diff --git a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
index 1f4b97e..ca2e935 100644
--- a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
+++ b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
@@ -149,12 +149,12 @@ const DRUPAL_BOOTSTRAP_FULL = 7;
 /**
  * Role ID for anonymous users; should match what's in the "role" table.
  */
-const DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID = 1;
+const DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID = 'anonymous';
 
 /**
  * Role ID for authenticated users; should match what's in the "role" table.
  */
-const DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID = 2;
+const DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID = 'authenticated';
 
 /**
  * The number of bytes in a kilobyte.
diff --git a/core/modules/block/block.install b/core/modules/block/block.install
index 632e106..0ae303d 100644
--- a/core/modules/block/block.install
+++ b/core/modules/block/block.install
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ function block_schema() {
         'description' => "The block's unique delta within module, from {block}.delta.",
       ),
       'rid' => array(
-        'type' => 'int',
-        'unsigned' => TRUE,
+        'type' => 'varchar',
+        'length' => 64,
         'not null' => TRUE,
         'description' => "The user's role ID from {users_roles}.rid.",
       ),
@@ -128,6 +128,12 @@ function block_schema() {
     'indexes' => array(
       'rid' => array('rid'),
     ),
+    'foreign keys' => array(
+      'role' => array(
+        'table' => 'role',
+        'columns' => array('rid' => 'rid'),
+      ),
+    ),
   );
 
   $schema['block_custom'] = array(
@@ -223,6 +229,17 @@ function block_install() {
  */
 
 /**
+ * Implements hook_update_dependencies().
+ */
+function block_update_dependencies() {
+  // Convert role IDs after User module converted {role}.
+  $dependencies['block'][8002] = array(
+    'user' => 8002,
+  );
+  return $dependencies;
+}
+
+/**
  * Block cache is always enabled in 8.x.
  */
 function block_update_8000() {
@@ -267,6 +284,32 @@ function block_update_8001() {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Replace serial role IDs with machine name strings.
+ *
+ * @see user_update_8002()
+ */
+function block_update_8002() {
+  // Change serial rid column into string.
+  $column = array(
+    'type' => 'varchar',
+    'length' => 64,
+    'not null' => TRUE,
+    'description' => "The user's role ID from {users_roles}.rid.",
+  );
+  db_change_field('block_role', 'rid', 'rid', $column);
+
+  // Rename the built-in serial role IDs into the hardcoded machine names.
+  db_update('block_role')
+    ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID))
+    ->condition('rid', 1)
+    ->execute();
+  db_update('block_role')
+    ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID))
+    ->condition('rid', 2)
+    ->execute();
+}
+
+/**
  * @} End of "addtogroup updates-7.x-to-8.x".
  * The next series of updates should start at 9000.
  */
diff --git a/core/modules/field/modules/text/text.test b/core/modules/field/modules/text/text.test
index a41e8cd..530aa95 100644
--- a/core/modules/field/modules/text/text.test
+++ b/core/modules/field/modules/text/text.test
@@ -215,7 +215,9 @@ class TextFieldTestCase extends WebTestBase {
     $format = filter_format_load($edit['format']);
     $format_id = $format->format;
     $permission = filter_permission_name($format);
-    $rid = max(array_keys($this->web_user->roles));
+    $roles = $this->web_user->roles;
+    unset($roles[DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID]);
+    $rid = key($roles);
     user_role_grant_permissions($rid, array($permission));
     $this->drupalLogin($this->web_user);
 
diff --git a/core/modules/filter/filter.test b/core/modules/filter/filter.test
index d021332..7b043ae 100644
--- a/core/modules/filter/filter.test
+++ b/core/modules/filter/filter.test
@@ -515,8 +515,10 @@ class FilterFormatAccessTestCase extends WebTestBase {
   }
 
   function testFormatRoles() {
-    // Get the role ID assigned to the regular user; it must be the maximum.
-    $rid = max(array_keys($this->web_user->roles));
+    // Get the role ID assigned to the regular user.
+    $roles = $this->web_user->roles;
+    unset($roles[DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID]);
+    $rid = key($roles);
 
