> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ruler.nl/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ruler.nl/glossary.md).

# Glossary

The terms Ruler uses, in alphabetical order.

**Active user** A user with full access to a department's content. Compare *passive user*. See [User roles and access](/getting-started/roles-and-access.md).

**Alert** A message from Ruler's editors about a relevant change, delivered to the Inbox. See [Inbox](/inbox.md).

**Consultation** A request by a regulator or legislator for market input before a rule is finalised. See [Consultations](/legal-framework/consultations.md).

**Control measure** A policy, procedure, control or key control your organisation has in place to comply with a standard. Kept in the [control measures library](/control-measures.md).

**Control task** A task created by an administrator in the Control module to verify another task. See [Task control](/control/task-control.md).

**Department** A subdivision of your Ruler account that determines which content and tasks a user sees. Every account starts with the department *General*. See [Departments](/administration/departments.md).

**Design** Whether your organisation has implemented a standard, for example through a policy or process. One of the two dimensions of an assessment. See [Assessing design and effectiveness](/legal-framework/assessing-design-and-effectiveness.md).

**Effectiveness** Whether the implementation of a standard works in practice. The second dimension of an assessment.

**Generic task** A task that is not linked to a specific item in Ruler. Created with the plus button at the top right. See [Creating a task](/tasks/creating-a-task.md).

**Gross risk** The probability and impact of a risk before control measures are taken into account. See [Risk assessments](/risks/risk-assessments.md).

**Impact score** Your organisation's judgement of what an alert means for it: no, low, moderate or high impact. See [Scoring impact and archiving](/inbox/impact-and-archiving.md).

**Legal Framework** Ruler's structured view of the regulation that applies to your institution: themes and topics, the Radar and Consultations. See [The Legal Framework](/legal-framework.md).

**Net risk** The probability and impact of a risk after control measures are taken into account.

**Other laws module** An optional module that extends Ruler to non-financial legislation such as HR, pension and tax law, in which your organisation acts as its own editor. See [Signalling](/signalling.md).

**Passive user** A user who cannot see a department's content but can be assigned tasks from it.

**Profile** A type of financial institution, corresponding to a licence your organisation holds. Profiles determine which themes, topics and alerts apply to you. See [Profiles](/administration/profiles.md).

**Radar item** A piece of new or upcoming legislation, or a change to existing legislation, tracked on the Radar with its expected date and stage. See [Radar](/legal-framework/radar.md).

**Risk assessment** An analysis of the compliance risks in one area. Each risk is linked to a standard and to the control measures that mitigate it, and scored on probability and impact. See [Risk assessments](/risks/risk-assessments.md).

**Stage** How far a radar item is in the legislative process, such as consultation, formal proposal, or finalised and adopted.

**Theme** A group of related topics in the Legal Framework, such as *Customer Due Diligence*. See [Themes and topics](/legal-framework/themes-and-topics.md).

**Topic** One part of the regulation within a theme, with an editorial summary, relevant articles and an assessment. See [The topic page](/legal-framework/topic-page.md).