# Competence **Domain:** American Trust Value **System:** [[wiki/American Character|American Character]] ## Definition Competence is knowledge converted into dependable action. It requires craft, preparation, revision, and enough humility to test whether the work actually functions. In the American Trust Code, excellence is a duty owed to the people who must rely upon the result. Capability becomes moral when it reduces failure for others. ## Place in the American System Competence is developed from [[american/American Character - Value 02 - Competence|American Character - Value 02 - Competence]] and belongs to [[collections/American|the American Collection]]. Its role is to keep one stable concept available across doctrine, character, comportment, material culture, intelligence participation, and alliance work without collapsing those levels into one another. ## Relationships [[wiki/American Competence|American Competence]] · [[wiki/Competence Made Visible|Competence Made Visible]] · [[wiki/National Capability Culture|National Capability Culture]] ## Sources / Provenance The governing source is [[american/American Character - Value 02 - Competence|American Character - Value 02 - Competence]]; the wider architecture is routed through [[wiki/American System|American System]].