diff --git a/internal/catalogue/declaration.go b/internal/catalogue/declaration.go
index 73ca1288..a2d75976 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/declaration.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/declaration.go
@@ -1184,6 +1184,10 @@ func (r Resolution) compose(with Rendering, owner map[string]string,
 			delete(copied, SecretsInEnvironment)
 			delete(copied, NamesOnPurpose)
 			delete(copied, TrustedField)
+			// A process's bus stays controller-side (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1): never composed onto the
+			// node-engine's process resource, whose wire declaration is mesh-host's own, vendored, with a
+			// strict decoder that refuses an unknown key.
+			delete(copied, ProcessBusField)
 			// **An operator's value, from the assignment** (novox/hq ADR 0112, ADR 0155): what a
 			// definition may not carry because it is true of one installation only. Filled from
 			// the same layers a mergeable file takes, and refused when no layer set it.
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/manifest.go b/internal/catalogue/manifest.go
index 3d983484..bcbb4c69 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/manifest.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/manifest.go
@@ -1990,6 +1990,7 @@ func parseManifest(raw []byte, predefined PredefinedList) (Manifest, error) {
 	// facts about the catalogue and are checked at registration (CatalogueProblems).
 	problems = append(problems, declaredSeatProblems(m)...)
 	problems = append(problems, RunsAsProblems(m)...)
+	problems = append(problems, ProcessBusProblems(m)...)
 	problems = append(problems, ReadsHolderProblems(m)...)
 	problems = append(problems, FilesHolderProblems(m)...)
 	if m.Computed != "" && len(m.Resources) > 0 {
@@ -2855,12 +2856,7 @@ func replacesProblems(m Manifest) []string {
 func invokeProblems(m Manifest) []string {
 	var problems []string
 	for _, t := range m.Invokes {
-		if t == "*" {
-			continue
-		}
-		t = strings.TrimPrefix(t, "seat:")
-		module, tool, named := strings.Cut(t, ".")
-		if !named || !name.MatchString(module) || !toolName.MatchString(tool) {
+		if !invokeNameValid(t) {
 			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf(
 				"%s invokes %q, which does not name a tool: a module invokes <module>.<tool>, or "+
 					"* for every tool on the mesh (novox/hq ADR 0152)", m.Module, t))
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/process_bus.go b/internal/catalogue/process_bus.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..445fc68a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/catalogue/process_bus.go
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// ProcessBusField is the key a process resource declares its bus on. Controller-side only: never composed
+// onto the node-engine's process resource (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1) — the wire declaration is mesh-host's own,
+// vendored, with a strict decoder that refuses an unknown key.
+const ProcessBusField = "bus"
+
+// ProcessBus is what one process of a module does on the bus (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1, §2, §3, §5): its own bus
+// account, granted exactly this and nothing of the module's other grants or the tool runner's — never a seat
+// to hold or serve, never a tool call or seat verb answered, never a restricted stream heard, never a
+// warrant published (§3, §5).
+type ProcessBus struct {
+	// Emits are the events this process emits, named locally, as the module's own Emits names them
+	// (EmitsAll): a process emits only what its module may emit as a whole.
+	Emits []string `json:"emits,omitempty"`
+	// Queues are the module's own work-queue streams (ADR 0436 §6) this process consumes.
+	Queues []string `json:"queues,omitempty"`
+	// State is the module's own state, by local name, this process reads and writes.
+	State []string `json:"state,omitempty"`
+	// Asks says whether this process reads the router's records of this module's own asks.
+	Asks bool `json:"asks,omitempty"`
+	// Invokes are the tools and seat verbs this process calls, each <module>.<tool> or a role's
+	// seat:<seat>.<verb> (as Manifest.Invokes), or * for every tool on the mesh.
+	Invokes []string `json:"invokes,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON reads a process's bus strictly: an unknown key — serves, a seat to hold or claim, or
+// anything else that would answer a tool call or a seat's verb — is refused here, by name (novox/hq ADR
+// 0436 §3).
+func (b *ProcessBus) UnmarshalJSON(raw []byte) error {
+	type plain ProcessBus
+	var p plain
+	dec := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(raw))
+	dec.DisallowUnknownFields()
+	if err := dec.Decode(&p); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("a process's bus is {emits, queues, state, asks, invokes}: %w", typedUnknown(err))
+	}
+	*b = ProcessBus(p)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// processBusOf is the bus a process resource declares, and whether it declared one at all.
