Responsibility is learned before authority is held
Responsibility Before Authority
Category: Tsm’syen Law Page status: Working
Principle
Responsibility is learned before authority is held.
Authority is not a starting point. It is a consequence of demonstrated responsibility.
Order of Formation
In Tsm’syen law, the lawful order is:
- Learning responsibility
- Demonstrating care, restraint, and accountability
- Being witnessed over time
- Receiving authority for specific purposes
- Remaining accountable after authority is granted
Reversing this order produces illegitimate authority.
Learning Responsibility
Responsibility is learned through:
- Service to house and clan
- Observation of elders and lawful conduct
- Participation without control
- Acceptance of correction
- Care for land, people, and relationships
Responsibility includes knowing when **not** to act.
Witness and Recognition
Responsibility must be witnessed.
Authority arises only when others recognize that responsibility has been carried consistently and lawfully.
Self-declared readiness is not recognition.
Limits on Authority
Authority is:
- Specific, not general
- Conditional, not permanent
- Bounded by ayaawx
- Withdrawable if responsibility fails
Holding authority does not remove the duty to learn.
Modern Context
In contemporary governance, this principle means:
- Youth and learners participate before leading
- Advisory roles precede decision-making roles
- Authority is granted gradually, not all at once
- Training and mentorship are ongoing responsibilities
Authority without preparation endangers law.
Cross References
Youth and the Survival of Law Legal Continuity and Correct Transmission Elders as Interpreters of Law Misuse of Authority Witnessed Recognition