diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7af7069..ba8c74e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 # Changelog
 
+## Unreleased
+
+- Document and test optional CMS classification and relationships, including
+  unclassified publication and clearing associations with preserved history.
+  No runtime behavior or schema change.
+
 ## v0.1.0-preview.27 — 2026-09-10
 
 - Add independent `cms` values and a `cmssqlite` adapter for named taxonomies,
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index fea574e..313930e 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 
 # Current work
 
+September 10 consumer dogfood: reinforce that classification and relationships
+are optional. Zero/nil/empty associations already work in `cms`/`cmssqlite`; new
+regressions explicitly cover independent optional fields, publishing unclassified
+content, and clearing classification without rewriting history. The reproduced
+policy GET-modify-POST defect belongs to Gamertan's HTTP adapter, not the shared
+package. Its fix stays in that consumer. No dependency upgrade or new package
+release is needed for these documentation/test additions.
+Verified: `go test -race ./cms ./cmssqlite` passes. Preserve unrelated auth work
+in the separate `web-dev` checkout; it is not part of this slice.
+
 ## CMS classification and relationships
 
 Implement `cms` and `cmssqlite` primitives for Gamertan's existing typed content:
diff --git a/cms/cms.go b/cms/cms.go
index 2ad069f..a578f15 100644
--- a/cms/cms.go
+++ b/cms/cms.go
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ func (r Reference) Validate() error {
 
 // Associations are an immutable revision's term memberships and explicit links.
 // Reverse discovery reads the same links; callers must not store a second edge.
+// Terms and Links are independently optional. The zero value is valid for a
+// valid source; unclassified content never needs a placeholder taxonomy or link.
 type Associations struct {
 	Terms []string    `json:"terms,omitempty"`
 	Links []Reference `json:"links,omitempty"`
diff --git a/cms/cms_test.go b/cms/cms_test.go
index 61bffbb..ba6e335 100644
--- a/cms/cms_test.go
+++ b/cms/cms_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,20 @@ func TestAssociationsBoundsAndIdentity(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestAssociationsAreOptional(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, source := range []Reference{{Kind: "news", ID: "article"}, {Kind: "project", ID: "project"}, {Kind: "policy", ID: "terms"}} {
+		for _, raw := range []string{`{}`, `{"terms":null,"links":null}`, `{"terms":[],"links":[]}`, `{"terms":["go"]}`, `{"links":[{"kind":"project","id":"other"}]}`} {
+			var value Associations
+			if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(raw), &value); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if err := value.Validate(source); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("optional associations rejected: %s: %v", raw, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
 func TestTaxonomyAndTermText(t *testing.T) {
 	tax := Taxonomy{ID: "categories", Slug: "categories", Name: "Categories", Revision: 1, Active: true}
 	if tax.Validate() != nil {
diff --git a/cmssqlite/store_test.go b/cmssqlite/store_test.go
index ba2599f..91d5ca3 100644
--- a/cmssqlite/store_test.go
+++ b/cmssqlite/store_test.go
@@ -120,6 +120,31 @@ func TestPublicationRelationshipsAndHistory(t *testing.T) {
 	mutate(t, db, cms.ErrConflict, func(tx *sql.Tx) error { return PutRevision(ctx, tx, "merchant", news, 1, cms.Associations{}) })
 	mutate(t, db, cms.ErrNotFound, func(tx *sql.Tx) error { return SetPublished(ctx, tx, "merchant", news, 999) })
 }
+
+func TestPublishWithoutTaxonomyOrRelationships(t *testing.T) {
+	db, reader := fixture(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	ref := cms.Reference{Kind: "project", ID: "unclassified"}
+	save(t, db, ref, 1, cms.Associations{}, true)
+	value, err := reader.Revision(ctx, ref, 1)
+	if err != nil || len(value.Terms) != 0 || len(value.Links) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("empty associations: %+v %v", value, err)
+	}
+	page, err := reader.Related(ctx, ref, nil, 10)
+	if err != nil || len(page.Items) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected related content: %+v %v", page, err)
+	}
+	save(t, db, ref, 2, cms.Associations{Terms: []string{"go"}}, true)
+	save(t, db, ref, 3, cms.Associations{}, true)
+	old, err := reader.Revision(ctx, ref, 2)
+	if err != nil || len(old.Terms) != 1 || old.Terms[0] != "go" {
+		t.Fatal("clearing optional classification rewrote history", err)
+	}
+	page, err = reader.Members(ctx, "go", nil, 10)
+	if err != nil || len(page.Items) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("cleared classification still published: %+v %v", page, err)
+	}
+}
 func TestTermRenameRetirementAndScope(t *testing.T) {
 	db, r := fixture(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()