to-be 55: a drafted clause may be changed, and a clause another record links keeps its number (issue 494, ADR 0321)

Names ADR 0321 in its home, so the knowledge base's cited rule holds through
the design that carries it.

03-DESIGN/01-to-be/55-the-knowledge-base.md

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ code: []
 updated: 2026-10-12
 decisions:
   - "ADR 0290"
+  - "ADR 0321"
 ---
 
 # 55 — The knowledge base
@@ -157,6 +158,14 @@ per clause whether the record says exactly that; an accepted clause becomes `con
 same way. When every record of a topic has been through both, the operator is told once per topic, with the counts
 confirmed and still drafted. `return` with a record's number and a reason sends it back to be drafted again.
 
+**A drafted clause may be changed, and a linked clause keeps its number** (ADR 0321, issue 494). A later record's
+`changes` may name a drafted clause, confirmed or not, as it may one in force or changed; only a superseded or proposed
+clause is refused. On that record's acceptance the drafted clause is marked `changed`, naming the clause that changed
+it, keeps its number and stays `drafted`: it is still never served as in force, and `get` and `ask` say both. Because
+a redraft numbers a record's clauses anew, `return` refuses a record any of whose clauses another record changed or
+links by number, in a version served or proposed, naming each such link; a record that changes the drafted clause is
+the way to correct it. A record no other record links by clause is returned as before.
+
 ## 8. The import
 
 `import` takes a commit of this repository (and `dry-run`) and writes every decision record and research effort
@@ -198,6 +207,7 @@ repository keeps no copy of the records, generated or otherwise (issue 435, answ
 | Every version is kept and comparable | the module's test: three versions, `history` lists them, the difference of the first and third is exact |
 | The import changes nothing on a second run, and loses nothing | the module's test over a fixture repository; and the comparison of § 8 on issue 426 |
 | A drafted clause is never served as in force | the module's test: `holds` over a record with only drafted clauses answers none, and `ask` marks them |
+| A drafted clause may be changed, and a linked clause is never renumbered | the module's tests: a record changing a drafted clause is accepted, and the clause is then `changed`, keeps its number, stays drafted and is not served; `return` of a record whose clause another record changed or links by number is refused naming the link, and writes nothing |
 | An answer stays within its bound | the module's test over the full import of `main` at a recorded commit: every `ask`, `get` and `holds` of a fixed question list |
 | A record written in this repository meanwhile writes its clauses | `records.py`, check `clauses`, on every hq pull request, until the records left this repository (issue 426); since then `records.py`, check `no-records`, refuses any record written here |
 | Live | the acceptance sentence, asked from a session outside this repository |