Every Approval Gate Should Have a Clear Exit Condition

Approval gates work better when the workflow defines exactly what evidence ends the pause and which route becomes legal next.

Approval is a state transition, not a ceremonial checkpoint. If the system does not define what approval changes, the workflow will stall or continue ambiguously.

Each approval gate should specify

• What evidence is required.
• Who can approve or deny.
• Which next state becomes valid afterward.

Use the architecture guide, blackboard schema, and examples to make approval exits explicit.