diff --git a/scripts/scan-response-templates.js b/scripts/scan-response-templates.js
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..207126dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/scan-response-templates.js
@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+/**
+ * Scan Response Templates for Governance Violations
+ * Checks all existing templates for inst_016/017/018/079 violations
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ *   node scripts/scan-response-templates.js
+ *   node scripts/scan-response-templates.js --fix  # Mark violating templates as inactive
+ */
+
+const { getCollection } = require('../src/utils/db.util');
+const ContentGovernanceChecker = require('../src/services/ContentGovernanceChecker.service');
+
+async function main() {
+  try {
+    const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+    const fixMode = args.includes('--fix');
+
+    console.log('╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗');
+    console.log('║   Response Template Governance Scanner              ║');
+    console.log('╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝');
+    console.log('');
+
+    const collection = await getCollection('response_templates');
+
+    // Get all active templates
+    const templates = await collection.find({ active: true }).toArray();
+
+    console.log(`Found ${templates.length} active templates to scan\n`);
+
+    const results = {
+      scanned: 0,
+      passed: 0,
+      failed: 0,
+      violations: []
+    };
+
+    for (const template of templates) {
+      results.scanned++;
+
+      // Scan template content
+      const fullText = [template.subject, template.content].filter(Boolean).join('\n');
+      const check = await ContentGovernanceChecker.scanContent(fullText, {
+        type: 'response_template',
+        context: {
+          template_id: template._id.toString(),
+          name: template.name,
+          category: template.category
+        }
+      });
+
+      if (check.success) {
+        results.passed++;
+        console.log(`✅ ${template.name} (${template.category})`);
+      } else {
+        results.failed++;
+        console.log(`\n❌ ${template.name} (${template.category})`);
+        console.log(`   ID: ${template._id}`);
+        console.log(`   Violations: ${check.violations.length}`);
+
+        check.violations.forEach((v, idx) => {
+          console.log(`   ${idx + 1}. [${v.severity}] ${v.rule}`);
+          console.log(`      "${v.match}"`);
+          console.log(`      ${v.message}`);
+        });
+
+        results.violations.push({
+          template_id: template._id,
+          name: template.name,
+          category: template.category,
+          violations: check.violations
+        });
+
+        // Update template with governance check results
+        await collection.updateOne(
+          { _id: template._id },
+          {
+            $set: {
+              'governance_check.passed': false,
+              'governance_check.scanned_at': check.scannedAt,
+              'governance_check.violations': check.violations,
+              'governance_check.summary': check.summary,
+              updated_at: new Date()
+            }
+          }
+        );
+
+        // Mark as inactive if in fix mode
+        if (fixMode) {
+          await collection.updateOne(
+            { _id: template._id },
+            {
+              $set: {
+                active: false,
+                deactivated_reason: 'Governance violations detected',
+                deactivated_at: new Date()
+              }
+            }
+          );
+          console.log(`   🔒 Template marked as inactive`);
+        }
+
+        console.log('');
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Summary
+    console.log('');
+    console.log('╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗');
+    console.log('║   Scan Summary                                       ║');
+    console.log('╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝');
+    console.log('');
+    console.log(`Total Scanned:  ${results.scanned}`);
+    console.log(`✅ Passed:       ${results.passed}`);
+    console.log(`❌ Failed:       ${results.failed}`);
+    console.log('');
+
+    if (results.failed > 0) {
+      console.log('Violations by Rule:');
+      const violationsByRule = {};
+      results.violations.forEach(v => {
+        v.violations.forEach(violation => {
+          violationsByRule[violation.instruction] = (violationsByRule[violation.instruction] || 0) + 1;
+        });
+      });
+
+      Object.entries(violationsByRule).forEach(([rule, count]) => {
+        console.log(`  • ${rule}: ${count}`);
+      });
+
+      console.log('');
+
+      if (fixMode) {
+        console.log(`🔒 ${results.failed} violating template(s) marked as inactive`);
+      } else {
+        console.log('💡 Run with --fix to mark violating templates as inactive');
+      }
+    }
+
+    console.log('');
+    process.exit(results.failed > 0 ? 1 : 0);
+
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('Error scanning templates:', error);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+}
+
+// Run if called directly
+if (require.main === module) {
+  main();
+}
+
+module.exports = { main };
diff --git a/src/controllers/media.controller.js b/src/controllers/media.controller.js
index f0854e49..ea619b08 100644
--- a/src/controllers/media.controller.js
+++ b/src/controllers/media.controller.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const ModerationQueue = require('../models/ModerationQueue.model');
 const GovernanceLog = require('../models/GovernanceLog.model');
 const BoundaryEnforcer = require('../services/BoundaryEnforcer.service');
 const MediaTriageService = require('../services/MediaTriage.service');
+const ContentGovernanceChecker = require('../services/ContentGovernanceChecker.service');
 const logger = require('../utils/logger.util');
 
 /**
@@ -242,9 +243,39 @@ async function respondToInquiry(req, res) {
       });
     }
 
