diff --git a/backend/app/api.py b/backend/app/api.py
index 0318b48..0d5cd2c 100644
--- a/backend/app/api.py
+++ b/backend/app/api.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from . import (
     api_notifications,
     api_prs,
     auth,
+    collections as collections_mod,
     projects as projects_mod,
     db,
     device_trust as device_trust_mod,
@@ -637,13 +638,13 @@ def make_router(
             unreviewed_clause = " AND unreviewed = 1 AND state = 'active'"
         rows = db.conn().execute(
             f"""
-            SELECT slug, title, state, rfc_id, repo,
-                   owners_json, arbiters_json, tags_json,
-                   last_main_commit_at, last_entry_commit_at, updated_at
-              FROM cached_rfcs
-             WHERE state IN ('super-draft', 'active')
-               AND project_id IN ({placeholders}){unreviewed_clause}
-             ORDER BY COALESCE(last_main_commit_at, last_entry_commit_at) DESC
+            SELECT r.slug, r.title, r.state, r.rfc_id, r.repo,
+                   r.owners_json, r.arbiters_json, r.tags_json,
+                   r.last_main_commit_at, r.last_entry_commit_at, r.updated_at
+              FROM cached_rfcs r JOIN collections c ON c.id = r.collection_id
+             WHERE r.state IN ('super-draft', 'active')
+               AND c.project_id IN ({placeholders}){unreviewed_clause}
+             ORDER BY COALESCE(r.last_main_commit_at, r.last_entry_commit_at) DESC
             """,
             params,
         ).fetchall()
@@ -685,8 +686,8 @@ def make_router(
             raise HTTPException(404, "Not found")
         viewer = auth.current_user(request)
         # §22.5 visibility gate (subtractive, §22.7): a gated project's entries
-        # 404 to non-members.
-        auth.require_project_readable(viewer, row["project_id"])
+        # 404 to non-members. Recover the project via the entry's collection.
+        auth.require_project_readable(viewer, auth.project_of_rfc(slug))
         # §13.7: a retired entry is removed from every browsing surface. The
         # sole exception is a site owner, so the un-retire affordance has
         # somewhere to live; everyone else gets a plain 404.
@@ -723,6 +724,8 @@ def make_router(
         viewer = auth.current_user(request)
         # §22.5 read gate: a gated project's catalog 404s to a non-member.
         auth.require_project_readable(viewer, project_id)
+        # §22 S1: serve the project's default collection (the corpus grain).
+        collection_id = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
         viewer_id = viewer.user_id if viewer else None
         unreviewed_clause = ""
         if unreviewed is not None and unreviewed.lower() in ("1", "true", "yes"):
@@ -734,18 +737,18 @@ def make_router(
                    last_main_commit_at, last_entry_commit_at, updated_at
               FROM cached_rfcs
              WHERE state IN ('super-draft', 'active')
-               AND project_id = ?{unreviewed_clause}
+               AND collection_id = ?{unreviewed_clause}
              ORDER BY COALESCE(last_main_commit_at, last_entry_commit_at) DESC
             """,
-            (project_id,),
+            (collection_id,),
         ).fetchall()
         starred = set()
         if viewer_id is not None:
             starred = {
                 r["rfc_slug"]
                 for r in db.conn().execute(
-                    "SELECT rfc_slug FROM stars WHERE user_id = ? AND project_id = ?",
-                    (viewer_id, project_id),
+                    "SELECT rfc_slug FROM stars WHERE user_id = ? AND collection_id = ?",
+                    (viewer_id, collection_id),
                 )
             }
         items = [
@@ -770,9 +773,10 @@ def make_router(
     async def get_project_rfc(project_id: str, slug: str, request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
         viewer = auth.current_user(request)
         auth.require_project_readable(viewer, project_id)
+        collection_id = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
         row = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT * FROM cached_rfcs WHERE project_id = ? AND slug = ?",
-            (project_id, slug),
+            "SELECT * FROM cached_rfcs WHERE collection_id = ? AND slug = ?",
+            (collection_id, slug),
         ).fetchone()
         if row is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "Not found")
@@ -782,10 +786,10 @@ def make_router(
         uc = db.conn().execute(
             """
             SELECT use_case FROM proposed_use_cases
-             WHERE scope = 'rfc' AND rfc_slug = ? AND project_id = ?
+             WHERE scope = 'rfc' AND rfc_slug = ? AND collection_id = ?
              ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1
             """,
-            (slug, project_id),
+            (slug, collection_id),
         ).fetchone()
         payload["proposed_use_case"] = uc["use_case"] if uc else None
         return payload
@@ -802,9 +806,10 @@ def make_router(
         auth.require_project_readable(viewer, project_id)
         if not auth.is_project_superuser(viewer, project_id):
             raise HTTPException(403, "Only a project owner/admin can mark an entry reviewed")
+        collection_id = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
         row = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT state, unreviewed FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ? AND project_id = ?",
-            (slug, project_id),
+            "SELECT state, unreviewed FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ? AND collection_id = ?",
+            (slug, collection_id),
         ).fetchone()
         if row is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "Not found")
@@ -965,8 +970,9 @@ def make_router(
         # We re-check atomically here even though the client also checks
         # on every keystroke, since a concurrent submission could land
         # between dialog-open and submit.
+        collection_id = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
         clash = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT 1 FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ? AND project_id = ?", (slug, project_id)
+            "SELECT 1 FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ? AND collection_id = ?", (slug, collection_id)
         ).fetchone()
         if clash:
             raise HTTPException(409, f"Slug `{slug}` is already taken")
@@ -1041,11 +1047,11 @@ def make_router(
         if use_case:
             db.conn().execute(
                 """
-                INSERT INTO proposed_use_cases (scope, rfc_slug, pr_number, use_case, project_id)
+                INSERT INTO proposed_use_cases (scope, rfc_slug, pr_number, use_case, collection_id)
                 VALUES ('rfc', ?, ?, ?, ?)
-                ON CONFLICT(project_id, scope, pr_number) DO UPDATE SET use_case = excluded.use_case
+                ON CONFLICT(collection_id, scope, pr_number) DO UPDATE SET use_case = excluded.use_case
                 """,
-                (slug, pr["number"], use_case, project_id),
+                (slug, pr["number"], use_case, collection_id),
             )
             db.conn().execute(
                 "UPDATE cached_prs SET proposed_use_case = ? WHERE pr_kind = 'idea' AND pr_number = ? AND project_id = ?",
@@ -1205,12 +1211,12 @@ def make_router(
     async def add_funder_consent(slug: str, request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
         user = auth.require_contributor(request)
         rfc = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)
+            "SELECT 1 FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)
         ).fetchone()
         if rfc is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
         # §22.5 visibility gate (subtractive): gated → 404 to non-members.
-        auth.require_project_readable(user, rfc["project_id"])
+        auth.require_project_readable(user, auth.project_of_rfc(slug))
         # §6.7: refuse consent from a user with no registered credentials
         # — a consent without a universe would be inert and the surface
         # should fail loudly rather than silently.
diff --git a/backend/app/api_branches.py b/backend/app/api_branches.py
index 8e54c48..74b18c8 100644
--- a/backend/app/api_branches.py
+++ b/backend/app/api_branches.py
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ def make_router(
             """
             INSERT INTO branch_visibility (rfc_slug, branch_name, read_public, contribute_mode)
             VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)
-            ON CONFLICT(project_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
+            ON CONFLICT(collection_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
                 read_public = excluded.read_public,
                 contribute_mode = excluded.contribute_mode
             """,
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ def make_router(
             """
             INSERT INTO branch_chat_seen (user_id, rfc_slug, branch_name, last_seen_message_id, seen_at)
             VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, datetime('now'))
-            ON CONFLICT(project_id, user_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
+            ON CONFLICT(collection_id, user_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
                 last_seen_message_id = excluded.last_seen_message_id,
                 seen_at = excluded.seen_at
             """,
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ def make_router(
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     def _require_rfc(slug: str, viewer):
-        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT * FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
+        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT *, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
         if row is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
         # §22.5 visibility gate (subtractive, §22.7): a gated project's entries
diff --git a/backend/app/api_contributions.py b/backend/app/api_contributions.py
index 5a4c0b8..e6f36c0 100644
--- a/backend/app/api_contributions.py
+++ b/backend/app/api_contributions.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def _require_super_draft(slug: str, viewer):
     visibility gate is subtractive: a gated project's entries 404 to
     non-members (§22.7)."""
     row = db.conn().execute(
-        "SELECT slug, title, state, owners_json, proposed_by, project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?",
+        "SELECT slug, title, state, owners_json, proposed_by, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?",
         (slug,),
     ).fetchone()
     if row is None:
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def make_router() -> APIRouter:
     @router.get("/api/rfcs/{slug}/contribution-target")
     async def contribution_target(slug: str, request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
         row = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT slug, title, state, owners_json, proposed_by, project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?",
+            "SELECT slug, title, state, owners_json, proposed_by, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?",
             (slug,),
         ).fetchone()
         if row is None:
diff --git a/backend/app/api_deployment.py b/backend/app/api_deployment.py
index 1406619..2b7b1a2 100644
--- a/backend/app/api_deployment.py
+++ b/backend/app/api_deployment.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from typing import Any
 from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException, Request
 from fastapi.responses import RedirectResponse
 
