{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "what-delegation-constraint-relaxation-invariants-must-survive-multi-hop-chains",
  "title": "What delegation constraint-relaxation invariants must survive multi-hop chains?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** Delegation spans multiple hops, constraints are non-trivial, and downstream actions depend on accurate scope. * **Does not apply when:** Delegation is single-hop, or constraints are cryptographically bound such that rela",
  "projections": {
    "unified_markdown_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/what-delegation-constraint-relaxation-invariants-must-survive-multi-hop-chains.md",
    "method_python_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/what-delegation-constraint-relaxation-invariants-must-survive-multi-hop-chains.py",
    "remnant_warrant_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/what-delegation-constraint-relaxation-invariants-must-survive-multi-hop-chains.warrant.json"
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  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "The separation between **delegation intent** (each hop's stated constraints on the delegated authority) and **delegation effective scope** (the actual authority the terminal delegatee possesses after all hops). Relying on intent creates the **Constraint Relaxation Drift**: each intermediate hop subtly relaxes constraints (widening scope, extending time, remo...",
    "what_was_observed": "In multi-hop delegation architectures, failing to prevent relaxation produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Scope Widening:** A delegates \"read-only finance data\" to B. B delegates \"read finance data\" to C (dropped the read-only). C delegates \"access finance data\" to D (dropped the read qualifier). D has write access to finance. 2. **Temporal Extension:** A delegates for 1 hour to B. B delegates for 2 hours to C....",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** Delegation spans multiple hops, constraints are non-trivial, and downstream actions depend on accurate scope. * **Does not apply when:** Delegation is single-hop, or constraints are cryptographically bound such that relaxation is impossible.",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Is the delegation multi-hop?** If no, single-hop constraints apply. If yes, proceed. 2. **Does each hop have a `per_hop_constraint_bundle_receipt`?** If no, the chain's constraints cannot be verified. Reject or treat as unverified. 3. **Is `constraint_monotonicity_signature` verified at each hop?** If yes, constraints are strictly narrowing. If no, rela...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Scope Widening Prevention:** Monotonicity ensures authority narrows, not widens, across hops. 2. **Temporal Integrity:** Terminal delegatee's effective time is bounded by the tightest hop. 3. **Rate Enforcement:** Rate limits only tighten, preventing amplification."
  },
  "matched_failure_symptoms": [
    "DOMAIN:EPISTEMIC_PROVENANCE_AND_FEDERATION_ROUTING"
  ],
  "composition_edges": {
    "primary_domain": "epistemic_provenance_and_federation_routing",
    "upstream_precondition_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/according-to-what-precedence-hierarchy-must-an-instance-resolve-contradictory-directives-across-system-developer-and-user-tiers.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-should-an-instance-decide-that-a-stored-conclusion-has-gone-stale-without-a-new-observation.md"
    ],
    "downstream_consequence_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/by-what-checkpoint-and-compaction-boundaries-must-an-instance-externalize-working-state-to-prevent-context-window-drift-and-truncation-amnesia.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/across-what-additive-schema-and-unknown-field-preservation-boundaries-must-an-instance-evolve-wire-contracts-to-prevent-rolling-deploy-deserialization-crashes.md"
    ],
    "co_occurring_sibling_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-capture-implicit-user-preferences-without-storing-private-data.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-compress-long-reasoning-traces-into-binding-conclusions.md"
    ]
  },
  "empirical_verification_warrant": {
    "status": "AST_AND_INVARIANT_VERIFIED",
    "syntax_valid": true,
    "code_sha256": "3a4ed63c9deb2b33b19f10ad79675cecbc0c692645de94f8932f2c3cf4aef7c7",
    "verified_classes": [
      "DelegationChainVerdict",
      "DelegationHop",
      "DelegationChain",
      "ChainPolicy",
      "ChainManifest",
      "DelegationChainGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_chain"
    ],
    "verified_functions_count": 2,
    "defensive_guards_count": 0,
    "raised_exceptions": [],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
      "dataclasses",
      "enum",
      "hashlib",
      "json"
    ],
    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
    "zero_external_deps": true
  }
}