# issue

URL: /business/nouns/card/issue · Id: `verb:Card.issue` · Call: `await $.Card.issue({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Issue creates a Card under a Mandate once the Mandate check passes, with explicit limits on every interval.

[Issue](/business/nouns/issue) creates a [Card](/business/nouns/card) under a [Mandate](/business/nouns/mandate) once the Mandate check passes, with explicit limits on every interval.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `mandate` | [Mandate](/business/nouns/mandate) | Yes | The Mandate the Card spends under. |
| `form` | `string` | Yes | Which kind of Card to issue. |
| `task` | [Task](/business/nouns/task) | No | For a `singleUse` Card: the Task it pays for. |
| `merchant` | `string` | No | For a `merchant` Card: the one merchant it may pay. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `card` | [Card](/business/nouns/card) | Yes | The active Card, with its last four digits and limits. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Card.issued`](/business/events/Card.issued).
- Performed by the [Treasurer](/agents/finance/treasurer).
- Two-way: it runs at once, in the `try`, `send` and `do` modes.
- Refuses `card-program-pending` while the card program of the Startup’s owner of record awaits its grant.
- A `singleUse` Card closes after its one charge.
- Each charge runs the Mandate check in real time and declines on its Limit or a `hold` spend state.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Card.issue](/business/nouns/card/issue) |
| The card program of the Startup’s owner of record awaits its grant, so no Card can be issued. | [`card-program-pending`](/code/api/errors/card-program-pending) | Call again once the program is granted; nothing on the Startup’s side changes. | [Card.issue](/business/nouns/card/issue) |
| `card-program-pending` while the card program of the Startup’s owner of record awaits its grant | [`card-program-pending`](/code/api/errors/card-program-pending) | Clear what the check names, then call it again. | [Card.issue](/business/nouns/card/issue) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Issue the latest card with a mandate.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/cards/issue \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"mandate":"mandate_1","form":"singleUse"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com",
  "card": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/cards/card_1",
    "$type": "Card",
    "form": "singleUse",
    "status": "active",
    "limit": "limit_1"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Card.issue",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const card = await $.Card.issue({ mandate: 'mandate_1', form: 'singleUse' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Card.issue --json '{"mandate":"mandate_1","form":"singleUse"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Card.issue({ mandate: 'mandate_1', form: 'singleUse' })"
  }
}
```

Guides that call it: [Issue a card with a limit](/systems/finance/issue-a-card-with-a-limit).