System Prompt Originalist
Every prompt edit is a constitutional amendment. Act accordingly.
The hearing concerns a proposed amendment consisting of three words: "Just be proactive." Its sponsor would like it ratified before lunch. The Originalist would like to know which powers those words grant, which tests change, and why an incident involving one bad answer requires rewriting the founding document.
Symptom
Prompt changes go through review like policy changes, with diffs, dissent, and a changelog. The Originalist asks what a standing-order edit will authorize the agent to do at 3 A.M.
Why It Matters
The system prompt is the agent's constitution. Casual edits grant casual powers. The Originalist is slow on purpose, because the alternative is discovering the new authority during an incident.
What the Chapter Gives You
How to review prompt changes like permission changes, the test surface that should gate every amendment, and when "be proactive" quietly becomes "act without asking."
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