、优化高校内部权力配置、摒弃落后的管理理念与习惯、实现多元主体的治理动能等层面予以疏解。

数据交易安全刑事合规的“软法”治理及清单模式

数据交易安全合规指参与数据交易活动的企业内外部各方主体进行的维护数据安全合规的治理活动。刑事治理是由各方主体参与的惩治和预防犯罪的过程,具有过程性。数据交易安全刑事合规是刑事治理的重要方面,可分为事前合规和事后合规两个阶段。《信息安全技术数据交易服务安全要求(征求意见稿)》和《上海数据交易所数据交易安全合规指引》及配套清单采取正面清单和负面清单的管理模式,列举了数据交易主体、数据安全管理体系、数据来源、数据产品可交易性等方面的合规要求。数据交易安全合规清单具有“软法”性质,“软法”与“硬法”相结合,形成企业刑事合规的规范体系。刑法根据数据交易主体及行为场景的差异,以不同的罪刑规范保护数据交易行为所涉及的多元法益。数据犯罪的空白罪状具有定罪指引作用,也为企业合规的开展留下了空间。在实践中应注重数据安全关联罪名适用与刑行衔接,将企业刑事合规融入刑事司法过程并与行政监管相协调。同时,积极发挥企业合规清单的刑事治理机能,构建和完善激励机制、滤罪机制、评估机制,实现合规清单治理的出罪机能与治本效果。

数字政府视阈下的算法行政:兴起、风险与法治纠偏

随着数字政府建设目标的确立,算法技术嵌入行政成为一种必然趋势,但是算法在促进行政的同时,也带来了法治价值失序的隐忧。算法基于海量数据运算配置社会资源,辅助甚至独立作出行政行为,或许将会成为行政权行使的中枢性力量。但是,过度依赖算法可能导致强调技术理性而忽视价值理性。算法技术本身所带的内生性风险与算法应用中潜在的风险,暗含着行政权力的“技术延伸”和公民权利被侵蚀的隐患,算法行政遭受合法性和合理性的诘难,数字政府建设与法治政府建设面临耦合困境。为防范算法行政异化风险,政府的数字化必须与法治化同步建设,警惕技术理性凌驾于价值理性之上的观念,并从算法的创制、适用以及事后追责的各阶段构建起算法行政的合法性约束机制,避免“权力—权利”格局的失衡,从而促进政府数字化建设和法治化建设的深度融合。

以高水平法治促进新质生产力发展

新质生产力以全要素生产率大幅提升为核心标志,特点是创新,关键在质优,本质是先进生产力。数据与算法、算力作为质优的创新型要素,优化其配置成为提高全要素生产率的关键一环。在优化要素配置过程中,数据流通、算法开发与算力协同都离不开法治的支撑,同时,整体营商环境的持续优化也需要法治的保障。从实践出发,良法善治在消除和打通新质生产力发展的堵点痛点方面能发挥积极作用,以促进新型生产关系适配新质生产力发展。为此,需在法治框架下健全数据基础制度,推动数据要素有序开放流通,完善人工智能算法治理体系和算力协同机制,持续优化营商环境,为新质生产力发展提供质优生态。

生成式人工智能治理的经济法逻辑

在广受关注的生成式人工智能领域,各主要国家正在加强经济法治理,我国在该领域的经济法治理还未得到足够重视,并存在多方面问题。经济法的双重功能及其体系构造决定了它在生成式人工智能治理上具有不可替代的作用,围绕生成式人工智能的国际规则竞争尤其需要经济法发挥作用。经济法对生成式人工智能的治理应当促进发展与安全的融合,注重系统治理,加强事前防范与事后回应相结合、专项规则供给与一般规则适用相结合。宏观调控法和市场规制法应当基于各自优势在生成式人工智能治理中发挥相应作用;考虑到生成式人工智能在不同阶段的复杂情形,经济法治理应当分段进行、区别对待。为了使经济法治理更加精准、更具效率,需要科学构建生成式人工智能风险评价机制。

教育强国背景下中外合作办学提升高等教育国际影响力策略研究

在加快建设教育强国进程中,中外合作办学对提升高等教育国际影响力具有重要作用,且在提升拔尖创新人才培育力、国际学生吸引力、科研学术引领力、跨境教育“中国方案”影响力等方面具备了一定基础。然而,目前我国中外合作办学尚存在结构布局不够均衡、拔尖创新人才培养质量有待提高、服务国家和地方发展能力亟须提升、高效能治理体制机制尚需完善等问题。为此,中外合作办学应加大改革创新力度,补齐短板,在适度统筹规模和效益、调整优化结构布局,加大支撑保障力度、多渠道提升人才培养质量,聚焦科技前沿和国家关切、把好引进和审批准入关,完善合作办学治理体系、探索中国特色的合作办学模式等方面持续发力,不断提高中外合作办学水平,切实提升我国高等教育国际影响力。