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:

1. Learning responsibility
2. Demonstrating care, restraint, and accountability
3. Being witnessed over time
4. Receiving authority for specific purposes
5. 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