-from . import auth, db, projects as projects_mod
+from . import auth, collections as collections_mod, db, projects as projects_mod
 from .config import Config
 
 
@@ -33,12 +33,21 @@ def make_router(config: Config) -> APIRouter:
         ).fetchone()
         # §22.5: enumerate only public + (member-)gated; unlisted is never listed.
         visible = set(auth.visible_project_ids(viewer))
+        # §22 three-tier: `type` is a per-corpus field on the (default) collection
+        # now; surface the default collection's type for each project.
         rows = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT id, name, type, visibility FROM projects "
+            "SELECT id, name, visibility FROM projects "
             "WHERE visibility != 'unlisted' ORDER BY name"
         ).fetchall()
         projects = [
-            {"id": r["id"], "name": r["name"], "type": r["type"], "visibility": r["visibility"]}
+            {
+                "id": r["id"],
+                "name": r["name"],
+                "type": collections_mod.collection_type(
+                    collections_mod.default_collection_id(r["id"])
+                ),
+                "visibility": r["visibility"],
+            }
             for r in rows
             if r["id"] in visible
         ]
@@ -60,8 +69,7 @@ def make_router(config: Config) -> APIRouter:
         # an unknown id). unlisted is readable by direct id.
         auth.require_project_readable(viewer, project_id)
         row = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT id, name, type, visibility, initial_state, config_json "
-            "FROM projects WHERE id = ?",
+            "SELECT id, name, visibility, config_json FROM projects WHERE id = ?",
             (project_id,),
         ).fetchone()
         if row is None:
@@ -71,13 +79,16 @@ def make_router(config: Config) -> APIRouter:
         except (ValueError, TypeError):
             cfg = {}
         dep = db.conn().execute("SELECT tagline FROM deployment WHERE id = 1").fetchone()
+        # §22 three-tier: type + initial_state moved down to the (default)
+        # collection in migration 029.
+        cid = collections_mod.default_collection_id(row["id"])
         return {
             "id": row["id"],
             "name": row["name"],
             "tagline": (dep["tagline"] if dep else "") or "",
-            "type": row["type"],
+            "type": collections_mod.collection_type(cid),
             "visibility": row["visibility"],
-            "initial_state": row["initial_state"],
+            "initial_state": collections_mod.collection_initial_state(cid),
             "theme": cfg.get("theme") or {},
         }
 
@@ -86,21 +97,27 @@ def make_router(config: Config) -> APIRouter:
     # is permanent, so external "RFC-0001" links and bookmarks land correctly.
     # nginx routes /rfc/ and /proposals/ to the backend so these are reached
     # before the SPA's index.html fallback.
+    # §22 three-tier (S1): the canonical entry route now carries the collection
+    # segment /p/<project>/c/<collection>/…. The legacy roots redirect through
+    # the default project's default collection.
     @router.get("/rfc/{slug}")
     async def redirect_old_rfc(slug: str) -> RedirectResponse:
         default_id = projects_mod.resolved_default_id(config)
-        return RedirectResponse(url=f"/p/{default_id}/e/{slug}", status_code=308)
+        cid = collections_mod.default_collection_id(default_id)
+        return RedirectResponse(url=f"/p/{default_id}/c/{cid}/e/{slug}", status_code=308)
 
     @router.get("/rfc/{slug}/pr/{pr_number}")
     async def redirect_old_rfc_pr(slug: str, pr_number: int) -> RedirectResponse:
         default_id = projects_mod.resolved_default_id(config)
+        cid = collections_mod.default_collection_id(default_id)
         return RedirectResponse(
-            url=f"/p/{default_id}/e/{slug}/pr/{pr_number}", status_code=308
+            url=f"/p/{default_id}/c/{cid}/e/{slug}/pr/{pr_number}", status_code=308
         )
 
     @router.get("/proposals/{pr_number}")
     async def redirect_old_proposal(pr_number: int) -> RedirectResponse:
         default_id = projects_mod.resolved_default_id(config)
-        return RedirectResponse(url=f"/p/{default_id}/proposals/{pr_number}", status_code=308)
+        cid = collections_mod.default_collection_id(default_id)
+        return RedirectResponse(url=f"/p/{default_id}/c/{cid}/proposals/{pr_number}", status_code=308)
 
     return router
diff --git a/backend/app/api_discussion.py b/backend/app/api_discussion.py
index 9173b44..be57845 100644
--- a/backend/app/api_discussion.py
+++ b/backend/app/api_discussion.py
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ def _require_rfc_readable(slug: str, viewer):
     entries refuse reads of every shape — same rule `_require_rfc_with_repo`
     in `api_branches.py` follows."""
     row = db.conn().execute(
-        "SELECT * FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)
+        "SELECT *, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)
     ).fetchone()
     if row is None:
         raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
diff --git a/backend/app/api_graduation.py b/backend/app/api_graduation.py
index 6c61adb..b620aa3 100644
--- a/backend/app/api_graduation.py
+++ b/backend/app/api_graduation.py
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ def make_router(
     # -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     def _require_super_draft(slug: str, viewer):
-        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT * FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
+        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT *, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
         if row is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
         # §22.5 visibility gate (subtractive, §22.7): gated → 404 to non-members.
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ def make_router(
         return row
 
     def _require_retirable(slug: str):
-        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT * FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
+        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT *, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
         if row is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
         if row["state"] not in ("super-draft", "active"):
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ def make_router(
         return row
 
     def _require_retired(slug: str):
-        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT * FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
+        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT *, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
         if row is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
         if row["state"] != "retired":
diff --git a/backend/app/api_invitations.py b/backend/app/api_invitations.py
index b8440b1..70119e0 100644
--- a/backend/app/api_invitations.py
+++ b/backend/app/api_invitations.py
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ def _require_rfc(slug: str, viewer):
     visibility gate is subtractive: a gated project's entries 404 to
     non-members (§22.7)."""
     row = db.conn().execute(
-        "SELECT slug, title, state, project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,),
+        "SELECT slug, title, state, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,),
     ).fetchone()
     if row is None:
         raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
diff --git a/backend/app/api_notifications.py b/backend/app/api_notifications.py
index a76bf8e..89b00fe 100644
--- a/backend/app/api_notifications.py
+++ b/backend/app/api_notifications.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def make_router(config: Config) -> APIRouter:
     @router.post("/api/rfcs/{slug}/watch")
     async def set_watch(slug: str, body: WatchBody, request: Request) -> dict[str, Any]:
         viewer = auth.require_user(request)
-        rfc = db.conn().execute("SELECT project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
+        rfc = db.conn().execute("SELECT (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
         if rfc is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
         # §22.5 visibility gate (subtractive): gated → 404 to non-members.
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def make_router(config: Config) -> APIRouter:
             """
             INSERT INTO watches (user_id, rfc_slug, state, set_by, set_at, last_participation_at)
             VALUES (?, ?, ?, 'explicit', datetime('now'), datetime('now'))
-            ON CONFLICT(project_id, user_id, rfc_slug) DO UPDATE SET
+            ON CONFLICT(collection_id, user_id, rfc_slug) DO UPDATE SET
                 state = excluded.state,
                 set_by = 'explicit',
                 set_at = excluded.set_at
diff --git a/backend/app/api_prs.py b/backend/app/api_prs.py
index c4157c6..69a6678 100644
--- a/backend/app/api_prs.py
+++ b/backend/app/api_prs.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def make_router(
             """
             INSERT INTO branch_visibility (rfc_slug, branch_name, read_public, contribute_mode)
             VALUES (?, ?, 1, 'just-me')
-            ON CONFLICT(project_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET read_public = 1
+            ON CONFLICT(collection_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET read_public = 1
             """,
             (slug, branch),
         )
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def make_router(
                 """
                 INSERT INTO proposed_use_cases (scope, rfc_slug, pr_number, use_case)
                 VALUES ('pr', ?, ?, ?)
-                ON CONFLICT(project_id, scope, pr_number) DO UPDATE SET use_case = excluded.use_case
+                ON CONFLICT(collection_id, scope, pr_number) DO UPDATE SET use_case = excluded.use_case
                 """,
                 (slug, pr["number"], use_case),
             )
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ def make_router(
             INSERT INTO pr_seen
                 (user_id, rfc_slug, pr_number, last_seen_commit_sha, last_seen_message_id, seen_at)
             VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, datetime('now'))
-            ON CONFLICT(project_id, user_id, rfc_slug, pr_number) DO UPDATE SET
+            ON CONFLICT(collection_id, user_id, rfc_slug, pr_number) DO UPDATE SET
                 last_seen_commit_sha = excluded.last_seen_commit_sha,
                 last_seen_message_id = excluded.last_seen_message_id,
                 seen_at = excluded.seen_at
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ def make_router(
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     def _require_rfc(slug: str, viewer):
-        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT * FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
+        row = db.conn().execute("SELECT *, (SELECT c.project_id FROM collections c WHERE c.id = cached_rfcs.collection_id) AS project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (slug,)).fetchone()
         if row is None:
             raise HTTPException(404, "RFC not found")
         # §22.5 visibility gate (subtractive, §22.7) — even §11.3 "PRs always
diff --git a/backend/app/auth.py b/backend/app/auth.py
index 8461171..98a6978 100644
--- a/backend/app/auth.py
+++ b/backend/app/auth.py
@@ -337,24 +337,41 @@ def project_visibility(project_id: str) -> str:
 
