diff --git a/tests/test_pulse_respond.py b/tests/test_pulse_respond.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c940b3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_pulse_respond.py
@@ -0,0 +1,314 @@
+"""Pulseline auto-response gating — severity threshold, quorum, local-only.
+
+The runner here is the live `_run_respond` from pulse.py. We point it at a
+temp DB, monkeypatch federation.is_quorum_met to a controllable function, and
+swap respond.execute_action for a counter so we don't reach the SOAR sink.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import List, Tuple
+
+import pytest
+from sqlalchemy import create_engine
+
+from psyc import db
+from psyc.lines import pulse, respond
+from psyc.lines import federation
+from psyc.models import (
+    ActionStatus,
+    ActionType,
+    Case,
+    Classification,
+    Observables,
+    ResponseAction,
+    Severity,
+    TLP,
+)
+from psyc.result import Ok
+
+from conftest import make_case
+
+
+# ----- fixtures --------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fresh_db(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Temp SQLite + the real runner registry. Mode pinned to auto-execute."""
+    test_db = tmp_path / "respond.db"
+    eng = create_engine(f"sqlite:///{test_db}", future=True)
+    db._metadata.create_all(eng, checkfirst=True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(db, "_engine", eng)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(db, "DB_PATH", test_db)
+    yield test_db
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fired(monkeypatch):
+    """Capture every execute_action(action_id, approver=...) — no SOAR sink call."""
+    log: List[Tuple[int, str]] = []
+
+    def fake_execute(action_id: int, approver: str = "operator"):
+        log.append((action_id, approver))
+        # Re-read the action so we can return a realistic Ok value
+        got = respond.get_action(action_id)
+        return got if isinstance(got, Ok) else got
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(respond, "execute_action", fake_execute)
+    return log
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def quorum_yes(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(federation, "is_quorum_met",
+                        lambda h, k=None: True, raising=False)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def quorum_no(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(federation, "is_quorum_met",
+                        lambda h, k=None: False, raising=False)
+
+
+def _set_respond_mode(mode: pulse.PulseMode) -> None:
+    pulse.set_mode("respond", mode)
+
+
+def _propose_one(case: Case) -> int:
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    ids = respond.propose_for_case(case)
+    assert ids, "test setup expected at least one action proposed"
+    return ids[0]
+
+
+# ----- severity rank ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_severity_rank_ordering():
+    assert pulse._severity_rank(Severity.LOW) == 0
+    assert pulse._severity_rank(Severity.MEDIUM) == 1
+    assert pulse._severity_rank(Severity.HIGH) == 2
+    assert pulse._severity_rank(Severity.CRITICAL) == 3
+    assert pulse._severity_rank(None) == -1
+
+
+# ----- runner mode gating ----------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_runner_no_auto_fire_when_mode_is_propose(fresh_db, fired, quorum_yes):
+    case = make_case(feed="feodo", ips=["9.9.9.9"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    # default seed mode for respond is auto-propose → no auto-fire even with PROPOSED actions
+    result = pulse._run_respond()
+    assert "no auto-fire" in result
+    assert fired == []
+
+
+def test_runner_no_auto_fire_when_manual(fresh_db, fired, quorum_yes):
+    case = make_case(feed="feodo", ips=["9.9.9.9"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.MANUAL)
+    result = pulse._run_respond()
+    assert "no auto-fire" in result
+    assert fired == []
+
+
+# ----- severity threshold ----------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_below_threshold_is_skipped(fresh_db, fired, quorum_yes):
+    # Propose an action carrying severity=MEDIUM by hand — propose_for_case
+    # only generates HIGH/CRITICAL actions, but the gate must still work for
+    # any below-threshold severity we drop in.
+    case = make_case(feed="feodo", ips=["9.9.9.9"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    respond.propose_for_case(case)
+    # Demote every action's severity to MEDIUM so all should be skipped under HIGH threshold.
+    from sqlalchemy import update as sa_update
+    with db.engine().begin() as conn:
+        conn.execute(sa_update(db.response_actions).values(severity=Severity.MEDIUM.value))
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.HIGH)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+
+    pulse._run_respond()
+    assert fired == [], "below-threshold action must not fire"
+    audit = db.pulse_audit_recent("respond", limit=5)
+    assert any(r["action"] == "skipped" and "below threshold" in (r["detail"] or "") for r in audit)
+
+
+# ----- quorum gate -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_federation_case_no_quorum_skipped(fresh_db, fired, quorum_no):
+    case = make_case(feed="urlhaus", ips=["9.9.9.9"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    # Mark this case as federation-sourced by inserting a signal row for it.
+    db.record_signal(dict(
+        peer_fingerprint="peer-a",
+        signal_type="case",
+        signal_id=case.case_id,
+        signal_hash="dummyhash",
+        received_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
+        raw_json="{}",
+    ))
+    respond.propose_for_case(case)
+
+    pulse.set_respond_require_quorum(True)
+    pulse.set_respond_local_only(False)
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.HIGH)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+
+    pulse._run_respond()
+    assert fired == []
+    audit = db.pulse_audit_recent("respond", limit=5)
+    assert any(r["action"] == "skipped" and "no quorum" in (r["detail"] or "") for r in audit)
+
+
+def test_local_case_fires_when_quorum_required(fresh_db, fired, quorum_no):
+    """Locally-generated cases bypass quorum — they're our own work."""