     // Check that this role appears in the list of roles that have access to an
     // allowed text format, but does not appear in the list of roles that have
diff --git a/core/modules/simpletest/lib/Drupal/simpletest/WebTestBase.php b/core/modules/simpletest/lib/Drupal/simpletest/WebTestBase.php
index db0f09f..4434909 100644
--- a/core/modules/simpletest/lib/Drupal/simpletest/WebTestBase.php
+++ b/core/modules/simpletest/lib/Drupal/simpletest/WebTestBase.php
@@ -400,17 +400,24 @@ abstract class WebTestBase extends TestBase {
   /**
    * Internal helper function; Create a role with specified permissions.
    *
-   * @param $permissions
+   * @param array $permissions
    *   Array of permission names to assign to role.
-   * @param $name
-   *   (optional) String for the name of the role.  Defaults to a random string.
-   * @return
+   * @param string $rid
+   *   (optional) The role ID (machine name). Defaults to a random name.
+   * @param string $name
+   *   (optional) The label for the role. Defaults to a random string.
+   *
+   * @return string
    *   Role ID of newly created role, or FALSE if role creation failed.
    */
-  protected function drupalCreateRole(array $permissions, $name = NULL) {
-    // Generate random name if it was not passed.
-    if (!$name) {
-      $name = $this->randomName();
+  protected function drupalCreateRole(array $permissions, $rid = NULL, $name = NULL) {
+    // Generate a random, lowercase machine name if none was passed.
+    if (!isset($rid)) {
+      $rid = strtolower($this->randomName(8));
+    }
+    // Generate a random label.
+    if (!isset($name)) {
+      $name = $this->randomString(8);
     }
 
     // Check the all the permissions strings are valid.
@@ -420,14 +427,29 @@ abstract class WebTestBase extends TestBase {
 
