diff --git a/swarmforge/constitution/articles/handoffs.prompt b/swarmforge/constitution/articles/handoffs.prompt
index da16b9ae..82c9fba2 100644
--- a/swarmforge/constitution/articles/handoffs.prompt
+++ b/swarmforge/constitution/articles/handoffs.prompt
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ commit: <10-character-commit-abbrev>
   generated metadata, and other non-functional churn still require a forward
   down the chain.
 - When your role sends the end-of-chain handoff to multiple recipients, those
-  recipients merge only (`merge_and_process`). They do not forward that handoff
+  recipients merge the received commit only. They do not forward that handoff
   further. Only this terminal broadcast is merge-only without re-forwarding.
 - Preserve the received task name when forwarding work for the same task. If the
   handoff starts new work, invent a short stable task name.
diff --git a/swarmforge/handoff-protocol.md b/swarmforge/handoff-protocol.md
index 16fe1cc9..f12161d1 100644
--- a/swarmforge/handoff-protocol.md
+++ b/swarmforge/handoff-protocol.md
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ enqueued_at: 2026-06-15T14:05:32Z
 
 Re-read your role and constitution.
 
-merge_and_process coder a1b2c3d9
+Merge commit a1b2c3d9 from role coder into your current branch. Then process the merged state according to your role and constitution.
 ```
 
 For broadcast handoffs, `to` preserves the full recipient list and `recipient`
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ Generated body:
 ```text
 Re-read your role and constitution.
 
-merge_and_process coder a1b2c3d9
+Merge commit a1b2c3d9 from role coder into your current branch. Then process the merged state according to your role and constitution.
 ```
 
 The script validates the task name and canonicalizes the commit abbreviation
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ Examples:
 #### Terminal broadcast
 
 Only the end-of-chain handoff sent to multiple recipients is not forwarded
-further. Each recipient merges that commit (`merge_and_process`) and stops;
+further. Each recipient merges that commit and stops;
 recipients do not re-forward that handoff down the chain.
 
 Examples:
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ TASK_NAME: task-1-cave-setup
 PAYLOAD:
 Re-read your role and constitution.
 
-merge_and_process architect a1b2c3d9
+Merge commit a1b2c3d9 from role architect into your current branch. Then process the merged state according to your role and constitution.
 ```
 
 ### `done_with_current_task.sh`
diff --git a/swarmforge/scripts/swarm_handoff.bb b/swarmforge/scripts/swarm_handoff.bb
index e96da88d..808143cc 100755
--- a/swarmforge/scripts/swarm_handoff.bb
+++ b/swarmforge/scripts/swarm_handoff.bb
@@ -264,7 +264,9 @@
 
 (defn body [type sender canonical-commit note-message]
   (case type
-    "git_handoff" (str "Re-read your role and constitution.\n\nmerge_and_process " sender " " canonical-commit)
+    "git_handoff" (str "Re-read your role and constitution.\n\nMerge commit " canonical-commit
+                       " from role " sender
+                       " into your current branch. Then process the merged state according to your role and constitution.")
     "note" (str "Re-read your role and constitution.\n\n" note-message)))
 
 (defn write-handoff! [{:keys [headers recipients canonical-commit sender]}]
diff --git a/test/swarmforge/handoff_test.clj b/test/swarmforge/handoff_test.clj
index 9d8d0469..1d9b77d3 100644
--- a/test/swarmforge/handoff_test.clj
+++ b/test/swarmforge/handoff_test.clj
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@
                          :type "git_handoff"
                          :task "task-one"
                          :commit "0123456789"
-                         :body "merge_and_process sender 0123456789"}
+                         :body (str "Merge commit 0123456789 from role sender into your current branch. "
+                                    "Then process the merged state according to your role and constitution.")}
                         attrs))))
 
 (deftest swarm-handoff-validates-and-queues-git-handoffs
@@ -135,7 +136,10 @@
               content (read-file queued)]
           (is (str/includes? content "task: task-1-cave-setup\n"))
           (is (str/includes? content (str "commit: " commit "\n")))
-          (is (str/includes? content (str "merge_and_process sender " commit)))
+          (is (str/includes? content
+                             (str "Merge commit " commit " from role sender into your current branch. "
+                                  "Then process the merged state according to your role and constitution.")))
+          (is (not (str/includes? content "merge_and_process")))
           (is (fs/exists? queued))
           (is (not (fs/exists? draft))))))))
 
diff --git a/test/swarmforge/script_test.clj b/test/swarmforge/script_test.clj
index c7ed1e34..3c991d9d 100644
--- a/test/swarmforge/script_test.clj
+++ b/test/swarmforge/script_test.clj
@@ -48,12 +48,13 @@
                        "type: git_handoff\n"
                        "task: task-alpha\n"
                        "\n"
-                       "merge_and_process coder abcdef1234\n"))
+                       "Merge commit abcdef1234 from role coder into your current branch. "
+                       "Then process the merged state according to your role and constitution.\n"))
       (let [header (run {:dir root} (script "handoff_lib.bb") "header-field" "task.handoff" "task")
             body (run {:dir root} (script "handoff_lib.bb") "body" "task.handoff")
             task (run {:dir root} (script "handoff_lib.bb") "print-task" "task.handoff")]
         (is (str/includes? (:out header) "task-alpha"))
-        (is (str/includes? (:out body) "merge_and_process coder abcdef1234"))
+        (is (str/includes? (:out body) "Merge commit abcdef1234 from role coder into your current branch."))
         (is (str/includes? (:out task) "TASK: task.handoff"))
         (is (str/includes? (:out task) "FROM: coder"))
         (is (str/includes? (:out task) "TASK_NAME: task-alpha")))