 
 def project_member_role(user: SessionUser | None, project_id: str) -> str | None:
-    """The user's *explicit* §22.6 project_members role in this project, or
-    None. This is the stored row only — it does not fold in the deployment tier
-    or the implicit-on-public baseline (those live in the helpers below)."""
+    """The user's *explicit* §22.6 membership role at this project, or None.
+
+    §22 three-tier (S1): M2's `project_members` rows migrated into the unified
+    `memberships` table at the project's default collection (and the project
+    tier is freshly grantable). The unified `{owner, contributor}` roles are
+    mapped back to the legacy `project_admin`/`project_contributor` strings the
+    S1 project-grain authz still speaks; the four-layer scope resolver lands in
+    S3. Reads the stored grant only (project OR default-collection scope) — it
+    does not fold in the deployment tier or the implicit-on-public baseline."""
     if user is None:
         return None
+    from . import collections as collections_mod
+    cid = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
     row = db.conn().execute(
-        "SELECT role FROM project_members WHERE project_id = ? AND user_id = ?",
-        (project_id, user.user_id),
+        "SELECT role FROM memberships "
+        "WHERE user_id = ? AND ((scope_type = 'project' AND scope_id = ?) "
+        "                    OR (scope_type = 'collection' AND scope_id = ?)) "
+        "ORDER BY CASE role WHEN 'owner' THEN 0 ELSE 1 END LIMIT 1",
+        (user.user_id, project_id, cid),
     ).fetchone()
-    return row["role"] if row else None
+    if row is None:
+        return None
+    return "project_admin" if row["role"] == "owner" else "project_contributor"
 
 
 def project_of_rfc(rfc_slug: str) -> str:
-    """The project an RFC belongs to (`cached_rfcs.project_id`). Falls back to
-    the default project when the slug isn't cached or the column is unset — the
-    same N=1 default migration 026 backfills."""
+    """The project an RFC belongs to, via its collection
+    (`cached_rfcs.collection_id` -> `collections.project_id`, §22 three-tier).
+    Falls back to the default project when the slug isn't cached — the same N=1
+    default migration 026 backfills."""
     row = db.conn().execute(
-        "SELECT project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = ?", (rfc_slug,)
+        "SELECT c.project_id AS project_id "
+        "FROM cached_rfcs r JOIN collections c ON c.id = r.collection_id "
+        "WHERE r.slug = ?",
+        (rfc_slug,),
     ).fetchone()
     if row is None:
         return DEFAULT_PROJECT_ID
diff --git a/backend/app/cache.py b/backend/app/cache.py
index 4af2ab2..538c313 100644
--- a/backend/app/cache.py
+++ b/backend/app/cache.py
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ async def refresh_meta_repo(config: Config, gitea: Gitea) -> None:
 
 
 async def _refresh_project_corpus(org: str, project_id: str, repo: str, gitea: Gitea) -> None:
+    # §22 S1: the corpus grain is the collection. The mirror is project-grained
+    # (reads rfcs/ at the repo root = the project's default collection); resolve
+    # that collection once and key cached_rfcs by it.
+    from . import collections as collections_mod
+    collection_id = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
     try:
         files = await gitea.list_dir(org, repo, "rfcs", ref="main")
     except GiteaError as e:
@@ -77,7 +82,7 @@ async def _refresh_project_corpus(org: str, project_id: str, repo: str, gitea: G
             log.warning("refresh_meta_repo: %s: skipping %s: missing slug", project_id, f["path"])
             continue
         seen_slugs.add(entry.slug)
-        _upsert_cached_rfc(entry, body_sha=sha, project_id=project_id)
+        _upsert_cached_rfc(entry, body_sha=sha, collection_id=collection_id)
 
     # Entries removed from a project's rfcs/ — the spec keeps withdrawn entries
     # as historical record (§3), so this fires only for out-of-band deletes;
@@ -85,14 +90,14 @@ async def _refresh_project_corpus(org: str, project_id: str, repo: str, gitea: G
     existing = {
         row["slug"]
         for row in db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT slug FROM cached_rfcs WHERE project_id = ?", (project_id,)
+            "SELECT slug FROM cached_rfcs WHERE collection_id = ?", (collection_id,)
         )
     }
     for missing in existing - seen_slugs:
         log.info("refresh_meta_repo: %s/%s no longer in rfcs/ — leaving cache row", project_id, missing)
 
 
-def _upsert_cached_rfc(entry: entry_mod.Entry, body_sha: str, project_id: str = "default") -> None:
+def _upsert_cached_rfc(entry: entry_mod.Entry, body_sha: str, collection_id: str = "default") -> None:
     # §6.6: models_json stays NULL when the frontmatter key is absent
     # (inherit operator universe) and '[]' for the explicit opt-out.
     models_json = json.dumps(entry.models) if entry.models is not None else None
@@ -105,10 +110,10 @@ def _upsert_cached_rfc(entry: entry_mod.Entry, body_sha: str, project_id: str =
             (slug, title, state, rfc_id, repo, proposed_by, proposed_at,
              graduated_at, graduated_by, owners_json, arbiters_json, tags_json,
              models_json, funder_login, body, body_sha,
-             unreviewed, reviewed_at, reviewed_by, project_id,
+             unreviewed, reviewed_at, reviewed_by, collection_id,
              last_entry_commit_at, updated_at)
         VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, datetime('now'), datetime('now'))
-        ON CONFLICT(project_id, slug) DO UPDATE SET
+        ON CONFLICT(collection_id, slug) DO UPDATE SET
             title = excluded.title,
             state = excluded.state,
             rfc_id = excluded.rfc_id,
@@ -150,7 +155,7 @@ def _upsert_cached_rfc(entry: entry_mod.Entry, body_sha: str, project_id: str =
             1 if entry.unreviewed else 0,
             entry.reviewed_at,
             entry.reviewed_by,
-            project_id,
+            collection_id,
         ),
     )
 
