diff --git a/zddc/internal/handler/fileapi.go b/zddc/internal/handler/fileapi.go
index 41cf57b..0b9137d 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/handler/fileapi.go
+++ b/zddc/internal/handler/fileapi.go
@@ -118,16 +118,12 @@ func resolveTargetPath(cfg config.Config, urlPath string) (absPath, cleanURL str
 // that create a brand-new file inherit the parent directory's chain).
 // Returns allowed=false with the response status already written on deny.
 //
-// Admin escape hatches: root admins (IsAdmin) and subtree admins
-// (IsSubtreeAdmin) get unconditional access — the cascade evaluator
-// and the WORM mask do not see their requests at all. This is the
-// only way to mutate filed documents in Issued/Received.
-//
-// .zddc writes use the stricter CanEditZddc rule (strict-ancestor
-// admin authority) regardless of the action verb, since the file
-// being written is itself the source of the authority decision and
-// the strict-ancestor rule is the existing defense against
-// self-elevation.
+// All admin / WORM / ACL logic lives downstream in the decider's single
+// bypass site (policy.InternalDecider.Allow). AllowActionFromChainP
+// computes IsActiveAdmin from the chain and Principal.Elevated, with
+// the strict-ancestor rule applied when action == ActionAdmin (the
+// caller tags .zddc writes that way). The handler does NOT make
+// admin/elevation decisions of its own — one bypass site, one helper.
 func authorizeAction(cfg config.Config, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, absPath, urlPath, action string) bool {
 	probe := filepath.Dir(absPath)
 	for {
@@ -142,40 +138,14 @@ func authorizeAction(cfg config.Config, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request,
 		probe = filepath.Dir(probe)
 	}
 
-	email := EmailFromContext(r)
 	p := PrincipalFromContext(r)
-
-	// Admin bypass — root and subtree. Un-elevated admins fall through
-	// to the regular decider; the Principal's Elevated flag short-
-	// circuits both IsAdmin and IsSubtreeAdmin so we don't accidentally
-	// hand out WORM bypass to a user who hasn't asked for it.
-	if zddc.IsAdmin(cfg.Root, p) {
-		return true
-	}
-	if zddc.IsSubtreeAdmin(cfg.Root, probe, p) {
-		return true
-	}
-
-	// .zddc writes: CanEditZddc enforces the strict-ancestor rule that
-	// prevents a subtree admin from elevating themselves by editing the
-	// .zddc that grants their authority. Non-admins (or un-elevated
-	// admins) fall through to the regular decider — they will be denied
-	// unless an explicit `a` verb is granted to a non-admin role at
-	// this path, which is unusual.
-	if filepath.Base(absPath) == ".zddc" {
-		zddcDir := filepath.Dir(absPath)
-		if zddc.CanEditZddc(cfg.Root, zddcDir, p) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-
 	chain, err := zddc.EffectivePolicy(cfg.Root, probe)
 	if err != nil {
 		slog.Warn("file API ACL chain error", "path", absPath, "err", err)
 	}
 
 	decider := DeciderFromContext(r)
-	allowed, _ := policy.AllowActionFromChain(r.Context(), decider, chain, email, urlPath, action)
+	allowed, _ := policy.AllowActionFromChainP(r.Context(), decider, chain, p, urlPath, action)
 	if !allowed {
 		http.Error(w, "Forbidden", http.StatusForbidden)
 		return false
diff --git a/zddc/internal/handler/planreview.go b/zddc/internal/handler/planreview.go
index ba2c4fa..628b5a1 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/handler/planreview.go
+++ b/zddc/internal/handler/planreview.go
@@ -157,21 +157,34 @@ func executePlanReview(cfg config.Config, r *http.Request, project, party, track
 	if email == "" {
 		return nil, http.StatusForbidden, "Forbidden — no authenticated principal"
 	}
+	// All three pre-flight checks go through the consolidated decider.
+	// AllowActionFromChainP applies the strict-ancestor rule for
+	// .zddc-targeted actions (ActionAdmin) and the single admin-bypass
+	// branch for elevated admins. No manual IsAdmin / IsSubtreeAdmin /
+	// CanEditZddc branching here.
+	decider := DeciderFromContext(r)
 	for _, root := range []string{reviewingRoot, stagingRoot} {
-		if !zddc.CanEditZddc(cfg.Root, root, p) {
+		chain, perr := zddc.EffectivePolicy(cfg.Root, root)
+		if perr != nil {
+			return nil, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Internal Server Error — cascade lookup: " + perr.Error()
+		}
+		rel, _ := filepath.Rel(cfg.Root, root)
+		rootURL := "/" + filepath.ToSlash(rel) + "/.zddc"
+		allowed, _ := policy.AllowActionFromChainP(r.Context(), decider, chain, p, rootURL, policy.ActionAdmin)
+		if !allowed {
 			return nil, http.StatusForbidden, fmt.Sprintf("Forbidden — %s lacks subtree-admin authority for %s",
 				email, strings.TrimPrefix(root, cfg.Root+string(filepath.Separator)))
 		}
 	}
-	// (b) — verify `c` authority on received/<tracking>/. Admins bypass
-	// the policy and would pass anyway; non-admin doc_controllers come
-	// through the WORM-list grant.
-	if !zddc.IsAdmin(cfg.Root, p) && !zddc.IsSubtreeAdmin(cfg.Root, receivedAbs, p) {
+	// Verify `c` (create) authority on received/<tracking>/. Elevated
+	// admins short-circuit inside the decider; non-admin doc_controllers
+	// come through the WORM-list grant. One code path either way.
+	{
 		chain, perr := zddc.EffectivePolicy(cfg.Root, receivedAbs)
 		if perr != nil {
 			return nil, http.StatusInternalServerError, "Internal Server Error — cascade lookup: " + perr.Error()
 		}
-		allowed, _ := policy.AllowActionFromChain(r.Context(), DeciderFromContext(r), chain, email, cleanURL, policy.ActionCreate)
+		allowed, _ := policy.AllowActionFromChainP(r.Context(), decider, chain, p, cleanURL, policy.ActionCreate)
 		if !allowed {
 			return nil, http.StatusForbidden, fmt.Sprintf("Forbidden — %s lacks create authority on %s (filing this submittal requires the doc_controller WORM grant)",
 				email, strings.TrimPrefix(receivedAbs, cfg.Root+string(filepath.Separator)))