+    case = make_case(feed="urlhaus", ips=["9.9.9.9"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    # No federation_signals row → locally-generated
+    respond.propose_for_case(case)
+
+    pulse.set_respond_require_quorum(True)
+    pulse.set_respond_local_only(True)  # both armed; local cases still fire
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.HIGH)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+
+    pulse._run_respond()
+    assert len(fired) >= 1
+    audit = db.pulse_audit_recent("respond", limit=10)
+    assert any(r["action"] == "auto-fire" for r in audit)
+
+
+def test_local_case_fires_local_only_off(fresh_db, fired, quorum_no):
+    """Even with local_only OFF, a locally-generated case still fires (no quorum needed)."""
+    case = make_case(feed="urlhaus", ips=["1.1.1.1"], severity=Severity.CRITICAL)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    respond.propose_for_case(case)
+
+    pulse.set_respond_require_quorum(True)
+    pulse.set_respond_local_only(False)
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.HIGH)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+
+    pulse._run_respond()
+    assert len(fired) >= 1
+
+
+def test_federation_case_with_quorum_fires(fresh_db, fired, quorum_yes):
+    case = make_case(feed="urlhaus", ips=["2.2.2.2"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    db.record_signal(dict(
+        peer_fingerprint="peer-b",
+        signal_type="case",
+        signal_id=case.case_id,
+        signal_hash="dummyhash2",
+        received_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
+        raw_json="{}",
+    ))
+    respond.propose_for_case(case)
+
+    pulse.set_respond_require_quorum(True)
+    pulse.set_respond_local_only(False)
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.HIGH)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+
+    pulse._run_respond()
+    assert len(fired) >= 1
+
+
+def test_quorum_off_fires_federation_case(fresh_db, fired, quorum_no):
+    """With quorum gating disabled entirely, federation cases fire too."""
+    case = make_case(feed="urlhaus", ips=["3.3.3.3"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    db.record_signal(dict(
+        peer_fingerprint="peer-c",
+        signal_type="case",
+        signal_id=case.case_id,
+        signal_hash="dummyhash3",
+        received_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
+        raw_json="{}",
+    ))
+    respond.propose_for_case(case)
+
+    pulse.set_respond_require_quorum(False)
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.HIGH)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+
+    pulse._run_respond()
+    assert len(fired) >= 1
+
+
+# ----- kill switch -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_kill_switch_blocks_tick(fresh_db, fired, quorum_yes):
+    """The parent tick() skips everything when kill switch is armed."""
+    case = make_case(feed="feodo", ips=["9.9.9.9"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    respond.propose_for_case(case)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+    pulse.set_kill_switch(True)
+    results = pulse.tick()
+    assert all(o == "skipped" for _, o, _ in results)
+    assert fired == []
+
+
+# ----- audit -----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_pulse_audit_records_fire_and_skip(fresh_db, fired, quorum_no):
+    # Local case → should fire and audit auto-fire
+    local = make_case(feed="urlhaus", ips=["10.0.0.1"], severity=Severity.HIGH, age_days=1)
+    db.upsert_case(local)
+    respond.propose_for_case(local)
+
+    # Federation-sourced case w/o quorum → should skip and audit skip
+    fedcase = make_case(feed="urlhaus", ips=["10.0.0.2"], severity=Severity.HIGH, age_days=2)
+    db.upsert_case(fedcase)
+    db.record_signal(dict(
+        peer_fingerprint="peer-x",
+        signal_type="case",
+        signal_id=fedcase.case_id,
+        signal_hash="xhash",
+        received_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
+        raw_json="{}",
+    ))
+    respond.propose_for_case(fedcase)
+
+    pulse.set_respond_require_quorum(True)
+    pulse.set_respond_local_only(False)
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.HIGH)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+    pulse._run_respond()
+
+    audit = db.pulse_audit_recent("respond", limit=20)
+    actions = {r["action"] for r in audit}
+    assert "auto-fire" in actions
+    assert "skipped" in actions
+
+
+def test_audit_count_since(fresh_db, fired, quorum_no):
+    case = make_case(feed="urlhaus", ips=["8.8.8.8"], severity=Severity.HIGH)
+    db.upsert_case(case)
+    respond.propose_for_case(case)
+    pulse.set_respond_require_quorum(True)
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.HIGH)
+    _set_respond_mode(pulse.PulseMode.AUTO_EXECUTE)
+    pulse._run_respond()
+    from datetime import timedelta
+    since = (datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(hours=1)).isoformat()
+    assert db.pulse_audit_count_since("respond", "auto-fire", since) >= 1
+
+
+# ----- config round-trip -----------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_config_round_trips(fresh_db):
+    assert pulse.respond_auto_threshold() == Severity.HIGH
+    assert pulse.respond_require_quorum() is True
+    assert pulse.respond_local_only() is False
+
+    pulse.set_respond_auto_threshold(Severity.CRITICAL)
+    pulse.set_respond_require_quorum(False)
+    pulse.set_respond_local_only(True)
+
+    assert pulse.respond_auto_threshold() == Severity.CRITICAL
+    assert pulse.respond_require_quorum() is False
+    assert pulse.respond_local_only() is True