+    // Framework governance check (inst_016, inst_017, inst_018, inst_079)
+    const governanceCheck = await ContentGovernanceChecker.scanContent(content, {
+      type: 'media_response',
+      context: {
+        inquiry_id: id,
+        outlet: inquiry.contact?.outlet,
+        responder: req.user.email
+      }
+    });
+
+    if (!governanceCheck.success) {
+      logger.warn(`Media response blocked due to governance violations`, {
+        inquiry_id: id,
+        violations: governanceCheck.violations,
+        responder: req.user.email
+      });
+
+      return res.status(400).json({
+        error: 'Governance Violations Detected',
+        message: 'Response content violates framework governance rules',
+        violations: governanceCheck.violations,
+        summary: governanceCheck.summary,
+        blocked_by: 'ContentGovernanceChecker'
+      });
+    }
+
     const success = await MediaInquiry.respond(id, {
       content,
-      responder: req.user.email
+      responder: req.user.email,
+      governance_check: {
+        passed: true,
+        scanned_at: governanceCheck.scannedAt
+      }
     });
 
     if (!success) {
@@ -254,12 +285,18 @@ async function respondToInquiry(req, res) {
       });
     }
 
-    logger.info(`Media inquiry ${id} responded to by ${req.user.email}`);
+    logger.info(`Media inquiry ${id} responded to by ${req.user.email}`, {
+      governance_check_passed: true
+    });
 
     res.json({
       success: true,
-      message: 'Response recorded successfully',
-      note: 'Remember to send actual email to media contact separately'
+      message: 'Response recorded successfully (framework check passed)',
+      note: 'Remember to send actual email to media contact separately',
+      governance: {
+        checked: true,
+        violations: 0
+      }
     });
 
   } catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/models/ResponseTemplate.model.js b/src/models/ResponseTemplate.model.js
index 16916f6d..4089d5bb 100644
--- a/src/models/ResponseTemplate.model.js
+++ b/src/models/ResponseTemplate.model.js
@@ -1,18 +1,34 @@
 /**
  * ResponseTemplate Model
  * Pre-written response templates for common inquiries
+ *
+ * Framework enforcement: All templates scanned for governance violations
+ * (inst_016, inst_017, inst_018, inst_079)
  */
 
 const { ObjectId } = require('mongodb');
 const { getCollection } = require('../utils/db.util');
+const ContentGovernanceChecker = require('../services/ContentGovernanceChecker.service');
 
 class ResponseTemplate {
   /**
    * Create a new response template
+   * Includes framework governance check (inst_016, inst_017, inst_018, inst_079)
    */
   static async create(data) {
     const collection = await getCollection('response_templates');
 
+    // Framework governance check on template content
+    const fullText = [data.subject, data.content].filter(Boolean).join('\n');
+    const governanceCheck = await ContentGovernanceChecker.scanContent(fullText, {
+      type: 'response_template',
+      context: {
+        name: data.name,
+        category: data.category,
+        created_by: data.created_by
+      }
+    });
+
     const template = {
       // Template identification
       name: data.name,
@@ -37,6 +53,14 @@ class ResponseTemplate {
       visibility: data.visibility || 'public', // public, private, team
       created_by: data.created_by ? new ObjectId(data.created_by) : null,
 
+      // Framework governance check results
+      governance_check: {
+        passed: governanceCheck.success,
+        scanned_at: governanceCheck.scannedAt,
+        violations: governanceCheck.violations || [],
+        summary: governanceCheck.summary
+      },
+
       // Usage statistics
       usage_stats: {
         times_used: 0,
@@ -51,7 +75,11 @@ class ResponseTemplate {
     };
 
