Citation does not confer authority to reinterpret
Citation Does Not Confer Authority to Reinterpret
Category: Governance Principles Page status: Working
Statement
Citation does not confer authority to reinterpret.
Purpose
To clarify that referencing or quoting Tsm’syen law does not grant power to redefine its meaning.
Explanation
People may cite material for study, comparison, or discussion.
However, authority arises from relationship, standing, and responsibility within the Nation — not from possession of text.
Function
This principle separates access from jurisdiction.
It prevents external actors from claiming interpretive power through documentation.
What This Prevents
- academic overreach
- legal substitution
- authority based on publication
- reinterpretation without standing
Relationship to Education
Study and citation may contribute to learning.
Learning does not convert into governance authority.
Result
Knowledge may circulate while interpretation remains internal.