Retention Without Truth: A Constitutional Architecture for Memory in Epoch-Governed Intelligence

This paper defines a constitutional architecture for memory in artificial intelligence systems, addressing a core structural failure in contemporary AI: the silent escalation of authority, truth, and identity through persistence and recall. Building on the Epoch-Governed Intelligence (EGI) framework, the work rejects traditional notions of long-term internal memory and instead formalizes memory as authority-bound, epoch-scoped retention of claims. Retained information is treated as non-legitimizing by default, conferring no epistemic weight through persistence, frequency of recall, or coherence. Every recall event requires mandatory structural re-evaluation under sealed authority, time, and truth constraints, and violations trigger fail-closed behavior. The paper introduces formal definitions, invariants, and failure semantics that prevent memory from functioning as an implicit source of truth, identity, or legitimacy. It demonstrates how intelligence can remain coherent and continuous through explicit re-anchoring rather than implicit continuity, enabling real-world deployment in high-stakes domains without sacrificing auditability or human sovereignty. This work completes the architectural phase of the Epoch-Governed Intelligence framework. All remaining work pertains to engineering realization within the defined constitutional boundaries. Appreciate your feedback on ssoni4751@gmail.com