     // Create new role.
     $role = new stdClass();
+    $role->rid = $rid;
     $role->name = $name;
-    user_role_save($role);
-    user_role_grant_permissions($role->rid, $permissions);
-
-    $this->assertTrue(isset($role->rid), t('Created role of name: @name, id: @rid', array('@name' => $name, '@rid' => (isset($role->rid) ? $role->rid : t('-n/a-')))), t('Role'));
-    if ($role && !empty($role->rid)) {
-      $count = db_query('SELECT COUNT(*) FROM {role_permission} WHERE rid = :rid', array(':rid' => $role->rid))->fetchField();
-      $this->assertTrue($count == count($permissions), t('Created permissions: @perms', array('@perms' => implode(', ', $permissions))), t('Role'));
+    $result = user_role_save($role);
+
+    $this->assertIdentical($result, SAVED_NEW, t('Created role ID @rid with name @name.', array(
+      '@name' => var_export($role->name, TRUE),
+      '@rid' => var_export($role->rid, TRUE),
+    )), t('Role'));
+
+    if ($result === SAVED_NEW) {
+      // Grant the specified permissions to the role, if any.
+      if (!empty($permissions)) {
+        user_role_grant_permissions($role->rid, $permissions);
+
+        $assigned_permissions = db_query('SELECT permission FROM {role_permission} WHERE rid = :rid', array(':rid' => $role->rid))->fetchCol();
+        $missing_permissions = array_diff($permissions, $assigned_permissions);
+        if (!$missing_permissions) {
+          $this->pass(t('Created permissions: @perms', array('@perms' => implode(', ', $permissions))), t('Role'));
+        }
+        else {
+          $this->fail(t('Failed to create permissions: @perms', array('@perms' => implode(', ', $missing_permissions))), t('Role'));
+        }
+      }
       return $role->rid;
     }
     else {
diff --git a/core/modules/system/system.info b/core/modules/system/system.info
index 8a11985..2d89ffe 100644
--- a/core/modules/system/system.info
+++ b/core/modules/system/system.info
@@ -41,3 +41,4 @@ files[] = tests/uuid.test
 files[] = tests/xmlrpc.test
 files[] = tests/upgrade/upgrade.test
 files[] = tests/upgrade/upgrade.language.test
+files[] = tests/upgrade/upgrade.roles.test
diff --git a/core/modules/system/tests/upgrade/drupal-7.roles.database.php b/core/modules/system/tests/upgrade/drupal-7.roles.database.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0ffe0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/system/tests/upgrade/drupal-7.roles.database.php
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Database additions for role tests. Used in upgrade.roles.test.
+ *
+ * This dump only contains data and schema components relevant for role
+ * functionality. The drupal-7.bare.database.php file is imported before
+ * this dump, so the two form the database structure expected in tests
+ * altogether.
+ */
+
+db_insert('role')->fields(array(
+  'rid',
+  'name',
+  'weight',
+))
+// Adds a role with an umlaut in it.
+->values(array(
+  'rid' => '4',
+  'name' => 'gärtner',
+  'weight' => '3',
+))
+// Adds a very long role name.
+->values(array(
+  'rid' => '5',
+  'name' => 'very long role name that has exactly sixty-four characters in it',
+  'weight' => '4',
+))
+// Adds a very similar role name to test edge cases.
+->values(array(
+  'rid' => '6',
+  'name' => 'very_long role name that has exactly sixty-four characters in it',
+  'weight' => '5',
+))
+->execute();
+
+// Add the "Edit own comments" permission to the gärtner test role.
+db_insert('role_permission')->fields(array(
+  'rid',
+  'permission',
+  'module',
+))
+->values(array(
+  'rid' => '4',
+  'permission' => 'edit own comments',
+  'module' => 'comment',
+))
+->execute();
+
+// Adds some role visibility settings on the who's online block for the long
+// role.
+db_insert('block_role')->fields(array(
+  'module',
+  'delta',
+  'rid',
+))
+->values(array(
+  'module' => 'user',
+  'delta' => 'online',
+  'rid' => '5',
+))
+->execute();
diff --git a/core/modules/system/tests/upgrade/upgrade.roles.test b/core/modules/system/tests/upgrade/upgrade.roles.test
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d51cacc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/system/tests/upgrade/upgrade.roles.test
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+<?php
+
+/**
+ * @file
+ * Upgrade tests for the conversion of serial role IDs to role machine names.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Tests upgrading a bare database with user role data.
+ *
+ * Loads a bare installation of Drupal 7 with role data and runs the
+ * upgrade process on it.
+ */
+class UserRoleUpgradePathTestCase extends UpgradePathTestCase {
+  public static function getInfo() {
+    return array(
+      'name'  => 'Role upgrade test',
+      'description'  => 'Upgrade tests with role data.',
+      'group' => 'Upgrade path',
+    );
+  }
+
+  public function setUp() {
+    $this->databaseDumpFiles = array(
+      drupal_get_path('module', 'system') . '/tests/upgrade/drupal-7.bare.standard_all.database.php.gz',
+      drupal_get_path('module', 'system') . '/tests/upgrade/drupal-7.roles.database.php',
+    );
+    parent::setUp();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Tests expected role ID conversions after a successful upgrade.
+   */
+  public function testRoleUpgrade() {
+    $this->assertTrue($this->performUpgrade(), 'The upgrade was completed successfully.');
+
+    // Check that "gärtner" has been converted to "4" and that the role
+    // edit page for it exists.
+    $this->drupalGet('admin/people/permissions/roles/edit/4');
+    $this->assertResponse(200, 'Role edit page for "gärtner" was found.');
+
+    // Check that the anonymous user role ID has been converted from "1" to
+    // "anonymous".
+    $this->drupalGet('admin/people/permissions/' . DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID);
+    $this->assertResponse(200, 'Permission edit page for "anonymous" was found.');
+
+    // Check that the authenticated user role ID has been converted from "2" to
+    // "authenticated".
+    $this->drupalGet('admin/people/permissions/' . DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID);
+    $this->assertResponse(200, 'Permission edit page for "authenticated" was found.');
+
+    // Check that the permission for "gärtner" still exists.
+    $this->drupalGet('admin/people/permissions/4');
+    $this->assertFieldChecked('edit-4-edit-own-comments', 'Edit own comments permission for "gärtner" is set correctly.');
+
+    // Check that the role visibility setting for the who's online block still
+    // exists.
+    $this->drupalGet('admin/structure/block/manage/user/online/configure');
+    $this->assertFieldChecked('edit-roles-5', "Who's online block visibility setting is correctly set for the long role name.");
+    // Check that the role name is still displayed as expected.
+    $this->assertText('gärtner', 'Role name is displayed on block visibility settings.');
+    $this->assertText('very long role name that has exactly sixty-four characters in it', 'Role name is displayed on block visibility settings.');
+    $this->assertText('very_long role name that has exactly sixty-four characters in it', 'Role name is displayed on block visibility settings.');
+  }
+}
diff --git a/core/modules/user/user.admin.inc b/core/modules/user/user.admin.inc
index c65883a..dba216e 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/user.admin.inc
+++ b/core/modules/user/user.admin.inc
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ function user_admin_permissions($form, $form_state, $rid = NULL) {
 
