diff --git a/owners_client.py b/owners_client.py
index d40d799fa..2fba02496 100644
--- a/owners_client.py
+++ b/owners_client.py
@@ -49,6 +49,15 @@ class OwnersClient(object):
   All code should use this class to interact with OWNERS files instead of the
   owners database in owners.py
   """
+  # '*' means that everyone can approve.
+  EVERYONE = '*'
+
+  # Possible status of a file.
+  # - INSUFFICIENT_REVIEWERS: The path needs owners approval, but none of its
+  #   owners is currently a reviewer of the change.
+  # - PENDING: An owner of this path has been added as reviewer, but approval
+  #   has not been given yet.
+  # - APPROVED: The path has been approved by an owner.
   APPROVED = 'APPROVED'
   PENDING = 'PENDING'
   INSUFFICIENT_REVIEWERS = 'INSUFFICIENT_REVIEWERS'
@@ -78,7 +87,11 @@ class OwnersClient(object):
     See GetChangeApprovalStatus for description of the returned value.
     """
     approvers = set(approvers)
+    if approvers:
+      approvers.add(self.EVERYONE)
     reviewers = set(reviewers)
+    if reviewers:
+      reviewers.add(self.EVERYONE)
     status = {}
     owners_by_path = self.BatchListOwners(paths)
     for path, owners in owners_by_path.items():
@@ -176,7 +189,7 @@ class GerritClient(OwnersClient):
 
   def ListOwners(self, path):
     # GetOwnersForFile returns a list of account details sorted by order of
-    # best reviewer for path. If code owners have the same score, the order is
+    # best reviewer for path. If owners have the same score, the order is
     # random.
     data = gerrit_util.GetOwnersForFile(
         self._host, self._project, self._branch, path)
diff --git a/tests/owners_client_test.py b/tests/owners_client_test.py
index 55d6fdd20..1ecbe9c53 100644
--- a/tests/owners_client_test.py
+++ b/tests/owners_client_test.py
@@ -106,17 +106,28 @@ class OwnersClientTest(unittest.TestCase):
       'approved': ['approver@example.com'],
       'pending': ['reviewer@example.com'],
       'insufficient': ['insufficient@example.com'],
+      'everyone': [owners_client.OwnersClient.EVERYONE],
     }
-    status = self.client.GetFilesApprovalStatus(
-        ['approved', 'pending', 'insufficient'],
-        ['approver@example.com'], ['reviewer@example.com'])
     self.assertEqual(
-        status,
+        self.client.GetFilesApprovalStatus(
+            ['approved', 'pending', 'insufficient'],
+            ['approver@example.com'], ['reviewer@example.com']),
         {
-            'approved': owners_client.OwnersClient.APPROVED,
-            'pending': owners_client.OwnersClient.PENDING,
-            'insufficient': owners_client.OwnersClient.INSUFFICIENT_REVIEWERS,
+          'approved': owners_client.OwnersClient.APPROVED,
+          'pending': owners_client.OwnersClient.PENDING,
+          'insufficient': owners_client.OwnersClient.INSUFFICIENT_REVIEWERS,
         })
+    self.assertEqual(
+        self.client.GetFilesApprovalStatus(
+            ['everyone'], ['anyone@example.com'], []),
+        {'everyone': owners_client.OwnersClient.APPROVED})
+    self.assertEqual(
+        self.client.GetFilesApprovalStatus(
+            ['everyone'], [], ['anyone@example.com']),
+        {'everyone': owners_client.OwnersClient.PENDING})
+    self.assertEqual(
+        self.client.GetFilesApprovalStatus(['everyone'], [], []),
+        {'everyone': owners_client.OwnersClient.INSUFFICIENT_REVIEWERS})
 
   def test_owner_combinations(self):
     owners = [alice, bob, chris, dave, emily]