+func processBusOf(r map[string]any) (bus ProcessBus, present bool, err error) {
+	raw, present := r["bus"]
+	if !present {
+		return ProcessBus{}, false, nil
+	}
+	body, err := json.Marshal(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ProcessBus{}, true, err
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &bus); err != nil {
+		return ProcessBus{}, true, err
+	}
+	return bus, true, nil
+}
+
+// ProcessBuses is every process of this module that declares bus, by its id (the manifest's own resource
+// id, novox/hq ADR 0436, settled by the lead) — what the grant composition reads to grant a process
+// account exactly what it emits, consumes and calls (novox/hq ADR 0436 §2).
+func (m Manifest) ProcessBuses() map[string]ProcessBus {
+	var out map[string]ProcessBus
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		if fmt.Sprint(r["type"]) != "process" {
+			continue
+		}
+		b, present, err := processBusOf(r)
+		if !present || err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		if out == nil {
+			out = map[string]ProcessBus{}
+		}
+		out[fmt.Sprint(r["id"])] = b
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// ProcessBusProblems is what is wrong with a manifest's processes' bus declarations (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1,
+// §3): the account rule is modelled on RunsAsProblems (seats_declared.go:522-550), and an invoked tool or
+// seat verb's shape on invokeProblems.
+func ProcessBusProblems(m Manifest) []string {
+	var problems []string
+	streams := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, s := range m.Streams {
+		streams[s.Name] = true
+	}
+	state := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, s := range m.State {
+		state[s.Name] = true
+	}
+	emits := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, e := range m.EmitsAll() {
+		emits[e] = true
+	}
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		if fmt.Sprint(r["type"]) != "process" {
+			continue
+		}
+		id := fmt.Sprint(r["id"])
+		if _, present := r["bus"]; !present {
+			continue
+		}
+		b, _, err := processBusOf(r)
+		if err != nil {
+			problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf("%s's process %s declares bus: %v", m.Module, id, err))
+			continue
+		}
+		user, _ := r["user"].(string)
+		problems = append(problems, processAccountProblems(m, id, user)...)
+		for _, e := range b.Emits {
+			if !emits[e] {
+				problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf(
+					"%s's process %s's bus emits %q, which %s does not declare as its own (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1)",
+					m.Module, id, e, m.Module))
+			}
+		}
+		for _, q := range b.Queues {
+			if !streams[q] {
+				problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf(
+					"%s's process %s's bus queues %q, which %s does not declare as its own stream (novox/hq "+
+						"ADR 0436 §1)", m.Module, id, q, m.Module))
+			}
+		}
+		for _, s := range b.State {
+			if !state[s] {
+				problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf(
+					"%s's process %s's bus reads and writes state %q, which %s does not declare as its own "+
+						"(novox/hq ADR 0436 §1)", m.Module, id, s, m.Module))
+			}
+		}
+		for _, t := range b.Invokes {
+			if !invokeNameValid(t) {
+				problems = append(problems, fmt.Sprintf(
+					"%s's process %s's bus invokes %q, which does not name a tool: a process invokes "+
+						"<module>.<tool>, or a role's seat:<seat>.<verb> (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1)", m.Module, id, t))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return problems
+}
+
+// processAccountProblems is what is wrong with one process's bus account (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1, §2): an
+// account the module makes — a `user` resource of that name — never root and never the operator account,
+// which a manifest cannot say safely (a node with no account has nothing to resolve it to, novox/hq ADR
+// 0436, settled by the lead).
+func processAccountProblems(m Manifest, processID, user string) []string {
+	switch {
+	case user == "":
+		return []string{fmt.Sprintf(
+			"%s's process %s declares bus and names no account; a process account is a user resource the "+
+				"module makes, never root and never the operator account (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1, §2)",
+			m.Module, processID)}
+	case user == "root":
+		return []string{fmt.Sprintf(
+			"%s's process %s runs as root; a process account is the module's own, never root (novox/hq ADR "+
+				"0436 §1, §2)", m.Module, processID)}
+	case user == "${machine:account}":
+		return []string{fmt.Sprintf(
+			"%s's process %s runs as the operator account; a process account is the module's own, never the "+
+				"operator's (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1, §2)", m.Module, processID)}
+	}
+	for _, r := range m.Resources {
+		if fmt.Sprint(r["type"]) == "user" && fmt.Sprint(r["name"]) == user {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	return []string{fmt.Sprintf(
+		"%s's process %s runs as %s, which it does not make: a user resource named %s (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1, "+
+			"§2)", m.Module, processID, user, user)}
+}
+
+// invokeNameValid says a module or process's invoked entry names a tool: <module>.<tool>, a role's
+// seat:<seat>.<verb>, or * for every tool on the mesh (novox/hq ADR 0152, ADR 0436 §1).