   // Retrieve role names for columns.
   $role_names = user_roles();
-  if (is_numeric($rid)) {
+  if (isset($rid)) {
     $role_names = array($rid => $role_names[$rid]);
   }
   // Fetch permissions for all roles or the one selected role.
@@ -849,12 +849,25 @@ function user_admin_roles($form, $form_state) {
     '#title' => t('Name'),
     '#title_display' => 'invisible',
     '#size' => 32,
+    '#maxlength' => 255,
+  );
+  $form['rid'] = array(
+    '#type' => 'machine_name',
+    '#size' => 30,
     '#maxlength' => 64,
+    '#machine_name' => array(
+      'exists' => 'user_role_load',
+      'source' => array('name'),
+    ),
+    // The machine name is not required here to avoid form errors when
+    // re-ordering the roles.
+    // @see user_admin_add_role_validate()
+    '#required' => FALSE,
   );
   $form['add'] = array(
     '#type' => 'submit',
     '#value' => t('Add role'),
-    '#validate' => array('user_admin_role_validate'),
+    '#validate' => array('user_admin_add_role_validate'),
     '#submit' => array('user_admin_role_submit'),
   );
   $form['actions'] = array('#type' => 'actions');
@@ -868,6 +881,18 @@ function user_admin_roles($form, $form_state) {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Form validation handler for the user_admin_roles() form.
+ */
+function user_admin_add_role_validate($form, &$form_state) {
+  if (empty($form_state['values']['name'])) {
+    form_set_error('name', t('You must specify a valid role name.'));
+  }
+  elseif (empty($form_state['values']['rid'])) {
+    form_set_error('rid', t('Machine-readable name is required.'));
+  }
+}
+
+/**
  * Form submit function. Update the role weights.
  */
 function user_admin_roles_order_submit($form, &$form_state) {
@@ -909,7 +934,7 @@ function theme_user_admin_roles($variables) {
     }
     $rows[] = array('data' => $row, 'class' => array('draggable'));
   }
-  $rows[] = array(array('data' => drupal_render($form['name']) . drupal_render($form['add']), 'colspan' => 4, 'class' => 'edit-name'));
+  $rows[] = array(array('data' => drupal_render($form['name']) . drupal_render($form['rid']) . drupal_render($form['add']), 'colspan' => 4, 'class' => 'edit-name'));
 
   drupal_add_tabledrag('user-roles', 'order', 'sibling', 'role-weight');
 
