diff --git a/.github/config/wordlist.txt b/.github/config/wordlist.txt
index fb4c141..a6ee9b5 100644
--- a/.github/config/wordlist.txt
+++ b/.github/config/wordlist.txt
@@ -154,3 +154,4 @@ enablement
 stichting
 collegial
 Hyperledger
+dco
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/MAINTAINERS.md b/MAINTAINERS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50f175b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/MAINTAINERS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# Maintainers
+
+## Approving spec changes
+
+This repository follows the [Community Specification License 1.0](./1._Community_Specification_License-v1.md) and its [Governance Policy](./5._Governance.md).
+Two things are required to merge a spec change:
+
+1. **Proof of contribution rights (DCO).** Every commit must be signed off (`Signed-off-by:`), per the [Contributor License Agreement / Section (d) under "In addition"](./.0_CS_Contributor_License_Agreement.md). This is enforced automatically by the DCO check.
+2. **Recorded maintainer consensus.** Per [Governance §2.1](./5._Governance.md#2-decision-making), Maintainers determine consensus in good faith and document it. A maintainer review, approval, and merge is that documented evidence.
+
+Consensus is a good-faith judgment, **not** a numeric vote threshold. There is no required percentage and no voting tool
+to run. For specification status transitions (Pre-Draft, Draft, Approved) see [Governance §4](./5._Governance.md#4-specification-development-process).