@@ -210,7 +215,7 @@ async def refresh_rfc_repo(config: Config, gitea: Gitea, slug: str) -> None:
             """
             INSERT INTO cached_branches (rfc_slug, branch_name, head_sha, state, last_commit_at)
             VALUES (?, ?, ?, 'open', ?)
-            ON CONFLICT(project_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
+            ON CONFLICT(collection_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
                 head_sha = excluded.head_sha,
                 state = CASE WHEN cached_branches.state = 'closed' THEN 'closed' ELSE 'open' END,
                 last_commit_at = excluded.last_commit_at
@@ -385,7 +390,7 @@ async def refresh_meta_branches(config: Config, gitea: Gitea) -> None:
             """
             INSERT INTO cached_branches (rfc_slug, branch_name, head_sha, state, last_commit_at)
             VALUES (?, ?, ?, 'open', ?)
-            ON CONFLICT(project_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
+            ON CONFLICT(collection_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
                 head_sha = excluded.head_sha,
                 state = CASE WHEN cached_branches.state = 'closed' THEN 'closed' ELSE 'open' END,
                 last_commit_at = excluded.last_commit_at
@@ -407,7 +412,7 @@ async def refresh_meta_branches(config: Config, gitea: Gitea) -> None:
                 """
                 INSERT INTO cached_branches (rfc_slug, branch_name, head_sha, state, last_commit_at)
                 VALUES (?, 'main', ?, 'open', ?)
-                ON CONFLICT(project_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
+                ON CONFLICT(collection_id, rfc_slug, branch_name) DO UPDATE SET
                     head_sha = excluded.head_sha,
                     last_commit_at = excluded.last_commit_at
                 """,
diff --git a/backend/app/collections.py b/backend/app/collections.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d767b32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/app/collections.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+"""§22 collection grain — resolution helpers beneath the project tier.
+
+In S1 each project has exactly one collection (the default). These helpers
+recover the collection for a project and read the per-corpus fields (`type`,
+`initial_state`) that moved down from `projects` in migration 029. Project-grain
+authz (auth.py) recovers a row's project by joining `collections` on
+`collection_id`.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from . import db
+
+DEFAULT_COLLECTION_ID = "default"
+
+
+def default_collection_id(project_id: str) -> str:
+    """The id of a project's default (S1: sole) collection. Falls back to the
+    literal 'default' when the project has no collection row yet."""
+    row = db.conn().execute(
+        "SELECT id FROM collections WHERE project_id = ? ORDER BY created_at, id LIMIT 1",
+        (project_id,),
+    ).fetchone()
+    return row["id"] if row else DEFAULT_COLLECTION_ID
+
+
+def project_of_collection(collection_id: str) -> str | None:
+    """The project a collection belongs to, or None if unknown."""
+    row = db.conn().execute(
+        "SELECT project_id FROM collections WHERE id = ?", (collection_id,)
+    ).fetchone()
+    return row["project_id"] if row else None
+
+
+def collection_initial_state(collection_id: str) -> str:
+    """§22.4b landing state for new entries in a collection. 'super-draft'
+    default for an unknown/unset row (today's safe flow)."""
+    row = db.conn().execute(
+        "SELECT initial_state FROM collections WHERE id = ?", (collection_id,)
+    ).fetchone()
+    if row is None or not row["initial_state"]:
+        return "super-draft"
+    return row["initial_state"]
+
+
+def collection_type(collection_id: str) -> str:
+    """The collection's immutable §22.4a type. 'document' default for unknown."""
+    row = db.conn().execute(
+        "SELECT type FROM collections WHERE id = ?", (collection_id,)
+    ).fetchone()
+    return row["type"] if row and row["type"] else "document"
diff --git a/backend/app/funder.py b/backend/app/funder.py
index c4793d5..4a694d1 100644
--- a/backend/app/funder.py
+++ b/backend/app/funder.py
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ def add_consent(user_id: int, slug: str) -> None:
     db.conn().execute(
         """
         INSERT INTO funder_consents (user_id, rfc_slug) VALUES (?, ?)
-        ON CONFLICT(project_id, user_id, rfc_slug) DO NOTHING
+        ON CONFLICT(collection_id, user_id, rfc_slug) DO NOTHING
         """,
         (user_id, slug),
     )
diff --git a/backend/app/projects.py b/backend/app/projects.py
index c76609d..e6d56d8 100644
--- a/backend/app/projects.py
+++ b/backend/app/projects.py
@@ -43,8 +43,11 @@ def restamp_default_project(config: Config) -> None:
     if target == DEFAULT_PROJECT_ID:
         return
     conn = db.conn()
+    # §22 three-tier: the entry-corpus tables key on collection_id now; detect a
+    # lingering bootstrap project by the project-grain `collections.project_id`
+    # (the PRAGMA scan below still renames every project_id column dynamically).
     has_rows = conn.execute(
-        "SELECT 1 FROM cached_rfcs WHERE project_id = ? LIMIT 1", (DEFAULT_PROJECT_ID,)
+        "SELECT 1 FROM collections WHERE project_id = ? LIMIT 1", (DEFAULT_PROJECT_ID,)
     ).fetchone()
     stale_proj = conn.execute(
         "SELECT 1 FROM projects WHERE id = ? LIMIT 1", (DEFAULT_PROJECT_ID,)
@@ -110,11 +113,10 @@ def content_repo(project_id: str) -> str | None:
 
 
 def project_initial_state(project_id: str) -> str:
-    """§22.4b landing state for new entries in a project. Defaults to
-    'super-draft' for an unknown/unset row (the safe, today's-flow default)."""
-    row = db.conn().execute(
-        "SELECT initial_state FROM projects WHERE id = ?", (project_id,)
-    ).fetchone()
-    if row is None or not row["initial_state"]:
-        return "super-draft"
-    return row["initial_state"]
+    """§22.4b landing state for new entries in a project's default collection
+    (the per-corpus field moved down to the collection in migration 029).
+    Defaults to 'super-draft' for an unknown/unset row (today's-flow default)."""
+    from . import collections as collections_mod
+    return collections_mod.collection_initial_state(
+        collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
+    )
diff --git a/backend/app/registry.py b/backend/app/registry.py
index a04343f..38981b2 100644
--- a/backend/app/registry.py
+++ b/backend/app/registry.py
@@ -114,44 +114,74 @@ def parse_registry(text: str) -> RegistryDoc:
     )
 
 
-def apply_registry(doc: RegistryDoc, registry_sha: str) -> None:
-    """Upsert the parsed registry into projects + deployment. Idempotent.
+def _default_collection_id(project_id: str, default_id: str) -> str:
+    """The id of a project's default collection. The deployment's primary
+    project (== `default_id`, the §22.13 resolved default) gets the stable
+    literal `'default'` — matching migration 029's seed so the upsert *merges*
+    onto the migration-seeded row rather than duplicating it (critical on a
+    fresh deploy where the bootstrap `default` project is later restamped to the
+    configured id). Any additional project keys its default collection by its own
+    id, keeping the collection PK globally unique (pre-S5 multi-project)."""
+    return "default" if project_id == default_id else project_id
 
-    §22.4a: `type` is immutable — a change against an existing row is rejected
-    (skip + log), never applied. Projects absent from the registry are left in
-    place (archival is out of scope for M3; they simply stop refreshing).
+
+def apply_registry(doc: RegistryDoc, registry_sha: str, default_id: str) -> None:
+    """Upsert the parsed registry into projects + their default collections +
+    the deployment singleton. Idempotent.
+
+    §22 three-tier (S1): a project carries the grouping-tier fields (name,
+    content_repo, visibility, config); the per-corpus fields (`type`,
+    `initial_state`) live on the project's default collection. §22.4a: `type` is
+    immutable — a change against an existing collection is rejected (skip the
+    type change + log), never applied. Projects absent from the registry are
+    left in place (archival is out of scope for M3; they stop refreshing).
     """
     with db.tx() as conn:
         for e in doc.projects:
+            cid = _default_collection_id(e.id, default_id)
             existing = conn.execute(
-                "SELECT type FROM projects WHERE id = ?", (e.id,)
+                "SELECT type FROM collections WHERE id = ?", (cid,)
             ).fetchone()
-            if existing is not None and existing["type"] != e.type:
+            type_locked = existing is not None and existing["type"] != e.type
+            if type_locked:
                 log.error(
-                    "registry: refusing immutable type change on project %s (%s -> %s)",
-                    e.id, existing["type"], e.type,
+                    "registry: refusing immutable type change on collection %s (%s -> %s)",
+                    cid, existing["type"], e.type,
                 )
-                continue
+            # The project (grouping tier) always refreshes.
             conn.execute(
                 """
                 INSERT INTO projects
-                    (id, name, type, content_repo, visibility, initial_state,
-                     config_json, registry_sha, updated_at)
-                VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, datetime('now'))
+                    (id, name, content_repo, visibility, config_json, registry_sha, updated_at)
+                VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, datetime('now'))
                 ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
                     name = excluded.name,
-                    type = excluded.type,
                     content_repo = excluded.content_repo,
                     visibility = excluded.visibility,
-                    initial_state = excluded.initial_state,
                     config_json = excluded.config_json,
                     registry_sha = excluded.registry_sha,
                     updated_at = datetime('now')
                 """,
-                (
-                    e.id, e.name, e.type, e.content_repo, e.visibility,
-                    e.initial_state, json.dumps(e.config), registry_sha,
-                ),
+                (e.id, e.name, e.content_repo, e.visibility, json.dumps(e.config), registry_sha),
+            )
+            # The default collection (corpus tier). On an immutable-type
+            # conflict, keep the stored type but still refresh the rest.
+            effective_type = existing["type"] if type_locked else e.type
+            conn.execute(
+                """
+                INSERT INTO collections
+                    (id, project_id, type, subfolder, initial_state, visibility, name, registry_sha, updated_at)
+                VALUES (?, ?, ?, '', ?, ?, ?, ?, datetime('now'))
+                ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
+                    project_id = excluded.project_id,
+                    type = excluded.type,
+                    initial_state = excluded.initial_state,
+                    visibility = excluded.visibility,
+                    name = excluded.name,
+                    registry_sha = excluded.registry_sha,
+                    updated_at = datetime('now')
+                """,
+                (cid, e.id, effective_type, e.initial_state, e.visibility, e.name, registry_sha),
             )
         conn.execute(
             """
@@ -181,5 +211,6 @@ async def refresh_registry(config: Config, gitea: Gitea) -> None:
     # includes it on the contents response); fall back to the blob sha.
     sha = item.get("last_commit_sha") or item.get("sha") or ""
     doc = parse_registry(text)
-    apply_registry(doc, sha)
+    from . import projects as projects_mod
+    apply_registry(doc, sha, projects_mod.resolved_default_id(config))
     log.info("registry: mirrored %d project(s) at %s", len(doc.projects), sha)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_api_deployment.py b/backend/tests/test_api_deployment.py
index e0ea774..510e8f6 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_api_deployment.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_api_deployment.py
@@ -9,11 +9,18 @@ from test_propose_vertical import (  # noqa: F401
 
 
 def _add_project(pid, name, vis, typ="document"):
+    # §22 three-tier: a project (grouping tier) + its default collection (the
+    # per-corpus type/initial_state moved down in migration 029). The default
+    # collection keys by the project id so it is globally unique in tests.
     from app import db
     db.conn().execute(
-        "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO projects (id, name, type, content_repo, visibility, initial_state) "
-        "VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, 'super-draft')",
-        (pid, name, typ, pid, vis),
+        "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO projects (id, name, content_repo, visibility) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)",
+        (pid, name, pid, vis),
+    )
+    db.conn().execute(
+        "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO collections (id, project_id, type, subfolder, initial_state, visibility, name) "
+        "VALUES (?, ?, ?, '', 'super-draft', ?, ?)",
+        (pid, pid, typ, vis, name),
     )
 
