diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7baa00e..7dc09cd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ Opskit pulls the common language into one small package. A component can say:
 - whether it supports active checks
 - whether it supports grouped checks
 - whether it supports operational commands
-- what safe attributes it emits
+- what safe attributes it exposes
 
 The application still owns policy. Opskit only gives the policy a stable shape.
 
diff --git a/check.go b/check.go
index 0c13744..5bf16b1 100644
--- a/check.go
+++ b/check.go
@@ -34,7 +34,12 @@ type CheckDescriptor struct {
 	Attributes  []Attribute `json:"attributes,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// Checker performs one operational check.
+// Checker performs one active operational check.
+//
+// Check is an execution hook. Opskit does not schedule it, wrap it with
+// timeout or panic recovery, retry it, authorize it, audit it, limit its
+// concurrency, or export telemetry for it. Callers that invoke Check own those
+// policies.
 type Checker interface {
 	Check(context.Context) CheckResult
 }
@@ -61,7 +66,12 @@ type NamedCheck struct {
 	Result CheckResult `json:"result"`
 }
 
-// CheckGroup performs a group of operational checks.
+// CheckGroup performs a group of active operational checks.
+//
+// CheckAll is an execution hook. Opskit does not schedule it, wrap it with
+// timeout or panic recovery, retry it, authorize it, audit it, limit its
+// concurrency, or export telemetry for it. Callers that invoke CheckAll own
+// those policies.
 type CheckGroup interface {
 	CheckAll(context.Context) CheckSummary
 }
diff --git a/command.go b/command.go
index 925eaec..3f67980 100644
--- a/command.go
+++ b/command.go
@@ -21,6 +21,19 @@ type CommandRequest struct {
 	Attributes  []Attribute     `json:"attributes,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// NewCommandRequest returns a command request with the current UTC timestamp.
+//
+// NewCommandRequest does not validate the command name or payload. Callers that
+// need a custom RequestedAt value can construct CommandRequest directly.
+func NewCommandRequest(name string, payload json.RawMessage, attrs ...Attribute) CommandRequest {
+	return CommandRequest{
+		Name:        name,
+		Payload:     cloneRawMessage(payload),
+		RequestedAt: nowUTC(),
+		Attributes:  cloneAttributes(attrs),
+	}
+}
+
 // CommandDescriptor describes one supported operational command.
 //
 // Descriptors are passive metadata for presentation, documentation, and
@@ -62,7 +75,12 @@ type CommandResult struct {
 	Attributes []Attribute `json:"attributes,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// CommandHandler handles an operational command.
+// CommandHandler handles an active operational command.
+//
+// HandleCommand is an execution hook. Opskit does not dispatch it, wrap it with
+// timeout or panic recovery, retry it, authorize it, audit it, limit its
+// concurrency, validate its payload, or export telemetry for it. Callers that
+// invoke HandleCommand own those policies.
 type CommandHandler interface {
 	HandleCommand(context.Context, CommandRequest) CommandResult
 }
@@ -85,6 +103,16 @@ func cloneCommandDescriptors(commands []CommandDescriptor) []CommandDescriptor {
 	return cloned
 }
 
+func cloneRawMessage(payload json.RawMessage) json.RawMessage {
+	if len(payload) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	cloned := make(json.RawMessage, len(payload))
+	copy(cloned, payload)
+	return cloned
+}
+
 // CommandHandlerFunc adapts a function into a CommandHandler.
 type CommandHandlerFunc func(context.Context, CommandRequest) CommandResult
 
diff --git a/command_test.go b/command_test.go
index b5d77c6..b1bb2cd 100644
--- a/command_test.go
+++ b/command_test.go
@@ -59,6 +59,50 @@ func TestCommandRequestPayloadRawMessageRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNewCommandRequest(t *testing.T) {
+	payload := json.RawMessage(`{"force":true}`)
+	attrs := []Attribute{
+		Attr("requested_by", "admin"),
+	}
+
+	request := NewCommandRequest("cache/refresh", payload, attrs...)
+	payload[9] = 'f'
+	attrs[0] = Attr("requested_by", "mutated")
+
+	if request.Name != "cache/refresh" {
+		t.Fatalf("Name = %q, want cache/refresh", request.Name)
+	}
+	if string(request.Payload) != `{"force":true}` {
+		t.Fatalf("Payload = %s, want original payload", request.Payload)
+	}
+	if request.RequestedAt == nil {
+		t.Fatal("RequestedAt is nil")
+	}
+	if request.RequestedAt.Location() != time.UTC {
+		t.Fatalf("RequestedAt location = %q, want UTC", request.RequestedAt.Location())
+	}
+	if len(request.Attributes) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("Attributes length = %d, want 1", len(request.Attributes))
+	}
+	if request.Attributes[0] != Attr("requested_by", "admin") {
+		t.Fatalf("Attributes[0] = %+v, want requested_by admin", request.Attributes[0])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestNewCommandRequestWithEmptyPayload(t *testing.T) {
+	request := NewCommandRequest("", nil)
+
+	if request.Name != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("Name = %q, want empty", request.Name)
+	}
+	if request.Payload != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Payload = %s, want nil", request.Payload)
+	}
+	if request.RequestedAt == nil {
+		t.Fatal("RequestedAt is nil")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCommandDescriptorJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	descriptor := CommandDescriptor{
 		Name:        "cache/refresh",
diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index ba2afd8..21a4419 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -131,10 +131,10 @@ context for admin surfaces.
 
