diff --git a/SESSION_FOCUS.md b/SESSION_FOCUS.md
index 0135307f..457a5105 100644
--- a/SESSION_FOCUS.md
+++ b/SESSION_FOCUS.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 *Current sprint, SDK status, and active work. Updated by operator and autonomous sessions.*
 
-*Last updated: 2026-05-14 (Sprint 52)*
+*Last updated: 2026-05-15 (Sprint 53)*
 
 ---
 
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@
 
 **See `docs/SPRINT.md` for full sprint plan and task details.** Do not duplicate sprint content here — SPRINT.md is the source of truth for task scope, status, and dependencies.
 
+### Sprint 53 Summary: SDK v0.27.0 Release Housekeeping (COMPLETE)
+
+| Task | Status | Notes |
+|------|--------|-------|
+| T1: v0.27.0 release housekeeping | DONE | Version bump 0.26.0->0.27.0. CHANGELOG for Sprints 41-42, 50-52. Added missing `validate_minimum_viable` export + `role` module to CLI info/selftest (was 22, now 23 modules). Updated README, quickstart, test assertions. 0 new files. 369 exports. 2709 tests. |
+
 ### Sprint 52 Summary: Conformance Test Vector Runner (COMPLETE)
 
 | Task | Status | Notes |
@@ -206,11 +212,11 @@ See `docs/SPRINT.md` for full history. Highlights: JSON-LD serialization for all
 
 ## SDK Status
 
-- **Version**: 0.26.0
+- **Version**: 0.27.0
 - **Modules**: 23 library modules + MCP server entry point (trust, lct, atp, federation, r6, mrh, acp, dictionary, entity, capability, errors, metabolic, binding, society, role, reputation, security, protocol, mcp, attestation, validation, deserialize, generate, mcp_server)
 - **Tests**: 2709 total (2701 passing, 8 xfailed conformance gaps)
 - **CLI**: `web4 info/validate/list-schemas/roundtrip/generate/selftest/trust` (7 subcommands)
-- **Exports**: 368 symbols via `web4/__init__.py`
+- **Exports**: 369 symbols via `web4/__init__.py`
 - **from_dict()**: 58 classmethods across 10 modules — all classes with to_dict()/as_dict() have matching from_dict()
 - **Dispatcher**: 23 types via `web4.from_jsonld()` (19 class-based + 3 function-based + TrustQuery)
 - **Generator**: 23 types via `web4.generate()` — minimal valid JSON-LD documents
@@ -284,7 +290,7 @@ Sprint 50 T1 PR pending.
 
 ## Completeness Summary
 
-- All 52 sprints COMPLETE (Sprints 1-52, all merged or PR pending)
+- All 53 sprints COMPLETE (Sprints 1-53, all merged or PR pending)
 - All 9 JSON-LD schemas with cross-language validation vectors (278 total, in pytest)
 - All `to_jsonld()` functions have `from_jsonld()` inverses (API symmetry complete)
 - All `to_dict()`/`as_dict()` methods have `from_dict()` inverses (58 round-trip methods total)
@@ -320,4 +326,4 @@ Sprint 50 T1 PR pending.
 
 ---
 
-*Updated by autonomous session, 2026-05-14 (Sprint 52 — conformance test vector runner)*
+*Updated by autonomous session, 2026-05-15 (Sprint 53 — SDK v0.27.0 release housekeeping)*
diff --git a/docs/SPRINT.md b/docs/SPRINT.md
index 33c4cfb1..916ca89f 100644
--- a/docs/SPRINT.md
+++ b/docs/SPRINT.md
@@ -1,12 +1,45 @@
 # Web4 Sprint Plan
 
 **Created**: 2026-03-14
-**Updated**: 2026-05-14 (Sprint 52)
+**Updated**: 2026-05-15 (Sprint 53)
 **Phase**: Development
 **Track**: web4 (Legion)
 
