docs: add GOVERNANCE.md

.github/labeler.yml

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+# Auto-labeling configuration for pull requests (actions/labeler@v5)
+# Labels are applied based on the files changed in the PR.
+
+documentation:
+  - changed-files:
+      - any-glob-to-any-file: ['**/*.md', 'profile/**']
+
+ci:
+  - changed-files:
+      - any-glob-to-any-file: ['.github/workflows/**', '.github/*.yml']

GOVERNANCE.md

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+# ODE Governance
+
+This document describes how the Open Data Ensemble (ODE) project is governed. It is based on the **ODE Governance Framework v1.0**, which the Governance Council voted into effect on 19 September 2026.
+
+The public summary and the council application page are on the website:
+
+- [Governance](https://opendataensemble.org/docs/community/governance)
+- [Join a council](https://opendataensemble.org/docs/community/governance/join-a-council)
+
+## Principles
+
+ODE is an open-source, vendor-neutral project. Responsibility is earned through merit: **eligibility through merit, selection through voting.**
+
+In short:
+
+- the **Product Council** decides *what* and *why*,
+- the **Technical Council** decides *how*,
+- the **Community Council** looks after *people and participation*,
+- the **So.Me. Council** looks after *visibility and communication*,
+- the **Governance Council** looks after the rules, the structure and the long-term health of the project.
+
+## Roles
+
+| Role | Description |
+|---|---|
+| **Community member** | Users, implementers and everybody interested in ODE. |
+| **Maintainer** | Community members who look after the code: create, review and merge pull requests, review issues, cut releases, mentor contributors and make everyday component decisions. |
+| **Council member** | A voting member of a council, elected by the Governance Council. Expected to take part in council meetings and engage actively in ODE. |
+| **Council lead** | A council member who facilitates the council's meetings, breaks ties and delegates tasks within the council. |
+| **General Secretary** | An elected role held by a member of the Governance Council. Holds trademarks, funding relationships and infrastructure on behalf of the project. |
+
+## Councils
+
+Each council has **5 seats**.
+
+| Council | Responsibilities |
+|---|---|
+| **Governance** | Governance rules and charter · council structure and elections · major strategic questions · major disputes and appeals · succession · project independence · sustainability · partnerships |
+| **Product** | Product vision · product roadmap · requirements · prioritisation · user needs and feedback · implementer and partner needs · UX/UI direction · product discovery |
+| **Technical** | Architecture · technical standards · technical roadmap · APIs and compatibility · security · QA and testing strategy · release policy · infrastructure and CI/CD |
+| **Community** | Contributor onboarding · mentoring · community events · working groups · contributor recognition · community health · developer relations · documentation and education |
+| **So.Me.** | Social media · public announcements · project storytelling · campaigns and content · website and news content · brand and public voice · release and event promotion · community outreach |
+
+## Seats
+
+Each council has 5 seats. The current council composition was appointed by consensus among the ODE core members and confirmed at Governance Council meeting #1 (19 September 2026), for a 2-year term starting 17 September 2026. Seats are currently available on the Product, Technical, Community and So.Me. councils. Membership changes follow a Governance Council vote.
+
+## Becoming a council member
+
+1. **Eligibility.** Anyone becomes eligible for a council after showing sustained contribution to ODE. Contribution is not only code: documentation, testing, design, community work, events, outreach and content all count. People judge their own eligibility and are free to apply.
+2. **Applying.** Applications are made through the [council application form](https://opendataensemble.org/councils/apply.html), which saves the answers as a text file to send to hello@opendataensemble.org.
+3. **Governance Council seats.** Only existing council members can apply to join the Governance Council.
+4. **Review.** Members of the council applied to review each application and may invite the applicant to a short conversation.
+5. **Election.** The Governance Council votes on new members.
+6. **Term.** By default, members are elected for a 2-year term.
+
+Every applicant receives a reply. Applicants who are not selected receive a suggested next contribution and are welcome to apply in a later round.
+
+## Transparency
+
+Governance Council meeting minutes are published read-only, as agreed at Governance Council meeting #1. Council membership decisions are recorded in the Governance Council minutes and announced on the [ODE forum](https://forum.opendataensemble.org/).
+
+## Changing this document
+
+Changes to the governance rules are proposed by pull request to this repository and take effect after a Governance Council vote. Wording fixes that do not change the meaning can be merged by any Governance Council member.
+
+## Contact
+
+- Forum: [forum.opendataensemble.org](https://forum.opendataensemble.org/)
+- Email: [hello@opendataensemble.org](mailto:hello@opendataensemble.org)