{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "what-invariants-preserve-behavioral-consistency-under-resource-pressure",
  "title": "What invariants preserve behavioral consistency under resource pressure?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** The session has specified behavior, resources are constrained, and compliance competes with other uses of the constrained resources. * **Does not apply when:** The specification is invariant to resources, or resource pre",
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    "core_distinction": "The separation between **behavior under nominal conditions** (the session acts per its specification) and **behavior under resource pressure** (the session acts per the specification while resources are constrained). Relying on nominal behavior creates the **Resource-Pressure Drift**: the specification was designed and validated under nominal conditions, res...",
    "what_was_observed": "In resource-constrained agent architectures, failing to preserve consistency under pressure produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Silent Violation:** The session's policy requires validation before action. Under pressure, the session skips validation to save tokens, and the violation is invisible unless someone audits the specific action. 2. **Selective Compliance:** The session complies with the specification w...",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** The session has specified behavior, resources are constrained, and compliance competes with other uses of the constrained resources. * **Does not apply when:** The specification is invariant to resources, or resource pressure is verified not to affect compliance.",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Is the session under resource pressure?** If no, nominal behavior is expected. If yes, proceed. 2. **Does the specification allow explicit degradation under pressure?** If yes, apply the documented degradation. If no, the specification requires compliance regardless. 3. **Is `pressure-driven-violation-manifest-receipt` recorded for each action under pre...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Silent Violation Prevention:** Violations are surfaced, not hidden. 2. **Degradation Honesty:** Explicit degradation is distinguished from undocumented non-compliance. 3. **Specification Integrity:** The specification is enforced regardless of pressure."
  },
  "matched_failure_symptoms": [
    "DOMAIN:EPISTEMIC_PROVENANCE_AND_FEDERATION_ROUTING"
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    "verified_classes": [
      "PressureVerdict",
      "SessionAction",
      "PressurePolicy",
      "PressureManifest",
      "BehavioralConsistencyGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_action"
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    "verified_functions_count": 2,
    "defensive_guards_count": 0,
    "raised_exceptions": [],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
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    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
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}