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+0016: Keep Static and Dynamic Roles Separate
+############################################
+
+Status
+******
+
+**Draft**
+
+Context
+*******
+
+Open edX needs two kinds of roles: static roles defined by applications and dynamic roles created through the application. Users work with both kinds through the same interface.
+
+Today, the system derives available roles and permissions from Casbin policy rows loaded during deployment, which means that it supports only static roles.
+
+Decision
+********
+
+Static and dynamic definitions
+==============================
+
+Applications, such as Django apps or IDAs, define static roles in the Open edX Authorization schema, or authz schema for short (defined in more detail in `ADR 0017`_). Because the application owns these roles, changes to them are made in the schema and released with the application.
+
+Dynamic roles are created through the application, and the authz model stores both their definitions and their user assignments. Static definitions remain in the authz schema.
+
+For example, an application may define ``course_admin`` in the authz schema, while a user creates ``course_reviewer`` through the application. The authz model stores ``course_reviewer``, but ``course_admin`` remains part of the application's schema.
+
+This ADR does not decide who can create or change roles. Static role changes require a deployment, so they need site operator access. Dynamic roles may be managed through Django admin or a similar interface, but we have not decided who will have that access. A site operator and an application administrator have different responsibilities, although the same person may be both.
+
+Consequences
+************
+
+* Dynamic roles can be created without changing or redeploying applications.
+* Static and dynamic roles can change independently.
+* The authz model must store dynamic role definitions.
+
+.. _ADR 0017: 0017-static-authorization-schema.rst