Execution Governance: A Structural Control Layer for Autonomous Systems

Execution Governance is a conceptual architecture proposing a structural control layer that separates decision generation from execution authority in autonomous systems. As AI and automated infrastructures increasingly move from decision support to real-world execution, governance mechanisms are required to ensure that machine actions occur within policy-bounded and accountable environments. This technical report introduces the Execution Governance framework, describing how a dedicated execution governance layer can evaluate evidence, context, and policy constraints before authorizing actions in cyber-physical and digital systems. The architecture provides a cross-domain governance model applicable to industrial automation, financial infrastructure, smart environments, and AI-driven platforms.