+func invokeNameValid(t string) bool {
+	if t == "*" {
+		return true
+	}
+	t = strings.TrimPrefix(t, "seat:")
+	first, second, named := strings.Cut(t, ".")
+	return named && name.MatchString(first) && toolName.MatchString(second)
+}
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/process_bus_test.go b/internal/catalogue/process_bus_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..22ac13dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/catalogue/process_bus_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+package catalogue
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// A process resource may declare `bus` (novox/hq ADR 0436 §1): what it emits, the module's own work-queue
+// streams it consumes, the module's own state it reads and writes, whether it reads the router's records of
+// this module's own asks, and the tools and seat verbs it calls. The fixture is mesh-mail's future manifest
+// shape (ADR 0436 §7, §8), copied from mesh-catalog/modules/mesh-mail/module.json and extended as settled by
+// the lead: process id "send" is the manifest's own `id` (internal/catalogue/runtime.go:72-74 is the model for
+// a process id); the account file uses the controller's real JSON tags (modules.go:1041-1056 issueWith).
+func mailSenderProcessManifest(t *testing.T, bus string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	process := `{"id":"send","type":"process","run":["./mesh-mail","send"],"user":"mesh-mail-send"`
+	if bus != "" {
+		process += `,"bus":` + bus
+	}
+	process += `}`
+	return `{"module":"mesh-mail","version":"1","emits":["mail.send.sent","mail.send.failed"],` +
+		`"state":["sends"],"streams":[{"name":"mail-sends","events":["mail.send.approved"],"max-age-days":1,` +
+		`"max-mib":64,"retention":"work-queue","max-deliveries":5,"duplicates":24}],` +
+		`"resources":[{"id":"account","type":"user","name":"mesh-mail-send"},` + process + `]}`
+}
+
+const mailSenderBus = `{"emits":["mail.send.sent","mail.send.failed"],"queues":["mail-sends"],` +
+	`"state":["sends"],"asks":true,"invokes":["seat:operator-channel.tell"]}`
+
+// 1179/AC1: a well-formed bus on a process whose account the module makes is accepted, and the catalogue
+// gives it whole to the grant composition (ProcessBuses, which 1180 reads).
+func TestAProcessDeclaresItsBusAndIsAccepted(t *testing.T) {
+	m, err := ParseManifest([]byte(mailSenderProcessManifest(t, mailSenderBus)))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a well-formed process bus was refused: %v", err)
+	}
+	buses := m.ProcessBuses()
+	b, ok := buses["send"]
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("the process's bus was not given to the grant composition: %+v", buses)
+	}
+	if !strSliceEqual(b.Emits, []string{"mail.send.sent", "mail.send.failed"}) ||
+		!strSliceEqual(b.Queues, []string{"mail-sends"}) || !strSliceEqual(b.State, []string{"sends"}) ||
+		!b.Asks || !strSliceEqual(b.Invokes, []string{"seat:operator-channel.tell"}) {
+		t.Fatalf("the bus read as %+v", b)
+	}
+}
+
+func strSliceEqual(a, b []string) bool {
+	if len(a) != len(b) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for i := range a {
+		if a[i] != b[i] {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// 1179/AC2: a bus on a process with no user, user root, or the operator account is refused naming the
+// process and the account rule.
