github-spec-kit/templates/commands/constitution.md

description, handoffs

description	handoffs
Create or update the project constitution from interactive or provided principle inputs.	label agent prompt Build Specification speckit.specify Implement the feature specification based on the updated constitution. I want to build...

User Input

$ARGUMENTS

You MUST consider the user input before proceeding (if not empty).

Scope Guard

This command's own work is limited to updating the project constitution itself. Dependent templates and commands read the constitution at runtime and are not modified here.

• Classify every part of the user input as either constitution content or a separate, non-governance intent.
• If the input includes feature implementation, code generation, refactoring, building, or deployment requests, you MUST NOT execute them. Extract them as deferred intents instead.
• You MUST NOT create, modify, or delete application source files, feature routes, components, tests, deployment files, or other artifacts unrelated to the constitution workflow.
• If it is unclear whether an instruction is constitution content, ask for clarification before making changes.
• After completing the constitution update, include a Next Actions section for each deferred intent. List the original intent and suggest the appropriate follow-up Spec Kit command, such as __SPECKIT_COMMAND_SPECIFY__, without invoking it.
• If there are no non-governance intents, omit the Next Actions section.

Pre-Execution Checks

Check for extension hooks (before constitution update):

• Check if .specify/extensions.yml exists in the project root.
• If it exists, read it and look for entries under the hooks.before_constitution key
• If the YAML cannot be parsed or is invalid, skip hook checking silently and continue normally
• Filter out hooks where enabled is explicitly false. Treat hooks without an enabled field as enabled by default.
• For each remaining hook, do not attempt to interpret or evaluate hook condition expressions:
  • If the hook has no condition field, or it is null/empty, treat the hook as executable
  • If the hook defines a non-empty condition, skip the hook and leave condition evaluation to the HookExecutor implementation
• For each executable hook, output the following based on its optional flag:
  • Optional hook (optional: true):

    ## Extension Hooks
    
    **Optional Pre-Hook**: {extension}
    Command: `/{command}`
    Description: {description}
    
    Prompt: {prompt}
    To execute: `/{command}`
    

  • Mandatory hook (optional: false):

    ## Extension Hooks
    
    **Automatic Pre-Hook**: {extension}
    Executing: `/{command}`
    EXECUTE_COMMAND: {command}
    
    Wait for the result of the hook command before proceeding to the Outline.
    

    After emitting the block above you MUST actually invoke the hook and wait for it to finish before continuing. Run it the same way you would run the command yourself in this agent/session (the invocation may differ from the literal {command} id shown above, e.g. a skills-mode agent runs it as /skill:speckit-... or $speckit-...). Emitting the block alone does not run the hook.
• If no hooks are registered or .specify/extensions.yml does not exist, skip silently

Outline

You are updating the project constitution at .specify/memory/constitution.md. This file is a TEMPLATE containing placeholder tokens in square brackets (e.g. [PROJECT_NAME], [PRINCIPLE_1_NAME]). Your job is to (a) collect/derive concrete values and (b) fill the template precisely.

Note: If .specify/memory/constitution.md does not exist yet, it should have been initialized from .specify/templates/constitution-template.md during project setup. If it's missing, copy the template first.

Follow this execution flow:

1. Load the existing constitution at .specify/memory/constitution.md.

   • Identify every placeholder token of the form [ALL_CAPS_IDENTIFIER]. IMPORTANT: The user might require less or more principles than the ones used in the template. If a number is specified, respect that - follow the general template. You will update the doc accordingly.

2. Collect/derive values for placeholders:

   • If user input (conversation) supplies a value, use it.
   • Otherwise infer from existing repo context (README, docs, prior constitution versions if embedded).
   • For governance dates: RATIFICATION_DATE is the original adoption date (if unknown ask or mark TODO), LAST_AMENDED_DATE is today if changes are made, otherwise keep previous.
   • CONSTITUTION_VERSION must increment according to semantic versioning rules:
     • MAJOR: Backward incompatible governance/principle removals or redefinitions.
     • MINOR: New principle/section added or materially expanded guidance.
     • PATCH: Clarifications, wording, typo fixes, non-semantic refinements.
   • If version bump type ambiguous, propose reasoning before finalizing.

3. Draft the updated constitution content:

   • Replace every placeholder with concrete text (no bracketed tokens left except intentionally retained template slots that the project has chosen not to define yet—explicitly justify any left).
   • Preserve heading hierarchy and comments can be removed once replaced unless they still add clarifying guidance.
   • Ensure each Principle section: succinct name line, paragraph (or bullet list) capturing non‑negotiable rules, explicit rationale if not obvious.
   • Ensure Governance section lists amendment procedure, versioning policy, and compliance review expectations.

4. Produce a Sync Impact Report (prepend as an HTML comment at top of the constitution file after update):

   • Version change: old → new
   • List of modified principles (old title → new title if renamed)
   • Added sections
   • Removed sections
   • Follow-up TODOs if any placeholders intentionally deferred.

5. Validation before final output:

   • No remaining unexplained bracket tokens.
   • Version line matches report.
   • Dates ISO format YYYY-MM-DD.
   • Principles are declarative, testable, and free of vague language ("should" → replace with MUST/SHOULD rationale where appropriate).

6. Write the completed constitution back to .specify/memory/constitution.md (overwrite).

7. Output a final summary to the user with:

   • New version and bump rationale.
   • Any TODO placeholders or deferred items requiring manual follow-up.
   • Suggested commit message (e.g., docs: amend constitution to vX.Y.Z (principle additions + governance update)).
   • A Next Actions section for any deferred non-governance intents.

Formatting & Style Requirements:

• Use Markdown headings exactly as in the template (do not demote/promote levels).
• Wrap long rationale lines to keep readability (<100 chars ideally) but do not hard enforce with awkward breaks.
• Keep a single blank line between sections.
• Avoid trailing whitespace.

If the user supplies partial updates (e.g., only one principle revision), still perform validation and version decision steps.

If critical info missing (e.g., ratification date truly unknown), insert TODO(<FIELD_NAME>): explanation and include in the Sync Impact Report under deferred items.

Do not create a new template; always operate on the existing .specify/memory/constitution.md file.

Post-Execution Checks

Check for extension hooks (after constitution update): Check if .specify/extensions.yml exists in the project root.

• If it exists, read it and look for entries under the hooks.after_constitution key
• If the YAML cannot be parsed or is invalid, skip hook checking silently and continue normally
• Filter out hooks where enabled is explicitly false. Treat hooks without an enabled field as enabled by default.
• For each remaining hook, do not attempt to interpret or evaluate hook condition expressions:
  • If the hook has no condition field, or it is null/empty, treat the hook as executable
  • If the hook defines a non-empty condition, skip the hook and leave condition evaluation to the HookExecutor implementation
• For each executable hook, output the following based on its optional flag:
  • Optional hook (optional: true):

    ## Extension Hooks
    
    **Optional Hook**: {extension}
    Command: `/{command}`
    Description: {description}
    
    Prompt: {prompt}
    To execute: `/{command}`
    

  • Mandatory hook (optional: false):

    ## Extension Hooks
    
    **Automatic Hook**: {extension}
    Executing: `/{command}`
    EXECUTE_COMMAND: {command}
    

    After emitting the block above you MUST actually invoke the hook and wait for it to finish before continuing. Run it the same way you would run the command yourself in this agent/session (the invocation may differ from the literal {command} id shown above, e.g. a skills-mode agent runs it as /skill:speckit-... or $speckit-...). Emitting the block alone does not run the hook.
• If no hooks are registered or .specify/extensions.yml does not exist, skip silently