Proof Space Guide
Authority and precedence
What is it?
The ranked rule for deciding which applicable document controls when sources overlap.
Applicable documents do not all carry equal authority. The resolver uses the canonical precedence order to identify which document controls a narrower or conflicting decision boundary.
The preserved gap remains visible when the highest-precedence process is referenced but its full governing source is unavailable.
Organizational Reality
A broad handbook says one thing. A specialized compliance procedure says another. A manager guide gives a practical shortcut that people have used for years.
When the same question touches all three, the organization needs a principled way to decide which source governs instead of letting convenience decide.
Why it happens
This commonly happens because organizations publish broad guidance and specialized exceptions over time. Without precedence, overlap turns into negotiation instead of governance.
How it relates
- Applicable sourcesMore than one may match.
- PrecedenceHigher authority controls.
- GapMissing higher process stays visible.
Precedence keeps overlapping sources from becoming a guessing contest.