diff --git a/CITATION.cff b/CITATION.cff
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..159c7d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CITATION.cff
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+cff-version: 1.2.0
+title: "AUCTORISEAL"
+message: "Cite this repository when referencing VERIFRAX authority issuance semantics."
+type: software
+authors:
+  - name: "Verifrax"
+repository-code: "https://github.com/Verifrax/AUCTORISEAL"
+license: "Proprietary"
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6e33b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# Contributing (AUCTORISEAL)
+
+Authority issuance surface. Treat as high-integrity code.
+
+Rules:
+- PRs only (no direct pushes to main)
+- deterministic outputs (no time/random/env dependence)
+- all authority semantics must be test-backed
+- changes must preserve stable identifiers once published
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 20596b2..f12781b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -158,3 +158,11 @@ It promises one thing only:
 > **If an action mattered, you can prove who was allowed to authorize it — or prove that no one was.**
 
 Everything else builds on that.
+
+## Contract
+- issues/rotates authority material under strict policy
+- deterministic issuance records
+- compatible with VERIFRAX evidence + sealing surfaces
+
+## Interfaces
+- CLI / API surface documented in `docs/`
diff --git a/docs/USAGE.md b/docs/USAGE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc5f4e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/USAGE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Usage (Pinned Surface)
+
+This file defines the stable public usage surface.
+
+Add:
+- install
+- minimal issue/rotate flows
+- inputs/outputs
+- exit codes / error taxonomy
+- security considerations