 
@@ -93,7 +100,7 @@ def test_rfc_root_url_redirects_308_to_project_scoped(app_with_fake_gitea):
     with TestClient(app) as client:
         r = client.get("/rfc/human", follow_redirects=False)
         assert r.status_code == 308
-        assert r.headers["location"] == "/p/default/e/human"
+        assert r.headers["location"] == "/p/default/c/default/e/human"
 
 
 def test_rfc_pr_url_redirects_308_to_project_scoped(app_with_fake_gitea):
@@ -102,7 +109,7 @@ def test_rfc_pr_url_redirects_308_to_project_scoped(app_with_fake_gitea):
     with TestClient(app) as client:
         r = client.get("/rfc/human/pr/7", follow_redirects=False)
         assert r.status_code == 308
-        assert r.headers["location"] == "/p/default/e/human/pr/7"
+        assert r.headers["location"] == "/p/default/c/default/e/human/pr/7"
 
 
 def test_proposals_root_url_redirects_308_to_project_scoped(app_with_fake_gitea):
@@ -110,7 +117,7 @@ def test_proposals_root_url_redirects_308_to_project_scoped(app_with_fake_gitea)
     with TestClient(app) as client:
         r = client.get("/proposals/42", follow_redirects=False)
         assert r.status_code == 308
-        assert r.headers["location"] == "/p/default/proposals/42"
+        assert r.headers["location"] == "/p/default/c/default/proposals/42"
 
 
 def test_gated_project_visible_and_readable_to_member(app_with_fake_gitea):
@@ -120,7 +127,7 @@ def test_gated_project_visible_and_readable_to_member(app_with_fake_gitea):
         _add_project("teamx", "Team X", "gated")
         provision_user_row(user_id=5, login="mia", role="contributor")
         db.conn().execute(
-            "INSERT INTO project_members (project_id, user_id, role) VALUES ('teamx', 5, 'project_viewer')"
+            "INSERT INTO memberships (scope_type, scope_id, user_id, role) VALUES ('collection', 'teamx', 5, 'contributor')"
         )
         sign_in_as(client, user_id=5, gitea_login="mia", display_name="Mia", role="contributor")
         # member sees the gated project in the deployment directory
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_initial_state_landing.py b/backend/tests/test_initial_state_landing.py
index dd0931c..ad47e62 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_initial_state_landing.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_initial_state_landing.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def test_active_initial_state_lands_active_unreviewed(app_with_fake_gitea):
     from app import db, entry as entry_mod
     app, fake = app_with_fake_gitea
     with TestClient(app) as client:
-        db.conn().execute("UPDATE projects SET initial_state='active' WHERE id='default'")
+        db.conn().execute("UPDATE collections SET initial_state='active' WHERE project_id='default'")
         provision_user_row(user_id=1, login="ben", role="owner")
         sign_in_as(client, user_id=1, gitea_login="ben", display_name="Ben", role="owner")
         assert _propose(client).status_code == 200
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_migration_027.py b/backend/tests/test_migration_027.py
index 1c47ca7..6e90a50 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_migration_027.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_migration_027.py
@@ -21,12 +21,17 @@ def _fresh_config() -> Config:
 
 
 def test_027_adds_project_type_and_initial_state():
+    # 027 added type/initial_state to `projects`; migration 029 (three-tier)
+    # moved those per-corpus fields *down* onto `collections`. After the full
+    # migration chain they live on the collection, not the project.
     cfg = _fresh_config()
     db.run_migrations(cfg)
     conn = db.connect(cfg.database_path)
-    cols = {r["name"]: r for r in conn.execute("PRAGMA table_info(projects)")}
-    assert "type" in cols and cols["type"]["dflt_value"] == "'document'"
-    assert "initial_state" in cols and cols["initial_state"]["dflt_value"] == "'super-draft'"
+    proj_cols = {r["name"] for r in conn.execute("PRAGMA table_info(projects)")}
+    assert "type" not in proj_cols and "initial_state" not in proj_cols
+    coll_cols = {r["name"]: r for r in conn.execute("PRAGMA table_info(collections)")}
+    assert "type" in coll_cols and coll_cols["type"]["dflt_value"] == "'document'"
+    assert "initial_state" in coll_cols and coll_cols["initial_state"]["dflt_value"] == "'super-draft'"
     conn.close()
 
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_migration_028_project_scoped_keys.py b/backend/tests/test_migration_028_project_scoped_keys.py
deleted file mode 100644
index a5a7174..0000000
--- a/backend/tests/test_migration_028_project_scoped_keys.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,95 +0,0 @@
-"""§22.13 / migration 028 — the slug-keyed PK/UNIQUE rebuild that activates
-project #2. Proves two projects can hold the same slug, that (project_id, slug)
-is still unique within a project, that the rebuilt FK is composite + enforced,
-and that the no-foreign-keys migration runner left no dangling references."""
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import sqlite3
-import tempfile
-from pathlib import Path
-
-import pytest
-
-from app import db
-
-
-class _Cfg:
-    def __init__(self, path):
-        self.database_path = path
-
-
-def _fresh_db():
-    d = tempfile.mkdtemp()
-    path = Path(d) / "t.db"
-    db.run_migrations(_Cfg(str(path)))
-    return db.connect(str(path))
-
-
-def _seed_two_projects(conn):
-    for pid in ("default", "ecomm"):
-        conn.execute(
-            "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id, name, type, content_repo, visibility, initial_state) "
-            "VALUES (?, ?, 'document', ?, 'public', 'super-draft')",
-            (pid, pid.title(), pid + "-content"),
-        )
-
-
-def test_same_slug_coexists_across_projects():
-    conn = _fresh_db()
-    _seed_two_projects(conn)
-    for pid in ("default", "ecomm"):
-        conn.execute(
-            "INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug, title, state, project_id) "
-            "VALUES ('intro', 'Intro', 'active', ?)",
-            (pid,),
-        )
-    rows = conn.execute(
-        "SELECT project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = 'intro' ORDER BY project_id"
-    ).fetchall()
-    assert [r["project_id"] for r in rows] == ["default", "ecomm"]
-
-
-def test_slug_still_unique_within_a_project():
-    conn = _fresh_db()
-    _seed_two_projects(conn)
-    conn.execute(
-        "INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug, title, state, project_id) "
-        "VALUES ('intro', 'Intro', 'active', 'default')"
-    )
-    with pytest.raises(sqlite3.IntegrityError):
-        conn.execute(
-            "INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug, title, state, project_id) "
-            "VALUES ('intro', 'Dup', 'active', 'default')"
-        )
-
-
-def test_rfc_collaborators_composite_fk_enforced():
-    conn = _fresh_db()
-    _seed_two_projects(conn)
-    conn.execute("INSERT INTO users (id, gitea_login, display_name, role) VALUES (1, 'a', 'A', 'contributor')")
-    conn.execute(
-        "INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug, title, state, project_id) "
-        "VALUES ('intro', 'Intro', 'active', 'ecomm')"
-    )
-    # Matching (project_id, slug) — FK holds.
-    conn.execute(
-        "INSERT INTO rfc_collaborators (rfc_slug, user_id, role_in_rfc, project_id) "
-        "VALUES ('intro', 1, 'contributor', 'ecomm')"
-    )
-    # Same slug but a project with no such entry — composite FK must reject.
-    with pytest.raises(sqlite3.IntegrityError):
-        conn.execute(
-            "INSERT INTO rfc_collaborators (rfc_slug, user_id, role_in_rfc, project_id) "
-            "VALUES ('intro', 1, 'contributor', 'default')"
-        )
-
-
-def test_stars_unique_now_scoped_by_project():
-    conn = _fresh_db()
-    _seed_two_projects(conn)
-    conn.execute("INSERT INTO users (id, gitea_login, display_name, role) VALUES (1, 'a', 'A', 'contributor')")
-    # Same (user, slug) under two projects coexist; a duplicate within one rejects.
-    conn.execute("INSERT INTO stars (user_id, rfc_slug, project_id) VALUES (1, 'intro', 'default')")
-    conn.execute("INSERT INTO stars (user_id, rfc_slug, project_id) VALUES (1, 'intro', 'ecomm')")
-    with pytest.raises(sqlite3.IntegrityError):
-        conn.execute("INSERT INTO stars (user_id, rfc_slug, project_id) VALUES (1, 'intro', 'default')")
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_multi_project_authz_vertical.py b/backend/tests/test_multi_project_authz_vertical.py
index 890f496..6631192 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_multi_project_authz_vertical.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_multi_project_authz_vertical.py
@@ -64,39 +64,55 @@ def _set_visibility(project_id: str, visibility: str) -> None:
     )
 
