diff --git a/internal/handlers/approvals.go b/internal/handlers/approvals.go
index f2a8b51..03bac9f 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/approvals.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/approvals.go
@@ -279,6 +279,218 @@ func handleInboxPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	http.ServeFile(w, r, "dist/inbox.html")
 }
 
+// ============================================================================
+// t-paliad-154 — admin approval-policy authoring page + APIs.
+//
+// Most endpoints below register under /api/admin and are admin-gated by the
+// outer adminGate(users, ...) wrapper at handlers.go. The form-time hint
+// endpoint at /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/effective is the one
+// exception — it's reachable by every authenticated user authoring a
+// deadline/appointment so the form can render the "this needs 4-eye"
+// banner before they save.
+// ============================================================================
+
+// GET /admin/approval-policies — server-static page shell.
+func handleAdminApprovalPoliciesPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	http.ServeFile(w, r, "dist/admin-approval-policies.html")
+}
+
+// GET /api/admin/partner-units/{unit_id}/approval-policies — list one
+// partner unit's default policy rows.
+func handleListUnitApprovalPolicies(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, ok := requireUser(w, r); !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	unitID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("unit_id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid unit id"})
+		return
+	}
+	rows, err := dbSvc.approval.ListUnitPolicies(r.Context(), unitID)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	if rows == nil {
+		rows = []models.ApprovalPolicy{}
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, rows)
+}
+
+// PUT /api/admin/partner-units/{unit_id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}
+//
+// Body: {"required_role": "associate"}
+func handlePutUnitApprovalPolicy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	uid, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	unitID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("unit_id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid unit id"})
+		return
+	}
+	entityType := r.PathValue("entity_type")
+	lifecycle := r.PathValue("lifecycle")
+	var body struct {
+		RequiredRole string `json:"required_role"`
+	}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid JSON"})
+		return
+	}
+	policy, err := dbSvc.approval.UpsertUnitPolicy(r.Context(), uid, unitID, entityType, lifecycle, body.RequiredRole)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, policy)
+}
+
+// DELETE /api/admin/partner-units/{unit_id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}
+func handleDeleteUnitApprovalPolicy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	uid, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	unitID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("unit_id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid unit id"})
+		return
+	}
+	entityType := r.PathValue("entity_type")
+	lifecycle := r.PathValue("lifecycle")
+	if err := dbSvc.approval.DeleteUnitPolicy(r.Context(), uid, unitID, entityType, lifecycle); err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+}
+
+// GET /api/admin/approval-policies/seeded — has any policy been authored
+// firm-wide? Used by /inbox to gate the admin "configure policies" nudge.
+func handleApprovalPoliciesSeeded(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, ok := requireUser(w, r); !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	any, err := dbSvc.approval.PoliciesExist(r.Context())
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]bool{"any": any})
+}
+
+// GET /api/admin/approval-policies/matrix?project_id=... — 8 effective
+// policy rows for one project, with attribution chips.
+func handleApprovalPoliciesMatrix(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, ok := requireUser(w, r); !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	pidStr := r.URL.Query().Get("project_id")
+	if pidStr == "" {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "project_id required"})
+		return
+	}
+	projectID, err := uuid.Parse(pidStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid project_id"})
+		return
+	}
+	rows, err := dbSvc.approval.GetEffectivePoliciesMatrix(r.Context(), projectID)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, rows)
+}
+
+// POST /api/admin/approval-policies/apply-to-descendants
+//
+// Body: {"source_project_id": uuid, "target_project_ids": [uuid, ...]}
+//
+// Copies the source's effective matrix down to every target as
+// project-scoped rows. Targets must be actual descendants of source.
+func handleApplyMatrixToDescendants(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	uid, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	var body struct {
+		SourceProjectID  uuid.UUID   `json:"source_project_id"`
+		TargetProjectIDs []uuid.UUID `json:"target_project_ids"`
+	}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid JSON"})
+		return
+	}
+	if body.SourceProjectID == uuid.Nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "source_project_id required"})
+		return
+	}
+	writes, err := dbSvc.approval.ApplyMatrixToDescendants(r.Context(), uid, body.SourceProjectID, body.TargetProjectIDs)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{
+		"writes":  writes,
+		"targets": len(body.TargetProjectIDs),
+	})
+}
+
+// GET /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/effective?entity_type=&lifecycle=
+//
+// Single-cell effective policy lookup. Used by the deadline + appointment
+// new/edit forms to render the form-time 4-eye hint above the Speichern
+// button (Q13 of the locked design). Reachable by every authenticated user
+// (NOT admin-gated) — they need to know their save will trigger an
+// approval request.
+func handleProjectEffectivePolicy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	if !requireDB(w) {
+		return
+	}
+	if _, ok := requireUser(w, r); !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	projectID, err := uuid.Parse(r.PathValue("id"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "invalid project id"})
+		return
+	}
+	q := r.URL.Query()
+	entityType := q.Get("entity_type")
+	lifecycle := q.Get("lifecycle")
+	if entityType == "" || lifecycle == "" {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusBadRequest, map[string]string{"error": "entity_type and lifecycle required"})
+		return
+	}
+	row, err := dbSvc.approval.GetEffectivePolicyOne(r.Context(), projectID, entityType, lifecycle)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeServiceError(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, row)
+}
+
 // writeApprovalError maps approval-flow errors to HTTP status codes.
 func writeApprovalError(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) {
 	switch {
diff --git a/internal/handlers/handlers.go b/internal/handlers/handlers.go
index 213b4c1..b2d2bc1 100644
--- a/internal/handlers/handlers.go
+++ b/internal/handlers/handlers.go
@@ -424,6 +424,24 @@ func Register(mux *http.ServeMux, client *auth.Client, giteaAPIToken string, svc
 			adminGate(users, handlePutApprovalPolicy))
 		protected.HandleFunc("DELETE /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}",
 			adminGate(users, handleDeleteApprovalPolicy))
+
+		// t-paliad-154 — approval-policy authoring page + admin APIs for
+		// per-partner-unit defaults, matrix view, bulk-apply, and the
+		// existence-check used by /inbox.
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /admin/approval-policies",
+			adminGate(users, gateOnboarded(handleAdminApprovalPoliciesPage)))
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/admin/partner-units/{unit_id}/approval-policies",
+			adminGate(users, handleListUnitApprovalPolicies))
+		protected.HandleFunc("PUT /api/admin/partner-units/{unit_id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}",
+			adminGate(users, handlePutUnitApprovalPolicy))
+		protected.HandleFunc("DELETE /api/admin/partner-units/{unit_id}/approval-policies/{entity_type}/{lifecycle}",
+			adminGate(users, handleDeleteUnitApprovalPolicy))
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/admin/approval-policies/seeded",
+			adminGate(users, handleApprovalPoliciesSeeded))
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/admin/approval-policies/matrix",
+			adminGate(users, handleApprovalPoliciesMatrix))
+		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/admin/approval-policies/apply-to-descendants",
+			adminGate(users, handleApplyMatrixToDescendants))
 	}
 
