Decision Records

Governance requires memory.

This page defines what must be recorded, how records are structured, and where authoritative decision history lives.

If a decision is binding, it must be recorded.
If it is not recorded, it is not binding.

1. What Gets Recorded

A Decision Record is recorded when:

• a governing document is adopted, amended, or retired,
• a steward role is created, assigned, or revoked,
• an exception is granted (and its expiry),
• a compliance or enforcement action is taken, or
• an authority boundary is clarified in a binding way.

2. Where Records Live

For MVP, Decision Records are stored as:

• a dated markdown entry under a decision-records/ directory (or equivalent)
• linked from affected pages where appropriate

The record must be durable and discoverable.

3. Required Fields

Each Decision Record must include:

• ID: DR-YYYY-MM-DD-###
• Title
• Status: Proposed / Ratified / Superseded
• Date
• Author / Steward
• Decision
• Rationale
• Scope
• Impacts
• Links to affected documents

4. Supersession

A new Decision Record may supersede an old one only if:

• it explicitly references the prior record
• it states what is replaced and why
• it follows the amendment process if the supersession changes canonical documents

History is preserved. Superseded records are not deleted.