 
-def _add_member(project_id: str, user_id: int, role: str) -> None:
-    from app import db
+# §22 three-tier (§B.3): M2's three project roles collapse to {owner,
+# contributor} in the unified `memberships` table at the project's default
+# collection. The read-only `viewer` tier is deferred (folded into contributor
+# for this pass), so the legacy role names map: admin→owner, contributor and
+# viewer→contributor.
+_ROLE_MAP = {
+    "project_admin": "owner",
+    "project_contributor": "contributor",
+    "project_viewer": "contributor",
+}
 
+
+def _add_member(project_id: str, user_id: int, role: str) -> None:
+    from app import collections as collections_mod, db
+
+    cid = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
     db.conn().execute(
-        "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO project_members (project_id, user_id, role) VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
-        (project_id, user_id, role),
+        "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO memberships (scope_type, scope_id, user_id, role) "
+        "VALUES ('collection', ?, ?, ?)",
+        (cid, user_id, _ROLE_MAP[role]),
     )
 
 
 def _remove_member(project_id: str, user_id: int) -> None:
-    from app import db
+    from app import collections as collections_mod, db
 
+    cid = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
     db.conn().execute(
-        "DELETE FROM project_members WHERE project_id = ? AND user_id = ?",
-        (project_id, user_id),
+        "DELETE FROM memberships WHERE scope_type = 'collection' AND scope_id = ? AND user_id = ?",
+        (cid, user_id),
     )
 
 
 def _seed_rfc(slug: str, *, state: str = "active", owners=None, project_id: str = "default") -> None:
     """A minimal cached_rfcs row — enough for the authz gates (state, owners,
-    project_id). project_id defaults to 'default' via migration 026 but we set
-    it explicitly for clarity."""
+    collection grain). The entry lands in the project's default collection
+    (id == project_id for the single 'default' project under test)."""
     import json
 
-    from app import db
+    from app import collections as collections_mod, db
 
+    cid = collections_mod.default_collection_id(project_id)
     db.conn().execute(
         """
         INSERT OR REPLACE INTO cached_rfcs
-            (slug, title, state, owners_json, arbiters_json, tags_json, project_id)
+            (slug, title, state, owners_json, arbiters_json, tags_json, collection_id)
         VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, '[]', '[]', ?)
         """,
-        (slug, slug.capitalize(), state, json.dumps(owners or []), project_id),
+        (slug, slug.capitalize(), state, json.dumps(owners or []), cid),
     )
 
 
@@ -154,18 +170,16 @@ def test_resolver_gated_project_requires_membership(app_with_fake_gitea):
         assert auth.can_read_project(owner, "default") is True
         assert auth.is_project_superuser(owner, "default") is True
 
-        # project_viewer → read + discuss, but not contribute.
-        _add_member("default", 1, "project_viewer")
+        # §22 three-tier (§B.3): the read-only viewer tier is deferred — the
+        # smallest grant is `contributor`, which grants read + discuss +
+        # contribute across the subtree.
+        _add_member("default", 1, "project_contributor")
         assert auth.can_read_project(contributor, "default") is True
         assert auth.can_discuss_in_project(contributor, "default") is True
-        assert auth.can_contribute_in_project(contributor, "default") is False
-
-        # project_contributor → contribute.
-        _add_member("default", 1, "project_contributor")
         assert auth.can_contribute_in_project(contributor, "default") is True
         assert auth.is_project_superuser(contributor, "default") is False
 
-        # project_admin → superuser within the project.
+        # project_admin → owner → superuser within the project.
         _add_member("default", 1, "project_admin")
         assert auth.is_project_superuser(contributor, "default") is True
 
@@ -270,7 +284,7 @@ def test_gated_propose_requires_project_contributor(app_with_fake_gitea):
         assert client.post("/api/rfcs/propose", json=body).status_code != 403
 
 
-def test_gated_viewer_can_discuss_contributor_can_contribute(app_with_fake_gitea):
+def test_gated_member_can_discuss_and_contribute(app_with_fake_gitea):
     from app import auth
 
     app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
@@ -285,14 +299,11 @@ def test_gated_viewer_can_discuss_contributor_can_contribute(app_with_fake_gitea
         sign_in_as(client, user_id=2, gitea_login="bob", display_name="Bob", role="contributor")
         assert client.post("/api/rfcs/spec/discussion/threads", json={"message": "q"}).status_code == 404
 
-        # project_viewer: can discuss (200) but cannot contribute (resolver).
-        _add_member("default", 2, "project_viewer")
+        # §22 three-tier (§B.3): a `contributor` member can both discuss and
+        # contribute (the viewer-only read tier is deferred this pass).
+        _add_member("default", 2, "project_contributor")
         r = client.post("/api/rfcs/spec/discussion/threads", json={"message": "q"})
         assert r.status_code == 200, r.text
-        assert auth.can_contribute_to_rfc(bob, "spec") is False
-
-        # project_contributor: can contribute.
-        _add_member("default", 2, "project_contributor")
         assert auth.can_contribute_to_rfc(bob, "spec") is True
 
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_multi_project_spine_vertical.py b/backend/tests/test_multi_project_spine_vertical.py
index 35ce1dd..2ab404d 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_multi_project_spine_vertical.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_multi_project_spine_vertical.py
@@ -16,14 +16,18 @@ from test_propose_vertical import (  # noqa: F401
     tmp_env,
 )
 
-# The 19 tables migration 026 threads project_id onto (docs/design/
-# multi-project-spec.md §5 amendment list).
-SLUG_TABLES = [
-    "cached_rfcs", "cached_branches", "cached_prs", "branch_visibility",
-    "branch_contribute_grants", "stars", "threads", "changes", "pr_seen",
-    "branch_chat_seen", "watches", "notifications", "actions",
-    "pr_resolution_branches", "funder_consents", "rfc_invitations",
-    "rfc_collaborators", "proposed_use_cases", "contribution_requests",
+# §22 three-tier (migration 029): the entry-corpus grain is the collection, so
+# the 13 tables migration 028 keyed by project_id re-key to collection_id. The
+# remaining tables 026 tagged keep their denormalised project_id (project grain).
+COLLECTION_TABLES = [
+    "cached_rfcs", "cached_branches", "branch_visibility",
+    "branch_contribute_grants", "stars", "pr_seen", "branch_chat_seen",
+    "watches", "funder_consents", "rfc_invitations", "rfc_collaborators",
+    "proposed_use_cases", "contribution_requests",
+]
+PROJECT_TAG_TABLES = [
+    "cached_prs", "threads", "changes", "notifications", "actions",
+    "pr_resolution_branches",
 ]
 
 
@@ -45,25 +49,28 @@ def test_default_project_seeded_and_backfilled(app_with_fake_gitea):
         assert row["content_repo"] == "meta"
 
 
-def test_project_id_on_every_slug_table(app_with_fake_gitea):
+def test_grain_columns_on_every_slug_table(app_with_fake_gitea):
     from app import db
 
     app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
     with TestClient(app):
-        for table in SLUG_TABLES:
-            cols = {r["name"]: r for r in db.conn().execute(
-                f"PRAGMA table_info({table})"
-            )}
-            assert "project_id" in cols, f"{table} missing project_id"
-            col = cols["project_id"]
-            # NOT NULL with the constant 'default' backfill default.
-            assert col["notnull"] == 1, f"{table}.project_id should be NOT NULL"
-            assert col["dflt_value"] == "'default'", f"{table}.project_id default"
+        # The entry-corpus tables key on collection_id (NOT NULL, 'default').
+        for table in COLLECTION_TABLES:
+            cols = {r["name"]: r for r in db.conn().execute(f"PRAGMA table_info({table})")}
+            assert "collection_id" in cols, f"{table} missing collection_id"
+            assert "project_id" not in cols, f"{table} should no longer have project_id"
+            col = cols["collection_id"]
+            assert col["notnull"] == 1, f"{table}.collection_id should be NOT NULL"
+            assert col["dflt_value"] == "'default'", f"{table}.collection_id default"
+        # The project-tag tables keep their denormalised project_id.
+        for table in PROJECT_TAG_TABLES:
+            cols = {r["name"] for r in db.conn().execute(f"PRAGMA table_info({table})")}
+            assert "project_id" in cols, f"{table} missing project_id tag"
 
 
 def test_existing_row_backfills_to_default(app_with_fake_gitea):
-    """A row inserted the old way (no project_id) lands in the default
-    project — the trick that keeps every pre-multi-project INSERT working."""
+    """A row inserted the old way (no collection grain) lands in the default
+    collection — the trick that keeps every pre-three-tier INSERT working."""
     from app import db
 
     app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
@@ -73,35 +80,36 @@ def test_existing_row_backfills_to_default(app_with_fake_gitea):
             ("human", "Human", "active"),
         )
         got = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = 'human'"
-        ).fetchone()["project_id"]
+            "SELECT collection_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug = 'human'"
+        ).fetchone()["collection_id"]
         assert got == "default"
 
