> 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/legal-framework.md).

# Legal Framework

The Legal Framework is Ruler's view of the regulation that applies to your institution, in three parts.

The Legal Framework is the heart of Ruler. It is built from the financial licences your organisation holds, and maintained by Ruler's editors. It has three parts, each with its own page in the menu:

| Part                                                       | What it does                                                                                                                        |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Themes and topics](/legal-framework/themes-and-topics.md) | Explains the standards that apply to your institution, and records how far you comply with each of them in design and effectiveness |
| [Radar](/legal-framework/radar.md)                         | Shows new and upcoming legislation, and changes to existing legislation, that may apply to you                                      |
| [Consultations](/legal-framework/consultations.md)         | Lists consultations your institution can respond to                                                                                 |

## Design and effectiveness

Two words come back throughout the Legal Framework. When you assess a topic, you assess it on both:

* **Design** is whether your organisation has implemented the standard, for example through a policy or a process.
* **Effectiveness** is whether that implementation works in practice.

If you comply on both, you are compliant on that topic. Scores are shown per topic and rolled up per theme, so you can see at a glance where the gaps are.

## What you see depends on your department and profiles

Themes and topics are linked to profiles by the editors, and made visible to departments by your administrator. You only see topics that apply to a profile you have switched on and that are visible to the department you are working in. If a topic you expect is missing, check the **Department** and **Profiles** dropdowns first, and then ask your administrator whether the topic has been assigned to your department.

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**Ruler in practice**

When the editors add a new topic to Ruler, it has to be assigned to one or more departments before anyone can work on it. The administrator is responsible for this. Ruler's editors send an alert with an explanation whenever a new topic is added.
{% endhint %}