+func TestAProcessBusAccountMustBeTheModulesOwn(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct{ user, says string }{
+		"no user":              {"", "send"},
+		"user root":            {"root", "root"},
+		"the operator account": {"${machine:account}", "operator"},
+	} {
+		raw := `{"module":"mesh-mail","version":"1","emits":["mail.send.sent"],"state":["sends"],` +
+			`"streams":[{"name":"mail-sends","events":["mail.send.approved"],"retention":"work-queue",` +
+			`"max-deliveries":5}],"resources":[{"id":"account","type":"user","name":"mesh-mail-send"},` +
+			`{"id":"send","type":"process","run":["./mesh-mail","send"]`
+		if c.user != "" {
+			raw += `,"user":"` + c.user + `"`
+		}
+		raw += `,"bus":{"emits":["mail.send.sent"]}}]}`
+		_, err := ParseManifest([]byte(raw))
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "send") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.says) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %v; want a refusal naming the process and %q", name, err, c.says)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// 1179/AC3: a bus naming a stream, state or event the module does not declare as its own is refused naming
+// it.
+func TestAProcessBusNamesOnlyTheModulesOwn(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct{ bus, says string }{
+		"another module's event": {`{"emits":["billing.paid"]}`, "billing.paid"},
+		"another module's queue": {`{"queues":["other-queue"]}`, "other-queue"},
+		"another module's state": {`{"state":["other-state"]}`, "other-state"},
+	} {
+		_, err := ParseManifest([]byte(mailSenderProcessManifest(t, c.bus)))
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.says) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %v; want a refusal naming %q", name, err, c.says)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// 1179/AC4: a bus declaring serves, holds, claims or a seat is refused naming the key; a bus with invokes of
+// a tool or a seat verb is accepted.
+func TestAProcessBusNeverServesOrHoldsASeat(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct{ bus, says string }{
+		"serves": {`{"emits":["mail.send.sent"],"serves":["send"]}`, "serves"},
+		"holds":  {`{"emits":["mail.send.sent"],"holds":["mail-sender"]}`, "holds"},
+		"claims": {`{"emits":["mail.send.sent"],"claims":["mail-sender"]}`, "claims"},
+		"seat":   {`{"emits":["mail.send.sent"],"seat":"mail-sender"}`, "seat"},
+	} {
+		_, err := ParseManifest([]byte(mailSenderProcessManifest(t, c.bus)))
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.says) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %v; want a refusal naming %q", name, err, c.says)
+		}
+	}
+	accepted := `{"emits":["mail.send.sent","mail.send.failed"],"invokes":["seat:operator-channel.tell","mail.status"]}`
+	if _, err := ParseManifest([]byte(mailSenderProcessManifest(t, accepted))); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a bus invoking a tool and a seat verb was refused: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// 1179/AC5: a process declaring bus is composed with no bus key on the wire, and is otherwise byte for byte
+// what main composes for the same process without bus.
+func TestAProcessesBusNeverReachesTheWire(t *testing.T) {
+	withBus, err := ParseManifest([]byte(mailSenderProcessManifest(t, mailSenderBus)))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	withoutBus, err := ParseManifest([]byte(mailSenderProcessManifest(t, "")))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	with := Rendering{Needed: map[string]map[string]string{}}
+	outWith, err := Resolution{Node: "novox", Modules: []Manifest{withBus}}.Declaration(with)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("composing with bus: %v", err)
+	}
+	outWithout, err := Resolution{Node: "novox", Modules: []Manifest{withoutBus}}.Declaration(with)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("composing without bus: %v", err)
+	}
+	var withProcess, withoutProcess map[string]any
+	for _, r := range outWith {
+		if r["id"] == "mesh-mail.send" {
+			withProcess = r
+		}
+	}
+	for _, r := range outWithout {
+		if r["id"] == "mesh-mail.send" {
+			withoutProcess = r
+		}
+	}
+	if withProcess == nil || withoutProcess == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("the process was not composed at all: with=%v without=%v", withProcess, withoutProcess)
+	}
+	if _, has := withProcess["bus"]; has {
+		t.Fatalf("the process resource carried a bus key onto the wire: %v", withProcess)
+	}
+	delete(withProcess, "bus")
+	if !mapsEqual(withProcess, withoutProcess) {
+		t.Fatalf("with bus declared, the process composed differently: %+v\nwant: %+v", withProcess, withoutProcess)
+	}
+}
+
+func mapsEqual(a, b map[string]any) bool {
+	if len(a) != len(b) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for k, v := range a {
+		bv, ok := b[k]
+		if !ok {
+			return false
+		}
+		if av, ok := v.([]any); ok {
+			bbv, ok := bv.([]any)
+			if !ok || len(av) != len(bbv) {
+				return false
+			}
+			for i := range av {
+				if av[i] != bbv[i] {
+					return false
+				}
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if v != bv {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}