 
-def test_project_members_table_shape(app_with_fake_gitea):
+def test_memberships_table_shape(app_with_fake_gitea):
     from app import db
 
     app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
     with TestClient(app):
-        cols = {r["name"] for r in db.conn().execute(
-            "PRAGMA table_info(project_members)"
-        )}
-        assert cols == {"project_id", "user_id", "role", "granted_by", "granted_at"}
-        # The role CHECK rejects an unknown role.
+        # §22 three-tier: project_members generalised into memberships.
+        assert db.conn().execute(
+            "SELECT name FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND name='project_members'"
+        ).fetchone() is None
+        cols = {r["name"] for r in db.conn().execute("PRAGMA table_info(memberships)")}
+        assert {"scope_type", "scope_id", "user_id", "role", "granted_by", "granted_at"} <= cols
         db.conn().execute(
             "INSERT INTO users (id, display_name, role) VALUES (1, 'Ben', 'owner')"
         )
         db.conn().execute(
-            "INSERT INTO project_members (project_id, user_id, role) "
-            "VALUES ('default', 1, 'project_admin')"
+            "INSERT INTO memberships (scope_type, scope_id, user_id, role) "
+            "VALUES ('collection', 'default', 1, 'owner')"
         )
         import sqlite3
         try:
             db.conn().execute(
-                "INSERT INTO project_members (project_id, user_id, role) "
-                "VALUES ('default', 1, 'nonsense')"
+                "INSERT INTO memberships (scope_type, scope_id, user_id, role) "
+                "VALUES ('collection', 'default', 1, 'nonsense')"
             )
-            assert False, "CHECK should reject an unknown project role"
+            assert False, "CHECK should reject an unknown role"
         except sqlite3.IntegrityError:
             pass
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_project_scoped_propose.py b/backend/tests/test_project_scoped_propose.py
index 251984c..7cabaf7 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_project_scoped_propose.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_project_scoped_propose.py
@@ -13,8 +13,12 @@ from test_propose_vertical import (  # noqa: F401
 def _register_ecomm(fake):
     from app import db
     db.conn().execute(
-        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id, name, type, content_repo, visibility, initial_state) "
-        "VALUES ('ecomm', 'Ecomm', 'document', 'ecomm-content', 'public', 'super-draft')"
+        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id, name, content_repo, visibility) "
+        "VALUES ('ecomm', 'Ecomm', 'ecomm-content', 'public')"
+    )
+    db.conn().execute(
+        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO collections (id, project_id, type, subfolder, initial_state, visibility, name) "
+        "VALUES ('ecomm', 'ecomm', 'document', '', 'super-draft', 'public', 'Ecomm')"
     )
     fake._seed_repo("wiggleverse", "ecomm-content")
 
@@ -52,8 +56,12 @@ def test_propose_into_gated_project_404s_for_non_member(app_with_fake_gitea):
     from app import db
     with TestClient(app) as client:
         db.conn().execute(
-            "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id, name, type, content_repo, visibility, initial_state) "
-            "VALUES ('secret', 'Secret', 'document', 'secret-content', 'gated', 'super-draft')"
+            "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id, name, content_repo, visibility) "
+            "VALUES ('secret', 'Secret', 'secret-content', 'gated')"
+        )
+        db.conn().execute(
+            "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO collections (id, project_id, type, subfolder, initial_state, visibility, name) "
+            "VALUES ('secret', 'secret', 'document', '', 'super-draft', 'gated', 'Secret')"
         )
         provision_user_row(user_id=4, login="bob", role="contributor")
         sign_in_as(client, user_id=4, gitea_login="bob", display_name="Bob",
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_project_scoped_serving.py b/backend/tests/test_project_scoped_serving.py
index a455ed1..785daf4 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_project_scoped_serving.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_project_scoped_serving.py
@@ -11,18 +11,25 @@ from test_propose_vertical import (  # noqa: F401
 
 
 def _add_project(pid, name, vis="public"):
+    # §22 three-tier: a project + its default collection (keyed by the project
+    # id in tests, so default_collection_id(pid) == pid).
     from app import db
     db.conn().execute(
-        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id, name, type, content_repo, visibility, initial_state) "
-        "VALUES (?, ?, 'document', ?, ?, 'super-draft')",
+        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id, name, content_repo, visibility) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)",
         (pid, name, pid + "-content", vis),
     )
+    db.conn().execute(
+        "INSERT OR IGNORE INTO collections (id, project_id, type, subfolder, initial_state, visibility, name) "
+        "VALUES (?, ?, 'document', '', 'super-draft', ?, ?)",
+        (pid, pid, vis, name),
+    )
 
 
 def _add_rfc(slug, title, pid, state="active"):
     from app import db
+    # entries key by the project's default collection (id == pid in these tests)
     db.conn().execute(
-        "INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug, title, state, project_id) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)",
+        "INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug, title, state, collection_id) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)",
         (slug, title, state, pid),
     )
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_registry.py b/backend/tests/test_registry.py
index 68e0022..c4a39cb 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_registry.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_registry.py
@@ -74,13 +74,20 @@ def test_parse_rejects_invalid(bad, msg):
 def test_apply_upserts_projects_and_deployment():
     _db()
     doc = registry.parse_registry(VALID)
-    registry.apply_registry(doc, registry_sha="regsha1")
+    registry.apply_registry(doc, registry_sha="regsha1", default_id="default")
+    # §22 three-tier: the project carries the grouping-tier fields; the
+    # per-corpus type/initial_state live on its default collection.
     prow = db.conn().execute(
-        "SELECT name, type, content_repo, visibility, initial_state, registry_sha FROM projects WHERE id='default'"
+        "SELECT name, content_repo, visibility, registry_sha FROM projects WHERE id='default'"
     ).fetchone()
     assert prow["name"] == "Open Human Model"
     assert prow["content_repo"] == "meta"
     assert prow["registry_sha"] == "regsha1"
+    crow = db.conn().execute(
+        "SELECT type, initial_state FROM collections WHERE id='default'"
+    ).fetchone()
+    assert crow["type"] == "document"
+    assert crow["initial_state"] == "super-draft"
     drow = db.conn().execute("SELECT name, tagline FROM deployment WHERE id=1").fetchone()
     assert drow["name"] == "Open Human Model"
     assert drow["tagline"] == "A model of human flourishing"
@@ -88,11 +95,12 @@ def test_apply_upserts_projects_and_deployment():
 