 	// t-paliad-138 — approval inbox + decision endpoints (any authenticated
@@ -437,6 +455,12 @@ func Register(mux *http.ServeMux, client *auth.Client, giteaAPIToken string, svc
 		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/approve", handleApproveApprovalRequest)
 		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/reject", handleRejectApprovalRequest)
 		protected.HandleFunc("POST /api/approval-requests/{id}/revoke", handleRevokeApprovalRequest)
+
+		// t-paliad-154 — form-time effective policy lookup. Reachable by
+		// every authenticated user (NOT admin-gated) so deadline +
+		// appointment forms can render the 4-eye hint.
+		protected.HandleFunc("GET /api/projects/{id}/approval-policies/effective",
+			gateOnboarded(handleProjectEffectivePolicy))
 	}
 
 	// t-paliad-144 Phase A1+A2 — Custom Views (substrate + user_views CRUD
diff --git a/internal/services/audit_service.go b/internal/services/audit_service.go
index 69afee3..8b89411 100644
--- a/internal/services/audit_service.go
+++ b/internal/services/audit_service.go
@@ -2,12 +2,13 @@ package services
 
 // AuditService produces a unified, paginated, filterable timeline across
 // every audit source we keep in the paliad schema. There is no single
-// audit_log table — instead we union four existing sources:
+// audit_log table — instead we union five sources:
 //
 //   - paliad.project_events       — per-project audit (creates, updates, etc.)
 //   - paliad.caldav_sync_log      — CalDAV push/pull outcomes per user
 //   - paliad.reminder_log         — bundled-digest reminder sends
 //   - paliad.partner_unit_events  — partner-unit CRUD + membership changes
+//   - paliad.policy_audit_log     — approval-policy CRUD (t-paliad-154)
 //
 // The union happens in SQL (one round-trip, server-side ordering) and is
 // keyset-paginated on (timestamp, id) DESC so the cursor stays stable across
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ const (
 	AuditSourceCalDAVLog         = "caldav_sync_log"
 	AuditSourceReminderLog       = "reminder_log"
 	AuditSourcePartnerUnitEvents = "partner_unit_events"
+	AuditSourcePolicyAuditLog    = "policy_audit_log"
 )
 
 // MaxAuditPageLimit caps a single ListEntries page.
@@ -187,6 +189,33 @@ WITH unioned AS (
   WHERE ($1::text IS NULL OR $1 = '' OR $1 = 'partner_unit_events')
     AND ($2::timestamptz IS NULL OR pue.created_at >= $2)
     AND ($3::timestamptz IS NULL OR pue.created_at <= $3)
+
+  UNION ALL
+
+  -- t-paliad-154 — approval-policy CRUD audit. Project-scoped rows carry
+  -- project_id (so the timeline filter by project still works on the
+  -- /verlauf SELECT — but project_events is the source for that surface,
+  -- not policy_audit_log, so no leakage). Description packs the field
+  -- transition (entity_type/lifecycle: old → new).
+  SELECT
+    'policy_audit_log'::text                    AS source,
+    pal.id                                      AS id,
+    pal.created_at                              AS ts,
+    pal.event_type                              AS event_type,
+    COALESCE(au.email, pal.actor_id::text)      AS actor,
+    pal.scope_name                              AS subject,
+    pal.project_id                              AS project_id,
+    NULL::text                                  AS title,
+    format('%s/%s: %s → %s',
+           pal.entity_type,
+           pal.lifecycle_event,
+           COALESCE(pal.old_required_role, '—'),
+           COALESCE(pal.new_required_role, '—'))  AS description
+  FROM paliad.policy_audit_log pal
+  LEFT JOIN paliad.users au ON au.id = pal.actor_id
+  WHERE ($1::text IS NULL OR $1 = '' OR $1 = 'policy_audit_log')
+    AND ($2::timestamptz IS NULL OR pal.created_at >= $2)
+    AND ($3::timestamptz IS NULL OR pal.created_at <= $3)
 )
 SELECT source, id, ts, event_type, actor, subject, project_id, title, description
   FROM unioned