 ---
 
+## Sprint 53: SDK v0.27.0 Release Housekeeping (2026-05-15)
+
+Version bump and documentation update consolidating Sprints 41-42 and 50-52
+into a coherent release marker. Covers the Society Roles module (Sprint 50),
+Constraint alignment (Sprint 51), conformance test runner (Sprint 52),
+dead code removal (Sprint 41), and CI quickstart smoke (Sprint 42).
+
+### T1: v0.27.0 release housekeeping
+**Status**: DONE
+**Completed**: 2026-05-15
+**Authorized by**: Established release housekeeping pattern (Sprints 21, 23,
+26, 31, 33, 34, 39). Policy-reviewed and approved.
+**Scope**:
+1. Version bump 0.26.0 -> 0.27.0 in `pyproject.toml`.
+2. CHANGELOG entry for v0.27.0 covering Sprints 41-42, 50-52.
+3. `__init__.py` docstring: corrected stale counters (tests 2668->2709),
+   added v0.27.0 version note, added missing `validate_minimum_viable` export.
+4. `__main__.py`: added `role` to both `_cmd_info` and `_SELFTEST_MODULES`
+   module lists (was 22, now 23 — Sprint 50 added `web4/role.py` but the
+   CLI lists were not updated).
+5. README: version, module count (22->23), export count (364->369), test
+   count (2613->2709), added `role` row to module table, project structure
+   section updated.
+6. `examples/quickstart.py`: docstring version.
+7. Test assertions: version strings in `test_cli.py` and `test_package_api.py`,
+   module count assertions (22->23).
+8. `docs/SPRINT.md` and `SESSION_FOCUS.md` updated.
+
+**Result**: 0 new files, 0 new exports beyond the missing `validate_minimum_viable`
+(369 total). All version references consistent. CLI now reports 23 modules.
+
+---
+
 ## Sprint 52: Conformance Test Vector Runner (2026-05-14)
 
 Wires the operator-created conformance test vectors (`web4-standard/testing/
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/CHANGELOG.md b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/CHANGELOG.md
index e3593fdb..dbac3be5 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,41 @@
 
 All notable changes to the Web4 Python SDK.
 
+## [0.27.0] - 2026-05-15
+
+Sprints 41-42, 50-52: Society roles, constraint alignment, conformance test runner, cleanup.
+
+### Added
+- **Society Roles module** (Sprint 50 T1, PR #185) — new `web4/role.py` module (23rd SDK
+  module). `SocietyRole` enum (7 base-mandatory + 2 context-mandatory roles), `RoleAssignment`
+  dataclass (role-LCT binding, T3/V3 per role, rotation, multi-holder support),
+  `bootstrap_society_roles()` (solo-founder genesis per inter-society-protocol.md §2.1).
+  4 new exports (368 total at time of merge). 43 new tests.
+- **`validate_minimum_viable()` function** (Sprint 51 T1, PR #187) — validates society
+  role assignments against inter-society-protocol.md §6.2 requirements: base-mandatory
+  completeness, internal differentiation (>=2 fillers when operational), witnessing
+  capacity (Witness or Auditor). Cross-language parity with Rust
+  `Society::validate_minimum_viable()`. 1 new export.
+- **Conformance test runner** (Sprint 52 T1, PR #189) — `tests/test_conformance.py`
+  exercising 35 operator-created cross-language conformance vectors from 4 suites:
+  tensor ops (8), ATP (11), R6/R7 (8), society/roles (8). 39 new tests (31 pass,
+  8 xfailed conformance gaps documenting genuine cross-language divergences).
+- **CI quickstart smoke** (Sprint 42 T1) — `examples/quickstart.py` now runs in the
+  CI `wheel` job against the installed wheel. API breakage in the quickstart fails CI.
+
+### Changed
+- **`Constraint` dataclass aligned with Rust** (Sprint 51 T1, PR #187) — `value: Any`
+  replaced with `threshold: float` + `hard: bool = True`. Updated serialization,
+  JSON schemas, and test vectors. Cross-language parity with Rust `Constraint`.
+- **`role` module added to CLI `info` and `selftest`** — `web4 info` now reports 23
+  modules (was 22). `web4 selftest` now verifies `web4.role` import.
+- Version bumped from 0.26.0 to 0.27.0.
+- 2709 tests (2701 passed, 8 xfailed). 369 exports. 23 modules + MCP server.
+
+### Removed
+- **Dead `web4_sdk.py` removed** (Sprint 41 T1) — async HTTP client for nonexistent
+  services, not distributed in wheel. Deleted along with its 14 tests.
+
 ## [0.26.0] - 2026-04-17
 
 Sprints 35, 37, 38: CI quality gate hardening — strict mypy, ruff lint, ruff format.
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/README.md b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/README.md
index 5d4adc3c..e91092d3 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/README.md
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ specified in the [web4-standard](https://github.com/dp-web4/web4) and works with
 network services — no async, no HTTP, no external dependencies beyond the Python
 standard library.
 
