Operating Standard
The Citizen Standard
The site should be trusted because readers can inspect the method, not because they are asked to trust the author.
Neutrality standard
The Citizen Audit does not owe loyalty to a party, administration, agency, donor, or audience faction. The site owes loyalty to the record. If the record supports the government, the audit should say so. If the record contradicts the government, the audit should say so. If the record is incomplete, the audit should not pretend otherwise.
Evidence standard
- Separate documented findings from interpretation.
- Identify the record basis: appropriation, obligation, outlay, estimate, testimony, audit report, statute, budget request, or other source type.
- Do not blend incompatible bases unless the limitation is disclosed.
- Do not convert evidence gaps into unsupported certainty.
- Keep source status visible: live, archived, pending, replaced, broken, or disputed.
Correction standard
Corrections are not an embarrassment. They are part of the system. A correction request should identify the specific audit, claim, source trail, error, replacement evidence, and proposed change. The correction log should preserve the record of what changed and why.
Funding standard
Support may fund hosting, document preservation, archival services, FOIA work, records costs, writing, and future audits. Support must not buy findings, suppress findings, alter methodology, or create private access to public evidence.