diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 55c4820..f495401 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,8 +1,17 @@
-.PHONY: validate validate-resource-contract validate-measurement validate-value-type validate-source-locator validate-sourceos-repo-manifest validate-mesh-action-registry validate-control-plane-examples validate-nlboot-examples validate-lattice-data-governai-examples validate-ops-history-examples validate-runtime-observability-examples validate-interpretability-examples validate-lifecycle-boundary-examples validate-svf-contracts validate-sync-cycle-receipts validate-onboarding-examples validate-runtime-causality-examples validate-agentic-os-examples validate-triparty-examples validate-labor-market-examples validate-supply-chain-risk-examples validate-reasoning-examples validate-mpcc-event-examples validate-knowledge-nugget-examples validate-semantic-action-examples validate-epistemic-kernel-examples validate-ab-update-examples validate-device-service-examples validate-duplicate-schema-ids validate-lawful-dispatch-receipt validate-architectural-building-block validate-agent-passport-examples validate-seam-definition-examples validate-agent-system-vocabulary validate-genesis-inception-examples validate-measurement validate-world-model-examples validate-eval-item-examples validate-ingestion-pipeline-examples validate-data-acquisition-examples validate-glossary-alignment-examples validate-data-class-examples validate-table-keys validate-dag-loop validate-vocab-currency-loop vocab-currency-dogfood validate-glossary-promotion validate-agreement validate-stopword-analysis stopword-analysis-live validate-kgram-differential validate-learned-dictionary train-dataclass-classifiers
+.PHONY: validate validate-resource-contract validate-measurement validate-value-type validate-source-locator validate-sourceos-repo-manifest validate-mesh-action-registry validate-control-plane-examples validate-nlboot-examples validate-lattice-data-governai-examples validate-ops-history-examples validate-runtime-observability-examples validate-interpretability-examples validate-lifecycle-boundary-examples validate-svf-contracts validate-sync-cycle-receipts validate-onboarding-examples validate-runtime-causality-examples validate-agentic-os-examples validate-triparty-examples validate-labor-market-examples validate-supply-chain-risk-examples validate-reasoning-examples validate-mpcc-event-examples validate-knowledge-nugget-examples validate-semantic-action-examples validate-epistemic-kernel-examples validate-ab-update-examples validate-device-service-examples validate-duplicate-schema-ids validate-lawful-dispatch-receipt validate-architectural-building-block validate-agent-passport-examples validate-seam-definition-examples validate-agent-system-vocabulary validate-genesis-inception-examples validate-measurement validate-world-model-examples validate-eval-item-examples validate-ingestion-pipeline-examples validate-data-acquisition-examples validate-glossary-alignment-examples validate-data-class-examples validate-table-keys validate-dag-loop validate-vocab-currency-loop vocab-currency-dogfood validate-glossary-promotion validate-agreement validate-stopword-analysis stopword-analysis-live validate-kgram-differential validate-learned-dictionary train-dataclass-classifiers validate-schema-references
 
-validate: validate-data-class-examples validate-glossary-alignment-examples validate-data-acquisition-examples validate-ingestion-pipeline-examples validate-control-plane-examples validate-nlboot-examples validate-lattice-data-governai-examples validate-ops-history-examples validate-runtime-observability-examples validate-interpretability-examples validate-lifecycle-boundary-examples validate-svf-contracts validate-sync-cycle-receipts validate-onboarding-examples validate-runtime-causality-examples validate-agentic-os-examples validate-triparty-examples validate-labor-market-examples validate-supply-chain-risk-examples validate-reasoning-examples validate-mpcc-event-examples validate-knowledge-nugget-examples validate-semantic-action-examples validate-epistemic-kernel-examples validate-ab-update-examples validate-device-service-examples validate-duplicate-schema-ids validate-value-type validate-source-locator validate-sourceos-repo-manifest validate-mesh-action-registry validate-lawful-dispatch-receipt validate-architectural-building-block validate-agent-passport-examples validate-seam-definition-examples validate-agent-system-vocabulary validate-genesis-inception-examples validate-measurement validate-world-model-examples validate-eval-item-examples validate-resource-contract validate-table-keys validate-dag-loop validate-vocab-currency-loop validate-glossary-promotion validate-agreement validate-stopword-analysis validate-kgram-differential validate-learned-dictionary validate-trained-classifiers validate-multiverseal-twin-examples
+validate: validate-data-class-examples validate-glossary-alignment-examples validate-data-acquisition-examples validate-ingestion-pipeline-examples validate-control-plane-examples validate-nlboot-examples validate-lattice-data-governai-examples validate-ops-history-examples validate-runtime-observability-examples validate-interpretability-examples validate-lifecycle-boundary-examples validate-svf-contracts validate-sync-cycle-receipts validate-onboarding-examples validate-runtime-causality-examples validate-agentic-os-examples validate-triparty-examples validate-labor-market-examples validate-supply-chain-risk-examples validate-reasoning-examples validate-mpcc-event-examples validate-knowledge-nugget-examples validate-semantic-action-examples validate-epistemic-kernel-examples validate-ab-update-examples validate-device-service-examples validate-duplicate-schema-ids validate-value-type validate-source-locator validate-sourceos-repo-manifest validate-mesh-action-registry validate-lawful-dispatch-receipt validate-architectural-building-block validate-agent-passport-examples validate-seam-definition-examples validate-agent-system-vocabulary validate-genesis-inception-examples validate-measurement validate-world-model-examples validate-eval-item-examples validate-resource-contract validate-table-keys validate-dag-loop validate-vocab-currency-loop validate-glossary-promotion validate-agreement validate-stopword-analysis validate-kgram-differential validate-learned-dictionary validate-trained-classifiers validate-multiverseal-twin-examples validate-schema-references
 	@echo "OK: validate"
 
+# General referential-integrity gate: every schema is a valid JSON Schema and every
+# $ref resolves. The per-example validators only exercise schemas that ship examples;
+# this catches a dangling/renamed/typo'd $ref in ANY of the 300+ schemas — a
+# declared-not-enforced defect at the spec's own reference layer. Self-excluding:
+# scans schemas/ only, proves its own teeth via an inline synthetic negative control.