-**Version**: 0.26.0 | **Python**: 3.10+ | **License**: AGPL-3.0-or-later | **Typed**: PEP 561
+**Version**: 0.27.0 | **Python**: 3.10+ | **License**: AGPL-3.0-or-later | **Typed**: PEP 561
 
 ## Installation
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ assert reconstructed.talent == trust.talent
 
 ## Modules
 
-The SDK contains 22 modules, all importable from the `web4` namespace:
+The SDK contains 23 modules, all importable from the `web4` namespace:
 
 | Module | Description | Key Types |
 |--------|-------------|-----------|
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ The SDK contains 22 modules, all importable from the `web4` namespace:
 | `metabolic` | Society operational modes and energy effects | `MetabolicState`, `MetabolicProfile` |
 | `binding` | Multi-device constellation management | `DeviceConstellation`, `DeviceRecord` |
 | `society` | Core organizational primitive | `SocietyState`, `Treasury`, `SocietyLedger` |
+| `role` | Society role taxonomy and role-LCT binding | `SocietyRole`, `RoleAssignment`, `bootstrap_society_roles` |
 | `security` | Crypto suites, W4ID identifiers, key policies | `W4ID`, `CryptoSuite`, `SignatureEnvelope` |
 | `protocol` | Handshake, transport, discovery, Web4 URIs | `Web4URI`, `Transport`, `ClientHello` |
 | `mcp` | MCP context headers, sessions, ATP metering | `MCPSession`, `Web4Context` |
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ The SDK contains 22 modules, all importable from the `web4` namespace:
 | `deserialize` | Generic JSON-LD deserialization dispatcher | `from_jsonld`, `from_jsonld_string`, `supported_types` |
 | `generate` | Produce minimal valid JSON-LD documents | `generate`, `generate_string`, `available_types` |
 
-364 symbols are exported from `web4.__init__`. All 22 submodules have `__all__` declarations.
+369 symbols are exported from `web4.__init__`. All 23 submodules have `__all__` declarations.
 
 ## MCP Server
 
@@ -185,13 +186,13 @@ python -m pytest tests/ --cov=web4
 mypy --strict web4/
 ```
 
-2613 tests, 97.8% coverage, mypy strict zero-error, CI across Python 3.10-3.13.
+2709 tests, 97.8% coverage, mypy strict zero-error, CI across Python 3.10-3.13.
 
 ## Project Structure
 
