01
Authority State
What authority should exist now?
AO Integrity Framework Series
What is Runtime Governance?
Runtime Governance verifies that authority remains legitimate at the moment execution occurs.
AO Integrity's canonical frameworks define the domain, map the authority lifecycle, trace propagation, and evaluate whether execution remained legitimate when it occurred.
Six frameworks describe one execution-time governance architecture.
FW-001 defines the Runtime Governance domain. FW-002 maps how authority can diverge from current circumstances over time. FW-003 traces how authority propagates through autonomous execution chains. FW-004 defines the conditions of Execution Legitimacy. FW-005 shows how legitimacy determinations become independently verifiable through Governance Evidence. FW-006 separates authorized information and action selection from the authority required for consequential execution.
01
Domain defined
02
Lifecycle mapped
03
Propagation traced
04
Legitimacy evaluated
05
Evidence produced
06
Execution authority separated
Runtime Governance operates where authorization becomes action.
This layer complements existing identity, authorization, security, governance, observability, and compliance systems. It does not replace them.
01
Identity
02
Authentication
03
Authorization
04
Runtime Governance
05
Execution
06
Evidence
Authority, execution, drift, and evidence form one operating model.
02
Execution State
What remains operational?
03
Authority Drift
Where active execution no longer reflects legitimate authority.
04
Staleness Window
How long the invalid condition remains operational.
05
Governance Evidence
What can be independently reviewed, escalated, and defended.
Framework Library
Published canonical AOI frameworks.
Each framework addresses a distinct part of the execution-time authority model without treating the sequence as a rigid hierarchy.
FW-001
Runtime Governance Domain
Defines autonomous execution as the governance object evaluated by Runtime Governance.
Runtime GovernanceExecution EventExecution LegitimacyGovernance Evidence
FW-002
Authority Lifecycle
Shows how conferred authority can diverge from what current organizational circumstances justify over time.
Authority LifecycleAuthority DriftContextual ValidityCurrent Governing State
FW-003
Authority Propagation
Shows how conferred authority moves through delegation chains across autonomous actors, services, tools, and systems.
Delegation ChainAuthority ProvenanceAuthority PropagationExecution Event
FW-004
Execution Legitimacy
Defines the five conditions used to evaluate whether a specific execution remains a legitimate exercise of conferred authority.
Authority ValidityAuthority ProvenanceContextual ValidityIntent ConformanceCausal Integrity
FW-005
Governance Evidence
Shows how legitimacy determinations become independently verifiable through governance evidence and decision receipts.
Governance EvidenceDecision ReceiptIndependent VerificationEvidence Assurance LevelsTraceability
FW-006
Information to Execution
Separates authorized access, observed information, action selection, execution legitimacy, and consequential execution.
Authorized AccessObserved InformationAction SelectionInherited ConstraintsExecution Legitimacy
A shared vocabulary for execution-time governance.
Authority
The legitimate basis for a person, system, agent, or workflow to act.
Authority Drift
A mismatch between changed authority and execution that remains active.
State Divergence
The point where authority records and operational execution no longer agree.
Staleness Window
The duration that invalid authority remains operational.
Execution Legitimacy
Whether an action was backed by legitimate authority when it occurred.
Current-State Verification
Validation against present authority, context, and operational state.
Continuous Authority Validation
Ongoing checks that authority remains legitimate during execution.
Runtime Risk
Risk created when active execution outlives legitimate authority.
Frameworks describe the operating model. ValidateAuthority.ai operationalizes it.
Authority State
Observe changed authority
Execution State
Validate active execution
Authority Drift
Surface mismatches
Staleness Window
Measure duration
Governance Evidence
Produce reviewable evidence