 def test_apply_rejects_type_change_on_existing_project():
     _db()
-    registry.apply_registry(registry.parse_registry(VALID), "s1")
+    registry.apply_registry(registry.parse_registry(VALID), "s1", default_id="default")
     changed = VALID.replace("type: document", "type: specification")
-    registry.apply_registry(registry.parse_registry(changed), "s2")  # logged + skipped, no raise
-    t = db.conn().execute("SELECT type FROM projects WHERE id='default'").fetchone()["type"]
+    registry.apply_registry(registry.parse_registry(changed), "s2", default_id="default")  # skipped
+    # §22.4a immutable type — now enforced on the collection.
+    t = db.conn().execute("SELECT type FROM collections WHERE id='default'").fetchone()["type"]
     assert t == "document"  # immutable — unchanged
-    # The deployment row IS still advanced even though the project upsert was skipped.
+    # The deployment row IS still advanced even though the type change was skipped.
     drow = db.conn().execute("SELECT registry_sha FROM deployment WHERE id=1").fetchone()
     assert drow["registry_sha"] == "s2"
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_registry_wiring.py b/backend/tests/test_registry_wiring.py
index dedb7cd..4e15ddd 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_registry_wiring.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_registry_wiring.py
@@ -12,10 +12,14 @@ def test_startup_mirrors_registry_into_projects_and_deployment(app_with_fake_git
     app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
     with TestClient(app):
         prow = db.conn().execute(
-            "SELECT content_repo, type, initial_state FROM projects WHERE id='default'"
+            "SELECT content_repo FROM projects WHERE id='default'"
         ).fetchone()
         assert prow["content_repo"] == "meta"   # from the registry, not META_REPO
-        assert prow["type"] == "document"
+        # §22 three-tier: type now lives on the default collection.
+        crow = db.conn().execute(
+            "SELECT type FROM collections WHERE id='default'"
+        ).fetchone()
+        assert crow["type"] == "document"
         drow = db.conn().execute("SELECT name FROM deployment WHERE id=1").fetchone()
         assert drow["name"]  # deployment name mirrored from the registry
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_restamp_default_project.py b/backend/tests/test_restamp_default_project.py
index 9b3c69c..c955097 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_restamp_default_project.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_restamp_default_project.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 """§22.13 step 1 — the bootstrap-id re-stamp: 'default' → the configured
-DEFAULT_PROJECT_ID across every project-scoped table, with the composite FKs
-kept intact and the stale 'default' projects row dropped. Idempotent."""
+DEFAULT_PROJECT_ID. §22 three-tier (S1): the entry-corpus tables key on
+collection_id now, so the re-stamp renames the *project grain* — the
+`collections.project_id` link and the denormalised project_id tags — while the
+entries stay in their collection. The stale 'default' projects row is dropped,
+the composite FKs stay intact, and it is idempotent."""
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import tempfile
@@ -19,30 +22,31 @@ class _Cfg:
 def _setup(monkeypatch, default_id="ohm"):
     path = str(Path(tempfile.mkdtemp()) / "t.db")
     cfg = _Cfg(path, default_id)
-    db.run_migrations(cfg)
+    db.run_migrations(cfg)  # seeds the bootstrap 'default' project + its default collection
     monkeypatch.setattr(db, "_CONN", db.connect(path))
     conn = db.conn()
-    # M1 bootstrap row + a registry-mirrored 'ohm' row coexist pre-restamp.
-    conn.execute("INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id,name,type,content_repo,visibility,initial_state) "
-                 "VALUES ('default','Bootstrap','document','ohm-content','public','super-draft')")
-    conn.execute("INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id,name,type,content_repo,visibility,initial_state) "
-                 "VALUES ('ohm','Open Human Model','document','ohm-content','public','super-draft')")
+    # A registry-mirrored 'ohm' project coexists with the bootstrap pre-restamp.
+    conn.execute("INSERT OR IGNORE INTO projects (id,name,content_repo,visibility) "
+                 "VALUES ('ohm','Open Human Model','ohm-content','public')")
     conn.execute("INSERT INTO users (id,gitea_login,display_name,role) VALUES (1,'a','A','contributor')")
-    # default-stamped data with a composite-FK child
-    conn.execute("INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug,title,state,project_id) VALUES ('human','Human','active','default')")
-    conn.execute("INSERT INTO rfc_collaborators (rfc_slug,user_id,role_in_rfc,project_id) "
+    # Entry data lives in the default collection (id='default'); the entry grain
+    # is the collection and does not move on a re-stamp.
+    conn.execute("INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug,title,state,collection_id) VALUES ('human','Human','active','default')")
+    conn.execute("INSERT INTO rfc_collaborators (rfc_slug,user_id,role_in_rfc,collection_id) "
                  "VALUES ('human',1,'contributor','default')")
-    conn.execute("INSERT INTO stars (user_id,rfc_slug,project_id) VALUES (1,'human','default')")
+    conn.execute("INSERT INTO stars (user_id,rfc_slug,collection_id) VALUES (1,'human','default')")
     return cfg, conn
 
 
-def test_restamp_moves_data_and_drops_bootstrap_row(monkeypatch):
+def test_restamp_moves_project_grain_and_drops_bootstrap_row(monkeypatch):
     cfg, conn = _setup(monkeypatch, default_id="ohm")
     projects.restamp_default_project(cfg)
-    assert conn.execute("SELECT COUNT(*) c FROM cached_rfcs WHERE project_id='default'").fetchone()["c"] == 0
-    assert conn.execute("SELECT project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug='human'").fetchone()["project_id"] == "ohm"
-    assert conn.execute("SELECT project_id FROM rfc_collaborators WHERE rfc_slug='human'").fetchone()["project_id"] == "ohm"
-    assert conn.execute("SELECT project_id FROM stars WHERE rfc_slug='human'").fetchone()["project_id"] == "ohm"
+    # The project grain (the collection's parent link) re-stamps to 'ohm'.
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT COUNT(*) c FROM collections WHERE project_id='default'").fetchone()["c"] == 0
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT project_id FROM collections WHERE id='default'").fetchone()["project_id"] == "ohm"
+    # Entries stay in their collection — the collection_id is unchanged.
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT collection_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug='human'").fetchone()["collection_id"] == "default"
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT collection_id FROM rfc_collaborators WHERE rfc_slug='human'").fetchone()["collection_id"] == "default"
     # stale bootstrap projects row removed; 'ohm' remains
     assert conn.execute("SELECT 1 FROM projects WHERE id='default'").fetchone() is None
     assert conn.execute("SELECT 1 FROM projects WHERE id='ohm'").fetchone() is not None
@@ -53,12 +57,13 @@ def test_restamp_moves_data_and_drops_bootstrap_row(monkeypatch):
 def test_restamp_is_idempotent(monkeypatch):
     cfg, conn = _setup(monkeypatch, default_id="ohm")
     projects.restamp_default_project(cfg)
-    projects.restamp_default_project(cfg)  # second call: no rows left → no-op
-    assert conn.execute("SELECT COUNT(*) c FROM cached_rfcs WHERE project_id='ohm'").fetchone()["c"] == 1
+    projects.restamp_default_project(cfg)  # second call: no bootstrap rows left → no-op
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT project_id FROM collections WHERE id='default'").fetchone()["project_id"] == "ohm"
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT COUNT(*) c FROM cached_rfcs WHERE collection_id='default'").fetchone()["c"] == 1
 
 
 def test_restamp_noop_when_default_id_unchanged(monkeypatch):
     cfg, conn = _setup(monkeypatch, default_id="")  # resolves to 'default'
     projects.restamp_default_project(cfg)
-    # nothing renamed; bootstrap data + row still present
-    assert conn.execute("SELECT project_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug='human'").fetchone()["project_id"] == "default"
+    # nothing renamed; the default collection still belongs to the bootstrap project
+    assert conn.execute("SELECT project_id FROM collections WHERE id='default'").fetchone()["project_id"] == "default"
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_s1_collection_grain_vertical.py b/backend/tests/test_s1_collection_grain_vertical.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24a5936
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/test_s1_collection_grain_vertical.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+"""@S1 acceptance — the collection grain exists (invisible default) and N=1 is
+unchanged.
+
+Part C scenarios C3.7 (single-collection project skips the directory) and C3.8
+(single-project deployment skips the directory) are the client-side redirect
+contract asserted in the frontend; this module asserts the backend N=1
+invariants behind the slice: every entry keys on a real collection_id, the
+shipped project-scoped serving still resolves through the default collection,
+and the legacy /rfc/<slug> URL 308-redirects through /c/<default>/.
+
+Binding: docs/design/2026-06-05-three-tier-projects-collections.md §A.6 / Part E.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+from test_propose_vertical import (  # noqa: F401
+    app_with_fake_gitea, tmp_env, provision_user_row, sign_in_as,
+)
+
+
+def _seed_entry(slug, title, collection_id="default", state="active"):
+    from app import db
+    db.conn().execute(
+        "INSERT INTO cached_rfcs (slug, title, state, collection_id) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)",
+        (slug, title, state, collection_id),
+    )
+
+
+def test_s1_migration_seeds_one_default_collection_for_the_default_project(app_with_fake_gitea):
+    from app import db
+    app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
+    with TestClient(app):
+        row = db.conn().execute(
+            "SELECT id FROM collections WHERE project_id = 'default'"
+        ).fetchall()
+        assert len(row) == 1
+        assert row[0]["id"] == "default"
+
+
+def test_s1_entry_served_under_default_collection(app_with_fake_gitea):
+    """N=1 unchanged: an entry is keyed by collection_id under the hood and the
+    shipped project-scoped serving endpoint still resolves it."""
+    from app import db
+    app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
+    with TestClient(app) as client:
+        _seed_entry("human", "Human")
+        # the row carries a real collection grain (the default collection)
+        cid = db.conn().execute(
+            "SELECT collection_id FROM cached_rfcs WHERE slug='human'"
+        ).fetchone()["collection_id"]
+        assert cid == "default"
+        # project-scoped serving (collection = default) still returns it
+        r = client.get("/api/projects/default/rfcs/human")
+        assert r.status_code == 200, r.text
+        assert r.json()["slug"] == "human"
+        # and it appears in the project catalog
+        slugs = [i["slug"] for i in client.get("/api/projects/default/rfcs").json()["items"]]
+        assert "human" in slugs
+
+
+def test_s1_legacy_rfc_url_redirects_through_collection(app_with_fake_gitea):
+    """The shipped /rfc/<slug> now 308s through the default collection segment."""
+    app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
+    with TestClient(app) as client:
+        r = client.get("/rfc/human", follow_redirects=False)
+        assert r.status_code == 308
+        assert r.headers["location"] == "/p/default/c/default/e/human"
+
+
+def test_s1_deployment_reports_single_project(app_with_fake_gitea):
+    """C3.8 precondition: the N=1 deployment reports exactly one visible project
+    and its default id (the frontend uses this to skip the directory)."""
+    app, _ = app_with_fake_gitea
+    with TestClient(app) as client:
+        body = client.get("/api/deployment").json()
+        assert body["default_project_id"] == "default"
+        assert [p["id"] for p in body["projects"]] == ["default"]