# Query Governance Query governance is the system of rules, approvals, audit logs, technical controls, training, review, and remedies governing searches of already-acquired information. It is distinct from the legal and technical decision to collect the information in the first place. ## Notebook evidence [[Scanned_20260730-1830]], PDF pages 8–16, approaches this distinction while studying U.S.-person queries of Section 702 repositories and the [[April 2022 FISC Section 702 Opinion]]. The notebook's central insight is that surveillance risk can move downstream: the initial target may be lawful while later search or use is noncompliant. ## Required record A reproducible query record should identify the repository, selector, requester, purpose, legal standard, approval, time, result handling, dissemination, retention, audit outcome, and any remediation. “Access existed” is not the same claim as “this query occurred.” ## Cross-notebook role This extends [[Control-Plane Continuity]] from account and device administration to state archives: the decisive authority may lie in who can retrieve and operationalize stored information. ## Source - [[Scanned_20260730-1830]], PDF pages 8–16.