diff --git a/ordr/models/account.py b/ordr/models/account.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad1eb18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ordr/models/account.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+''' Models for User Accounts and Roles '''
+
+import enum
+
+
+class Role(enum.Enum):
+    ''' roles of user accounts '''
+
+    UNVALIDATED = 'unvalidated'  #: new user, email not validated
+    NEW = 'new'                  #: new user, email validated, not active
+    USER = 'user'                #: standard user, may place and view orders
+    PURCHASER = 'purchaser'      #: privileged user, may edit orders
+    ADMIN = 'admin'              #: fully privileged user
+    INACTIVE = 'inactive'        #: user that is no longer active ("deleted")
+
+    @property
+    def principal(self):
+        ''' returns the principal identifier of the role '''
+        return 'role:' + self.name.lower()
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        ''' string representation '''
+        return self.name.capitalize()
diff --git a/ordr/tests/account.py b/ordr/tests/account.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..068b9cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ordr/tests/account.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+'UNVALIDATED'
+'NEW'
+'USER'
+'PURCHASER'
+'ADMIN'
+'INACTIVE'
+
+import pytest
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'key,result', [('NEW', 'role:new'), ('USER', 'role:user')]
+    )
+def test_role_principal(key, result):
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+    subject = Role[key]
+    assert subject.principal == result
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'key,result', [('NEW', 'New'), ('USER', 'User')]
+    )
+def test_role__str__(key, result):
+    from ordr.models.account import Role
+    subject = Role[key]
+    assert str(subject) == result
+    
diff --git a/ordr/tests/models/meta.py b/ordr/tests/models/meta.py
index f6fdb58..dbbcf38 100644
--- a/ordr/tests/models/meta.py
+++ b/ordr/tests/models/meta.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import pytest
     'value,expected', [
         (None, None),
         ([1, 2, 3], '[1, 2, 3]'),
-        ({'a':1, 'b':2}, '{"a": 1, "b": 2}'),
+        ({'a': 1, 'b': 2}, '{"a": 1, "b": 2}'),
         ]
     )
 def test_json_encoder_bind(value, expected):
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def test_json_encoder_bind(value, expected):
     'value,expected', [
         (None, None),
         ('[1, 2, 3]', [1, 2, 3]),
-        ('{"a": 1, "b":2}', {'a':1, 'b':2}),
+        ('{"a": 1, "b":2}', {'a': 1, 'b': 2}),
         ]
     )
 def test_json_encoder_result(value, expected):
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def test_json_encoder_result(value, expected):
     assert encoder.process_result_value(value, None) == expected
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize('value', [None, [1, 2, 3], {'a':1, 'b':2}])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('value', [None, [1, 2, 3], {'a': 1, 'b': 2}])
 def test_json_encoder_bind_and_result(value):
     from ordr.models.meta import JsonEncoder
     encoder = JsonEncoder()
diff --git a/ordr/tests/resources/root_resource.py b/ordr/tests/resources/root_resource.py
index fae6938..7499fd0 100644
--- a/ordr/tests/resources/root_resource.py
+++ b/ordr/tests/resources/root_resource.py
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@
 def test_root_init():
     from ordr.resources import RootResource
     root = RootResource('request')
-    assert root.__name__ == None
-    assert root.__parent__ == None
+    assert root.__name__ is None
+    assert root.__parent__ is None
     assert root.request == 'request'
 
     
 def test_root_acl():
-    from pyramid.security import Allow, Everyone, DENY_ALL 
+    from pyramid.security import Allow, Everyone, DENY_ALL
     from ordr.resources import RootResource
     root = RootResource(None)
-    assert root.__acl__() == [(Allow, Everyone, 'view'), DENY_ALL] 
+    assert root.__acl__() == [(Allow, Everyone, 'view'), DENY_ALL]
diff --git a/ordr/tests/views/__init__.py b/ordr/tests/views/__init__.py
index 8b13789..5bb534f 100644
--- a/ordr/tests/views/__init__.py
+++ b/ordr/tests/views/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-
+# package