+validate-schema-references:
+	python3 -m pip install --user jsonschema >/dev/null
+	python3 tools/validate_schema_references.py
+
 validate-ingestion-pipeline-examples:
 	python3 -m pip install --user jsonschema >/dev/null
 	python3 tools/validate_ingestion_pipeline_examples.py
diff --git a/tools/validate_schema_references.py b/tools/validate_schema_references.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..702267b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/validate_schema_references.py
@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""General referential-integrity gate for every schema in schemas/.
+
+The estate has 340 schemas and ~135 ``$ref`` links, but the per-example
+validators only exercise the schemas that happen to ship examples. A schema that
+declares a ``$ref`` to a moved, renamed, or mistyped target sails straight
+through: nothing loads the schema, so nothing notices the reference resolves to
+NOTHING. That is the declared-not-enforced defect at the spec's own reference
+layer — a schema promising a contract ("this field conforms to
+``ContentRef.json#/$defs/x``") that points at a hole.
+
+This validator makes that unrepresentable. For every ``schemas/*.json`` it asserts:
+
+  1. the file is valid JSON and a structurally valid JSON Schema (Draft 2020-12
+     metaschema — ``check_schema``); and
+  2. every ``$ref`` — internal ``#/…``, relative ``File.json`` (optionally with a
+     ``#/…`` fragment), or canonical ``$id`` URI — resolves to an existing schema
+     AND an existing pointer target inside it.
+
+Self-exclusion (a self-validating checker must exclude itself, or it "passes" by
+never testing its own logic): the real scan targets ``schemas/`` ONLY, and this
+validator lives in ``tools/`` — never in the scanned set. Its teeth are proven on
+every run by an inline negative control built from SYNTHETIC in-memory schemas
+(a dangling file ref, a dangling internal pointer, a malformed schema) — none of
+which touch ``schemas/``, so the proof can never pollute the thing being proven.
+If that negative control ever fails to trip, the validator exits non-zero and
+refuses to certify anything: a gate that cannot fail certifies nothing.
+
+  validate_schema_references.py                 # scan schemas/ (default)
+  validate_schema_references.py --schema-dir X  # scan an alternate dir
+  validate_schema_references.py --self-test     # run only the negative control
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import json
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, Iterator
+
+try:
+    from jsonschema import Draft202012Validator
+    from jsonschema.exceptions import SchemaError
+except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover - environment guard
+    sys.stderr.write("validate_schema_references: needs `jsonschema` (pip install --user jsonschema)\n")
+    raise
+
+
+# ── pure helpers (no I/O; these are what the negative control pins) ───────────
+def iter_refs(node: Any) -> Iterator[str]:
+    """Yield every string ``$ref`` value anywhere in a schema document."""
+    if isinstance(node, dict):
+        for key, value in node.items():
+            if key == "$ref" and isinstance(value, str):
+                yield value
+            else:
+                yield from iter_refs(value)
+    elif isinstance(node, list):
+        for item in node:
+            yield from iter_refs(item)
+
+
+def resolve_pointer(doc: Any, fragment: str) -> bool:
+    """True if an RFC-6901 JSON pointer fragment resolves inside ``doc``."""
+    parts = [p.replace("~1", "/").replace("~0", "~")
+             for p in fragment.lstrip("/").split("/") if p != ""]
+    node = doc
+    for part in parts:
+        if isinstance(node, dict):
+            if part not in node:
+                return False
+            node = node[part]
+        elif isinstance(node, list):
+            try:
+                idx = int(part)
+            except ValueError:
+                return False
+            if idx < 0 or idx >= len(node):
+                return False
+            node = node[idx]
+        else:
+            return False
+    return True
+
+
+def resolve_ref(ref: str, current_doc: dict, by_id: dict[str, dict],
+                by_file: dict[str, dict]) -> tuple[bool, str]:
+    """Resolve one ``$ref`` to (ok, reason). Reason is empty when ok."""