     const result = await collection.insertOne(template);
-    return { ...template, _id: result.insertedId };
+    return {
+      ...template,
+      _id: result.insertedId,
+      governance_check: governanceCheck // Return full check results
+    };
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/services/ContentGovernanceChecker.service.js b/src/services/ContentGovernanceChecker.service.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..65966e6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/ContentGovernanceChecker.service.js
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+/**
+ * Content Governance Checker Service
+ * Unified framework checker for all external communications
+ *
+ * Used by:
+ * - Blog posts (before publication)
+ * - Media inquiry responses (before sending)
+ * - Response templates (on create/update)
+ * - Newsletter content (future)
+ *
+ * Enforces:
+ * - inst_016: No fabricated statistics without citation
+ * - inst_017: No absolute guarantees
+ * - inst_018: No unverified production claims
+ * - inst_079: No dark patterns or manipulative urgency
+ */
+
+// Pattern definitions from governance rules
+const contentPatterns = {
+  inst_016_fabricated_stats: {
+    patterns: [
+      /\b\d+%\s+(?:faster|better|improvement|increase|decrease|reduction|more|less)\b(?!\s*\[NEEDS VERIFICATION\]|\s*\(source:|\s*\[source:)/gi,
+      /\b(?:faster|better|improvement)\s+of\s+\d+%\b(?!\s*\[NEEDS VERIFICATION\]|\s*\(source:|\s*\[source:)/gi,
+      /\b\d+x\s+(?:faster|better|more|increase)\b(?!\s*\[NEEDS VERIFICATION\]|\s*\(source:|\s*\[source:)/gi
+    ],
+    severity: 'HIGH',
+    message: 'Statistics require citation or [NEEDS VERIFICATION] marker (inst_016)',
+    instruction: 'inst_016'
+  },
+  inst_017_absolute_guarantees: {
+    patterns: [
+      /\bguarantee(?:s|d|ing)?\b/gi,
+      /\b100%\s+(?:secure|safe|reliable|effective)\b/gi,
+      /\bcompletely\s+prevents?\b/gi,
+      /\bnever\s+fails?\b/gi,
+      /\balways\s+works?\b/gi,
+      /\beliminates?\s+all\b/gi,
+      /\bperfect(?:ly)?\s+(?:secure|safe|reliable)\b/gi
+    ],
+    severity: 'HIGH',
+    message: 'Absolute guarantees prohibited - use evidence-based language (inst_017)',
+    instruction: 'inst_017'
+  },
+  inst_018_unverified_claims: {
+    patterns: [
+      /\bproduction-ready\b(?!\s+development\s+tool|\s+proof-of-concept)/gi,
+      /\bbattle-tested\b/gi,
+      /\benterprise-proven\b/gi,
+      /\bwidespread\s+adoption\b/gi,
+      /\bindustry-standard\b/gi
+    ],
+    severity: 'MEDIUM',
+    message: 'Production claims require evidence (this is proof-of-concept) (inst_018)',
+    instruction: 'inst_018'
+  },
+  inst_079_dark_patterns: {
+    patterns: [
+      /\bclick\s+here\s+now\b/gi,
+      /\blimited\s+time\s+offer\b/gi,
+      /\bonly\s+\d+\s+spots?\s+left\b/gi,
+      /\bact\s+fast\b/gi,
+      /\bhurry\b.*\b(?:before|while)\b/gi,
+      /\bdon't\s+miss\s+out\b/gi
+    ],
+    severity: 'MEDIUM',
+    message: 'Possible manipulative urgency/dark pattern detected (inst_079)',
+    instruction: 'inst_079'
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Scan content for governance violations
+ * @param {string} text - Content to scan
+ * @param {object} options - Scanning options
+ * @returns {Promise<object>} - Scan results with violations array
+ */
+async function scanContent(text, options = {}) {
+  const {
+    type = 'general', // blog, media_response, template, newsletter
+    context = {}
+  } = options;
+
+  if (!text || typeof text !== 'string') {
+    return {
+      success: true,
+      violations: [],
+      scannedAt: new Date(),
+      type,
+      context
+    };
+  }
+
+  const violations = [];
+
+  // Scan for each pattern
+  for (const [ruleId, config] of Object.entries(contentPatterns)) {
+    for (const pattern of config.patterns) {
+      const matches = text.match(pattern);
+      if (matches) {
+        // Get unique matches only
+        const uniqueMatches = [...new Set(matches)];
+
+        uniqueMatches.forEach(match => {
+          violations.push({
+            rule: ruleId,
+            instruction: config.instruction,
+            severity: config.severity,
+            match,
+            message: config.message,
+            position: text.indexOf(match),
+            context: getMatchContext(text, text.indexOf(match))
+          });
+        });
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    success: violations.length === 0,
+    violations,
+    scannedAt: new Date(),
+    type,
+    context,
+    summary: {
+      total: violations.length,
+      high: violations.filter(v => v.severity === 'HIGH').length,
+      medium: violations.filter(v => v.severity === 'MEDIUM').length,
+      byRule: violations.reduce((acc, v) => {
+        acc[v.instruction] = (acc[v.instruction] || 0) + 1;
+        return acc;
+      }, {})
+    }
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get context around a match (50 chars before and after)
+ */
+function getMatchContext(text, position, contextLength = 50) {
+  const start = Math.max(0, position - contextLength);
+  const end = Math.min(text.length, position + contextLength);
+
+  let context = text.substring(start, end);
+
+  // Add ellipsis if truncated
+  if (start > 0) context = '...' + context;
+  if (end < text.length) context = context + '...';
+
+  return context;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Format violations for display
+ */
+function formatViolations(violations) {
+  if (!violations || violations.length === 0) {
+    return 'No violations found';
+  }
+
+  return violations.map((v, idx) =>
+    `${idx + 1}. [${v.severity}] ${v.rule}\n` +
+    `   Match: "${v.match}"\n` +
+    `   ${v.message}\n` +
+    `   Context: ${v.context}`
+  ).join('\n\n');
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if content is safe for publication
+ * Convenience method that returns boolean
+ */
+async function isSafeForPublication(text, options = {}) {
+  const result = await scanContent(text, options);
+  return result.success;
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  scanContent,
+  formatViolations,
+  isSafeForPublication,
+  contentPatterns
+};