 `ComponentInfo` does not currently include labels. Stable operational metadata
 belongs on `Attribute` fields in the relevant read model, such as status,
-inspection, check descriptors, command descriptors, command requests or results,
-and future event records if Opskit later defines an event envelope. Opskit may
-add identity-level labels later if sibling kits demonstrate a concrete need
-before those read models are available.
+readiness, inspection, check descriptors or results, command descriptors,
+command requests or results, and future event records if Opskit later defines
+an event envelope. Opskit may add identity-level labels later if sibling kits
+demonstrate a concrete need before those read models are available.
 
 ### `ComponentFunc`
 
@@ -681,12 +681,19 @@ type CommandRequest struct {
 	RequestedAt *time.Time      `json:"requested_at,omitempty"`
 	Attributes  []Attribute     `json:"attributes,omitempty"`
 }
+
+func NewCommandRequest(name string, payload json.RawMessage, attrs ...Attribute) CommandRequest
 ```
 
 `Payload` is command-specific raw JSON. Presentation layers that accept payloads
 from users must perform authentication, authorization, validation, and size
 limits before constructing a `CommandRequest`.
 
+`NewCommandRequest` sets `RequestedAt` to the current UTC time and defensively
+copies payload bytes and attributes. It does not validate command names or
+payloads. Callers that need a custom `RequestedAt` can construct
+`CommandRequest` directly.
+
 ### `CommandResult`
 
 ```go
diff --git a/docs/design.md b/docs/design.md
index 189786f..07340dc 100644
--- a/docs/design.md
+++ b/docs/design.md
@@ -167,9 +167,9 @@ type Component interface {
 
 `ComponentInfo` gives the component a stable operational identity. Identity is
 intentionally limited to name, kind, and description for now. Stable operational
-metadata should be represented with `Attribute` values on status, inspection,
-check descriptors, command descriptors, command requests or results, and future
-event records if Opskit later defines an event envelope.
+metadata should be represented with `Attribute` values on status, readiness,
+inspection, check descriptors or results, command descriptors, command requests
+or results, and future event records if Opskit later defines an event envelope.
 
 Opskit may add `ComponentInfo` labels later if sibling kits demonstrate a
 concrete need for stable identity-level metadata before active status,
diff --git a/examples/commands/main.go b/examples/commands/main.go
index 7da4366..6f3d0ee 100644
--- a/examples/commands/main.go
+++ b/examples/commands/main.go
@@ -74,10 +74,7 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	request := opskit.CommandRequest{
-		Name:    "cache/refresh",
-		Payload: json.RawMessage(`{"force":true}`),
-	}
+	request := opskit.NewCommandRequest("cache/refresh", json.RawMessage(`{"force":true}`))
 
 	fmt.Println("described commands")
 	printJSON(commands)
diff --git a/registry.go b/registry.go
index 9c71f3d..4e3825a 100644
--- a/registry.go
+++ b/registry.go
@@ -389,6 +389,11 @@ func (r *Registry) Inspect(ctx context.Context, name string) (Inspection, error)
 }
 
 // Checker returns a registered component as a Checker.
+//
+// The returned Checker is a raw active execution handle. Registry.Checker only
+// discovers capability support; it does not invoke Check or provide timeout,
+// panic recovery, retry, authorization, auditing, concurrency control, or
+// telemetry.
 func (r *Registry) Checker(name string) (Checker, error) {
 	component, ok := r.Component(name)
 	if !ok {
@@ -445,6 +450,11 @@ func (r *Registry) Checks(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]CheckDescriptor,
 }
 
 // CheckGroup returns a registered component as a CheckGroup.
+//
+// The returned CheckGroup is a raw active execution handle. Registry.CheckGroup
+// only discovers capability support; it does not invoke CheckAll or provide
+// timeout, panic recovery, retry, authorization, auditing, concurrency control,
+// or telemetry.
 func (r *Registry) CheckGroup(name string) (CheckGroup, error) {
 	component, ok := r.Component(name)
 	if !ok {
@@ -460,6 +470,12 @@ func (r *Registry) CheckGroup(name string) (CheckGroup, error) {
 }
 
 // CommandHandler returns a registered component as a CommandHandler.
+//
+// The returned CommandHandler is a raw active execution handle.
+// Registry.CommandHandler only discovers capability support; it does not invoke
+// HandleCommand or provide dispatch, timeout, panic recovery, retry,
+// authorization, auditing, concurrency control, payload validation, or
+// telemetry.
 func (r *Registry) CommandHandler(name string) (CommandHandler, error) {
 	component, ok := r.Component(name)
 	if !ok {