Authority Module — Ritual Governance
Authority types, jurisdictions, basis, and recognition networks
Governance Layer module. Full governance model for ritual authority, jurisdiction, and authorization basis. Extends the iroko:RitualAuthority stub in Core with jurisdiction modeling, authority type and basis classification, ritual roles, recognition networks, and temporal validity. Used to authorize assertion-level claims across all modules. Commonly paired with iroko-epistemic for constraint-aware archives.
A jurisdictional authority capable of authorizing assertion-level claims and governance decisions. May represent a lineage, cabildo, religious house, elder council, or recognized individual in a governance role. Extends the iroko:RitualAuthority stub in Core. For the individual's held credential (title, office), see ile:ReligiousOffice.
What the authority rests on: lineage succession, consecration, appointment, community recognition, divinatory selection, or other basis.
Classifies the structural form of an authority — lineage, house, cabildo, council, individual elder, etc.
A place, house, cabildo, lineage territory, nation, or other bounded domain in which an authority is recognized. May be geographic, genealogical, or institutional.
The functional role an authority occupies within a ritual governance system — elder, priest, archivist-steward, witness, etc. Distinct from ile:ReligiousOffice (specific held title) — RitualRole is a classification concept.
| Property | Type | Domain → Range | Access | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| authorityBasis authority basis |
Object | Authority → Authority Basis | Public | What the authority rests on — the epistemic or social foundation for its recognition. |
| authorityNote authority note |
Datatype | Authority → langString | Community Only | Free-text note on the nature, history, or contested aspects of this authority's standing. |
| authorityType authority type |
Object | Authority → Authority Type | Public | Classifies an Authority instance by its structural form. |
| culturalFrame cultural frame |
Datatype | Authority → string | Community Only | Short label for the tradition frame within which this authority operates. Example: Lucumi, Palo, Espiritismo, Vodou, Candomble. Use iroko:tradition for linked-data-typed values. |
| hasJurisdiction has jurisdiction |
Object | Authority → Jurisdiction | Public | Links an authority to the domain(s) where it is recognized. |
| jurisdictionLabel jurisdiction label |
Datatype | Jurisdiction → langString | Public | Human-readable name for this jurisdiction. |
| jurisdictionType jurisdiction type |
Datatype | Jurisdiction → string | Public | Short classifer for the jurisdiction type: 'geographic', 'genealogical', 'institutional', 'diasporic', etc. |
| recognizedBy recognized by |
Object | Authority → Authority | Public | Links one authority to a recognizing body, council, or adjacent authority. Used for documenting recognition networks and cross-lineage acknowledgments. |
| ritualRole ritual role |
Object | Authority → Ritual Role | Public | The functional governance role this authority occupies. |
| validFrom valid from |
Datatype | Authority → date | Public | Date from which the authority's governance standing is recognized or effective. |
| validUntil valid until |
Datatype | Authority → date | Public | Date until which the authority's governance standing is recognized. Absence of this property does not imply perpetual validity — use iroko:contestedStatus where appropriate. |
What a ritual authority rests on — the social and epistemic foundation for recognition.
Authority derives from formal appointment by a recognized governing body.
Authority derives from informal but sustained community acknowledgment.
Authority derives from a ritual consecration event.
The basis of the authority is itself disputed across lineages or houses.
Authority derives from selection through divination (Ifa, oracle, sortition, etc.).
Authority derives from family lineage independent of formal consecration or appointment.
Authority derives from recognized succession in a transmission line.
Structural classification of ritual authority entities.
Authority vested in a cabildo or mutual aid association with ritual governance functions.
Authority vested in a collective governing council of elders or priests.
Authority vested in a specific divinatory office — Babalawo, Oluwo, Houngan Asogwe, etc. — rather than the individual holder.
Authority vested in a religious house (ile, sosyete, cabildo house, etc.).
Authority vested in a recognized individual elder acting in their own governance capacity.
Authority vested in a descent line or transmission chain.
Functional roles within ritual governance systems.
Recognized steward of archival materials within a tradition or house.
Person acting in an authorized representative capacity on behalf of a house or community.
role-diviner
role-priest