Document Type: Canon
Status: Canon
Version: v1.1
Authority: HeadOffice
Applies To: All MWMS Canon Domains
Parent: Governance
Last Reviewed: 2026-03-14
Purpose
This protocol defines the only valid mechanism by which material may:
• enter MWMS Canon
• be modified within MWMS Canon
• be versioned
• be deprecated
• be archived
Canon stability is a system-critical function.
Uncontrolled modification introduces structural drift and execution instability.
This document exists to ensure that canon promotion and lifecycle control remain explicit, auditable, and governance-safe across MWMS.
Scope
This canon applies to:
• canon entry decisions
• canon promotion workflows
• canon modification rules
• canon deprecation handling
• canon archival handling
• canon change logging
• enforcement of invalid canon states
This document governs the lifecycle by which material becomes canon and remains valid canon.
It does not govern:
• ordinary brainstorming
• non-canon research pages
• execution-layer publishing outside canon
• runtime operational work unless canon is being changed
Those remain governed by their own relevant standards and workflows.
Definition / Rules
Section 1 – Canon Entry Criteria
Material may be promoted to canon only if:
• it has defined scope
• it has defined authority ownership
• it contains a structured metadata header with:
• Status
• Version
• Authority
• Applies To
• Last Reviewed
• it has been finalized under a Canon session invocation
• it has no unresolved structural ambiguity
If any of the above are missing, promotion is invalid.
Section 2 – Promotion Process (Mandatory Sequence)
Promotion must follow this sequence:
- Draft created in an operational environment such as HeadOffice, Brain Room, or Dev Console
- Reviewed under Canon Editing Protocol session
- Approved explicitly by HeadOffice authority
- Assigned version number
- Published under the correct canon namespace path
- Logged in Canon Change Log
Skipping steps invalidates the promotion.
Section 3 – Modification Rules
Canon pages may not be partially edited.
All updates must:
• replace the full structured block
• increment version number
• update Last Reviewed date
• preserve authority ownership
Silent edits are prohibited.
If structure changes materially, version must increment from major version, for example:
v1.0 → v2.0
Minor wording clarifications increment sub-version, for example:
v1.1 → v1.2
Section 4 – Deprecation Protocol
When canon material is superseded:
• Status is changed to Deprecated
• a reference to the replacement page is added
• version is frozen
• page is retained for historical reference
Deletion of canon pages is prohibited unless structurally obsolete and explicitly archived.
Section 5 – Canon Change Log Requirement
Every promotion or modification must be logged in:
MWMS Canon → Governance → Canon Change Log
Each log entry must include:
• Date
• Page affected
• Version change
• Nature of change
• Authority approving
If no log exists, the change is considered unofficial.
Section 6 – Enforcement
If a canon page is found to violate:
• version discipline
• metadata requirements
• proper promotion process
then:
• the page is reverted to the last valid version
Structural integrity overrides convenience.
Section 7 – Structural Stability Principle
Canon is designed for long-term stability.
• speed is secondary
• clarity is primary
• versioning is mandatory
• drift is unacceptable
Final Principle
Canon is not a workspace.
Canon is the constitutional ledger.
Execution adapts to canon.
Canon does not adapt to execution pressure.
Drift Protection
The system must prevent:
• canon promotion without full metadata
• canon publication without explicit HeadOffice approval
• partial canon edits
• unofficial canon changes without change-log trace
• deletion of canon pages outside controlled archival logic
• execution pressure forcing canon shortcuts
Canon promotion must remain deliberate, sequenced, and auditable.
Architectural Intent
This protocol exists to ensure that canon enters MWMS through controlled promotion rather than informal drift.
Its role is to protect the constitutional layer from becoming an operational scratchpad by enforcing strict entry criteria, ordered promotion steps, modification discipline, deprecation rules, and logged authority control.
Change Log
Version: v1.1
Date: 2026-03-14
Author: MWMS HeadOffice
Change: Rebuilt Canon Promotion Protocol to align with MWMS document standards. Added standardised document header, introduced Purpose / Scope / Definition / Rules structure, added Parent field, normalised section formatting, and preserved the original canon entry, promotion, modification, deprecation, change-log, enforcement, and stability logic.
Version: v1.0
Date: 2026-02-12
Author: HeadOffice
Change: Initial creation of Canon Promotion Protocol defining canon entry criteria, mandatory promotion sequence, modification rules, deprecation protocol, change-log requirements, enforcement behavior, and structural stability principles.
END – CANON PROMOTION PROTOCOL v1.1