 ```
-web4/                  # Python package (22 modules + MCP server)
-  __init__.py          # 364 re-exports
+web4/                  # Python package (23 modules + MCP server)
+  __init__.py          # 369 re-exports
   __main__.py          # CLI entry point (web4 info/validate/list-schemas/roundtrip/generate/selftest/trust)
   mcp_server.py        # MCP server entry point (web4-mcp)
   py.typed             # PEP 561 marker
@@ -200,8 +201,8 @@ web4/                  # Python package (22 modules + MCP server)
   deserialize.py       # Generic JSON-LD dispatcher (23 types)
   generate.py          # Minimal valid JSON-LD document generation
   validation.py        # Schema validation
-  ...                  # (17 more modules)
-tests/                 # 2613 tests
+  ...                  # (18 more modules)
+tests/                 # 2709 tests
 schemas/               # JSON Schemas + JSON-LD contexts
 pyproject.toml         # Package metadata (single version source)
 ```
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/examples/quickstart.py b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/examples/quickstart.py
index da97ce1a..4b548263 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/examples/quickstart.py
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/examples/quickstart.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Quickstart for the web4 Python SDK v0.26.0.
+"""Quickstart for the web4 Python SDK v0.27.0.
 
 Demonstrates the three behavioral composition points of the current SDK:
 
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/pyproject.toml b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/pyproject.toml
index 7e1f90f4..df1f38eb 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/pyproject.toml
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "web4"
-version = "0.26.0"
+version = "0.27.0"
 description = "Web4 SDK — trust tensors, LCTs, ATP/ADP, federation (SAL), R7 actions, MRH, ACP, security, protocol types"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_cli.py b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_cli.py
index 1604b4df..b8477ded 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ def test_info_shows_version(self, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
         out = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert rc == 0
         assert "web4" in out
-        assert "0.26.0" in out
+        assert "0.27.0" in out
 
     def test_info_shows_module_count(self, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
         rc = main(["info"])
         out = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert rc == 0
-        assert "Modules: 22" in out
+        assert "Modules: 23" in out
 
     def test_info_shows_export_count(self, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
         rc = main(["info"])
@@ -554,14 +554,14 @@ def test_selftest_passes(self, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
         out = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert rc == 0
         assert "OK" in out
-        assert "22 modules" in out
+        assert "23 modules" in out
         assert "23 types roundtripped" in out
 
     def test_selftest_verbose(self, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture[str]) -> None:
         rc = main(["selftest", "--verbose"])
         out = capsys.readouterr().out
         assert rc == 0
-        assert "Modules: 22/22" in out
+        assert "Modules: 23/23" in out
         assert "Schemas:" in out
         assert "Roundtrip: 23/23" in out
         assert "OK" in out
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ def test_no_args(self) -> None:
     def test_info(self) -> None:
         r = _run_cli(["info"])
         assert r.returncode == 0
-        assert "0.26.0" in r.stdout
+        assert "0.27.0" in r.stdout
 
     def test_validate_valid_doc(self) -> None:
         from web4.trust import T3
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_package_api.py b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_package_api.py
index 605bc39a..844f16e9 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_package_api.py
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_package_api.py
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@
 
 class TestPackageVersion:
     def test_version_string(self):
-        assert web4.__version__ == "0.26.0"
+        assert web4.__version__ == "0.27.0"
 
     def test_version_accessible(self):
         from web4 import __version__
 
-        assert __version__ == "0.26.0"
+        assert __version__ == "0.27.0"
 
 
 class TestAllExports:
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_role.py b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_role.py
index 2f67f688..c4add531 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_role.py
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/tests/test_role.py
@@ -498,9 +498,7 @@ def test_context_mandatory_excluded(self) -> None:
 # ── validate_minimum_viable ───────────────────────────────────
 
 
-def _make_assignment(
-    role: SocietyRole, filler: str = "entity-001"
-) -> RoleAssignment:
+def _make_assignment(role: SocietyRole, filler: str = "entity-001") -> RoleAssignment:
     """Helper to create a minimal RoleAssignment for testing."""
     return RoleAssignment(
         role=role,
@@ -528,11 +526,7 @@ def test_empty_roles_fails(self) -> None:
 
     def test_missing_one_base_mandatory(self) -> None:
         """Missing a single base-mandatory role is reported."""
-        roles = [
-            _make_assignment(r)
-            for r in BASE_MANDATORY_ROLES
-            if r != SocietyRole.TREASURER
-        ]
+        roles = [_make_assignment(r) for r in BASE_MANDATORY_ROLES if r != SocietyRole.TREASURER]
         errors = validate_minimum_viable(roles)
         assert len(errors) == 1
         assert "treasurer" in errors[0]
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/__init__.py b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/__init__.py
index 27df6e76..b5f78e6c 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/__init__.py
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/__init__.py
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@
 - Deserialization — generic JSON-LD dispatcher for all Web4 types
 - Generation — produce minimal valid JSON-LD documents for any Web4 type
 
-23 modules + MCP server, 369 exports, 2668 tests, 3 behavioral functions, 8 MCP tools, 7 CLI subcommands.
-v0.26.0: CI quality gates (strict mypy, ruff lint, ruff format) enforced on every PR.
+23 modules + MCP server, 369 exports, 2709 tests, 3 behavioral functions, 8 MCP tools, 7 CLI subcommands.
+v0.27.0: Society roles, Constraint alignment, conformance test runner, validate_minimum_viable.
 These modules define the canonical data types and algorithms specified in the web4-standard.
 They work offline (no network services required) and are designed to be
 imported by applications, services, and other SDKs that build on web4.
@@ -397,6 +397,7 @@
     SocietyRole,
     RoleAssignment,
     bootstrap_society_roles,
+    validate_minimum_viable,
     BASE_MANDATORY_ROLES,
 )
 
@@ -817,6 +818,7 @@
     "SocietyRole",
     "RoleAssignment",
     "bootstrap_society_roles",
+    "validate_minimum_viable",
     "BASE_MANDATORY_ROLES",
     # security
     "CryptoSuiteId",
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/__main__.py b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/__main__.py
index d02eecf8..e097da95 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/__main__.py
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/__main__.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ def _cmd_info(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
         "metabolic",
         "binding",
         "society",
+        "role",
         "reputation",
         "security",
         "protocol",
@@ -266,6 +267,7 @@ def _cmd_generate(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     "metabolic",
     "binding",
     "society",
+    "role",
     "reputation",
     "security",
     "protocol",
diff --git a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/role.py b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/role.py
index e3349139..735bab17 100644
--- a/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/role.py
+++ b/web4-standard/implementation/sdk/web4/role.py
@@ -381,18 +381,12 @@ def validate_minimum_viable(
         # 2. Internal differentiation — at least 2 distinct role-filling entities
         unique_fillers = {ra.filling_entity_lct_id for ra in roles}
         if len(unique_fillers) < 2:
-            errors.append(
-                "Minimum viable society requires at least 2 distinct"
-                " role-filling entities"
-            )
+            errors.append("Minimum viable society requires at least 2 distinct role-filling entities")
 
         # 3. Witnessing capacity — Witness or Auditor role must be assigned
         has_witness = SocietyRole.WITNESS in assigned_roles
         has_auditor = SocietyRole.AUDITOR in assigned_roles
         if not has_witness and not has_auditor:
-            errors.append(
-                "Minimum viable society requires witnessing capacity"
-                " (Witness or Auditor role)"
-            )
+            errors.append("Minimum viable society requires witnessing capacity (Witness or Auditor role)")
 
     return errors