diff --git a/packages/governance/src/typeGuards.js b/packages/governance/src/typeGuards.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..80c4e0240223
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/governance/src/typeGuards.js
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+// @ts-check
+
+import { M } from '@agoric/store';
+import { TimestampShape } from '../../SwingSet/src/vats/timer/typeGuards';
+
+export const ChoiceMethodShape = M.or('unranked', 'order');
+export const QuorumRuleShape = M.or('majority', 'no_quorum', 'all');
+export const ElectionTypeShape = M.or(
+  'param_change',
+  'election',
+  'survey',
+  'api_invocation',
+  'offer_filter',
+);
+
+export const TimerShape = M.handle('timer');
+export const InstanceShape = M.handle('instance');
+
+export const ClosingRuleShape = harden({
+  timer: M.eref(TimerShape),
+  deadline: TimestampShape,
+});
+
+export const YesOfferFilterPositionShape = M.arrayOf(M.string());
+export const NoOfferFilterPositionShape = harden({
+  dontUpdate: M.arrayOf(M.string()),
+});
+export const OfferFilterPositionsShape = [
+  YesOfferFilterPositionShape,
+  NoOfferFilterPositionShape,
+];
+export const OfferFilterIssueShape = harden({
+  strings: M.arrayOf(M.string()),
+});
+export const OfferFilterQuestionSpecShape = harden({
+  method: ChoiceMethodShape,
+  issue: OfferFilterIssueShape,
+  positions: OfferFilterPositionsShape,
+  electionType: ElectionTypeShape,
+  maxChoices: M.eq(1n),
+  closingRule: ClosingRuleShape,
+  quorumRule: QuorumRuleShape,
+  tieOutcome: NoOfferFilterPositionShape,
+});
+
+export const ParamChangesSpecShape = M.recordOf(M.string(), M.any());
+export const YesParamChangesPositionShape = ParamChangesSpecShape;
+export const NoParamChangesPositionShape = harden({
+  noChange: M.arrayOf(M.string()),
+});
+export const ParamChangesPositionsShape = [
+  YesParamChangesPositionShape,
+  NoParamChangesPositionShape,
+];
+export const ParamChangesIssueShape = harden({
+  spec: ParamChangesSpecShape,
+  contract: InstanceShape,
+});
+export const ParamChangesQuestionSpecShape = harden({
+  method: ChoiceMethodShape,
+  issue: ParamChangesIssueShape,
+  positions: ParamChangesPositionsShape,
+  electionType: ElectionTypeShape,
+  maxChoices: M.eq(1n),
+  closingRule: ClosingRuleShape,
+  quorumRule: QuorumRuleShape,
+  tieOutcome: NoParamChangesPositionShape,
+});
+
+const ApiInvocationSpecShape = harden({
+  apiMethodName: M.string(),
+  methodArgs: M.string(),
+});
+export const YesApiInvocationPositionShape = ApiInvocationSpecShape;
+export const NoApiInvocationPositionShape = harden({
+  dontInvoke: M.arrayOf(M.string()),
+});
+export const ApiInvocationPositionsShape = [
+  YesApiInvocationPositionShape,
+  NoApiInvocationPositionShape,
+];
+export const ApiInvocationIssueShape = harden({
+  spec: ApiInvocationSpecShape,
+});
+export const ApiInvocationQuestionSpecShape = harden({
+  method: 'unranked',
+  issue: ApiInvocationIssueShape,
+  positions: ApiInvocationPositionsShape,
+  electionType: 'api_invocation',
+  maxChoices: M.bigint(),
+  closingRule: ClosingRuleShape,
+  quorumRule: QuorumRuleShape,
+  tieOutcome: NoApiInvocationPositionShape,
+});
+
+export const QuestionShape = M.or(
+  ApiInvocationQuestionSpecShape,
+  OfferFilterQuestionSpecShape,
+  ParamChangesQuestionSpecShape,
+  // SimpleQuestionSpecShape,  // unused
+);