+    file_part, _, fragment = ref.partition("#")
+    if file_part == "":
+        target = current_doc
+    elif file_part in by_file:                       # "ContentRef.json"
+        target = by_file[file_part]
+    elif file_part in by_id:                          # full canonical "$id" URI
+        target = by_id[file_part]
+    elif Path(file_part).name in by_file:            # any path/URL ending in Name.json
+        target = by_file[Path(file_part).name]
+    else:
+        return False, f"$ref to missing schema: {ref!r}"
+    if fragment.strip("/") == "":
+        return True, ""
+    if resolve_pointer(target, fragment):
+        return True, ""
+    return False, f"$ref pointer does not resolve: {ref!r}"
+
+
+# ── I/O ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+def load_all(schema_dir: Path) -> tuple[dict[str, dict], dict[str, dict], list[tuple[str, str]]]:
+    by_file: dict[str, dict] = {}
+    by_id: dict[str, dict] = {}
+    load_errors: list[tuple[str, str]] = []
+    for path in sorted(schema_dir.glob("*.json")):
+        try:
+            doc = json.loads(path.read_text())
+        except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError) as e:
+            load_errors.append((path.name, f"unreadable/invalid JSON: {e}"))
+            continue
+        by_file[path.name] = doc
+        sid = doc.get("$id") if isinstance(doc, dict) else None
+        if isinstance(sid, str):
+            by_id[sid] = doc
+    return by_file, by_id, load_errors
+
+
+def check_all(schema_dir: Path) -> tuple[list[tuple[str, str]], int, int]:
+    by_file, by_id, findings = load_all(schema_dir)
+    ref_count = 0
+    for name, doc in by_file.items():
+        if not isinstance(doc, dict):
+            findings.append((name, "top-level schema is not a JSON object"))
+            continue
+        try:
+            Draft202012Validator.check_schema(doc)
+        except SchemaError as e:
+            findings.append((name, f"not a valid JSON Schema: {e.message}"))
+        for ref in iter_refs(doc):
+            ref_count += 1
+            ok, reason = resolve_ref(ref, doc, by_id, by_file)
+            if not ok:
+                findings.append((name, reason))
+    return findings, len(by_file), ref_count
+
+
+# ── negative control: prove the gate has teeth, on every run ──────────────────
+def _is_rejected_schema(doc: dict) -> bool:
+    try:
+        Draft202012Validator.check_schema(doc)
+        return False
+    except SchemaError:
+        return True
+
+
+def _negative_control() -> bool:
+    good = {"$id": "https://schemas.srcos.ai/v2/_NC_Good.json", "type": "object",
+            "$defs": {"a": {"type": "string"}}}
+    by_file = {"_NC_Good.json": good}
+    by_id = {good["$id"]: good}
+    checks = [
+        ("dangling file $ref is caught", resolve_ref("_NC_Missing.json", good, by_id, by_file)[0] is False),
+        ("dangling internal pointer is caught", resolve_ref("#/$defs/missing", good, by_id, by_file)[0] is False),
+        ("dangling file+fragment is caught", resolve_ref("_NC_Good.json#/$defs/missing", good, by_id, by_file)[0] is False),
+        ("valid file $ref resolves", resolve_ref("_NC_Good.json", good, by_id, by_file)[0] is True),
+        ("valid internal pointer resolves", resolve_ref("#/$defs/a", good, by_id, by_file)[0] is True),
+        ("valid $id $ref resolves", resolve_ref(good["$id"], good, by_id, by_file)[0] is True),
+        ("malformed schema is caught", _is_rejected_schema({"type": 123})),
+        ("valid schema is accepted", not _is_rejected_schema(good)),
+    ]
+    passed = all(ok for _, ok in checks)
+    for name, ok in checks:
+        print(f"    {'OK  ' if ok else 'FAIL'} negative control: {name}")
+    return passed
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
+    ap = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Referential-integrity gate for schemas/.")
+    ap.add_argument("--schema-dir", default="schemas", help="directory of *.json schemas to scan")
+    ap.add_argument("--self-test", action="store_true", help="run only the negative control")
+    args = ap.parse_args(argv)
+
+    # The gate certifies nothing unless it has first proven it can fail.
+    if not _negative_control():
+        print("FAIL: negative control did not trip — the validator has no teeth; refusing to certify")
+        return 2
+    if args.self_test:
+        print("OK: negative control passed")
+        return 0
+
+    schema_dir = Path(args.schema_dir)
+    if not schema_dir.is_dir():
+        print(f"FAIL: --schema-dir {schema_dir} is not a directory")
+        return 2
+    findings, n_schemas, n_refs = check_all(schema_dir)
+    if n_schemas == 0:
+        print(f"FAIL: no schemas found in {schema_dir} — refusing to report a green scan of nothing")
+        return 2
+    if findings:
+        print(f"FAIL: {len(findings)} referential-integrity defect(s) across {n_schemas} schemas:")
+        for name, reason in sorted(findings):
+            print(f"  {name}: {reason}")
+        return 1
+    print(f"OK: {n_schemas} schemas structurally valid; all {n_refs} $refs resolve to a real target")
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())