@@ -923,7 +948,6 @@ function theme_user_admin_roles($variables) {
  * Form to configure a single role.
  *
  * @ingroup forms
- * @see user_admin_role_validate()
  * @see user_admin_role_submit()
  */
 function user_admin_role($form, $form_state, $role) {
@@ -942,8 +966,9 @@ function user_admin_role($form, $form_state, $role) {
     '#description' => t('The name for this role. Example: "moderator", "editorial board", "site architect".'),
   );
   $form['rid'] = array(
-    '#type' => 'value',
-    '#value' => $role->rid,
+    '#type' => 'machine_name',
+    '#default_value' => $role->rid,
+    '#disabled' => TRUE,
   );
   $form['weight'] = array(
     '#type' => 'value',
@@ -964,28 +989,6 @@ function user_admin_role($form, $form_state, $role) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Form validation handler for the user_admin_role() form.
- */
-function user_admin_role_validate($form, &$form_state) {
-  if (!empty($form_state['values']['name'])) {
-    if ($form_state['values']['op'] == t('Save role')) {
-      $role = user_role_load_by_name($form_state['values']['name']);
-      if ($role && $role->rid != $form_state['values']['rid']) {
-        form_set_error('name', t('The role name %name already exists. Choose another role name.', array('%name' => $form_state['values']['name'])));
-      }
-    }
-    elseif ($form_state['values']['op'] == t('Add role')) {
-      if (user_role_load_by_name($form_state['values']['name'])) {
-        form_set_error('name', t('The role name %name already exists. Choose another role name.', array('%name' => $form_state['values']['name'])));
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  else {
-    form_set_error('name', t('You must specify a valid role name.'));
-  }
-}
-
-/**
  * Form submit handler for the user_admin_role() form.
  */
 function user_admin_role_submit($form, &$form_state) {
@@ -1024,7 +1027,7 @@ function user_admin_role_delete_confirm($form, &$form_state, $role) {
  * Form submit handler for user_admin_role_delete_confirm().
  */
 function user_admin_role_delete_confirm_submit($form, &$form_state) {
-  user_role_delete((int) $form_state['values']['rid']);
+  user_role_delete($form_state['values']['rid']);
   drupal_set_message(t('The role has been deleted.'));
   $form_state['redirect'] = 'admin/people/permissions/roles';
 }
diff --git a/core/modules/user/user.css b/core/modules/user/user.css
index bbfeb83..d9b84f8 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/user.css
+++ b/core/modules/user/user.css
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
 #user-admin-roles td.edit-name {
   clear: both;
 }
-#user-admin-roles .form-item-name {
+#user-admin-roles .form-item-name,
+#user-admin-roles .form-item-rid {
   float: left; /* LTR */
   margin-right: 1em; /* LTR */
 }
diff --git a/core/modules/user/user.install b/core/modules/user/user.install
index b1ff272..e2f5986 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/user.install
+++ b/core/modules/user/user.install
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ function user_schema() {
     'description' => 'Stores the permissions assigned to user roles.',
     'fields' => array(
       'rid' => array(
-        'type' => 'int',
-        'unsigned' => TRUE,
+        'type' => 'varchar',
+        'length' => 64,
         'not null' => TRUE,
         'description' => 'Foreign Key: {role}.rid.',
       ),
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ function user_schema() {
     ),
     'foreign keys' => array(
       'role' => array(
-        'table' => 'roles',
+        'table' => 'role',
         'columns' => array('rid' => 'rid'),
       ),
     ),
@@ -91,17 +91,20 @@ function user_schema() {
     'description' => 'Stores user roles.',
     'fields' => array(
       'rid' => array(
-        'type' => 'serial',
-        'unsigned' => TRUE,
+        'type' => 'varchar',
+        // The role ID is often used as part of a compound index; at least MySQL
+        // has a maximum index length of 1000 characters (333 on utf8), so we
+        // limit the maximum length.
+        'length' => 64,
         'not null' => TRUE,
-        'description' => 'Primary Key: Unique role ID.',
+        'description' => 'Primary Key: Unique user role ID.',
       ),
       'name' => array(
         'type' => 'varchar',
-        'length' => 64,
+        'length' => 255,
         'not null' => TRUE,
         'default' => '',
-        'description' => 'Unique role name.',
+        'description' => 'Role label.',
         'translatable' => TRUE,
       ),
       'weight' => array(
@@ -111,9 +114,6 @@ function user_schema() {
         'description' => 'The weight of this role in listings and the user interface.',
       ),
     ),
-    'unique keys' => array(
-      'name' => array('name'),
-    ),
     'primary key' => array('rid'),
     'indexes' => array(
       'name_weight' => array('name', 'weight'),
@@ -268,10 +268,9 @@ function user_schema() {
         'description' => 'Primary Key: {users}.uid for user.',
       ),
       'rid' => array(
-        'type' => 'int',
-        'unsigned' => TRUE,
+        'type' => 'varchar',
+        'length' => 64,
         'not null' => TRUE,
-        'default' => 0,
         'description' => 'Primary Key: {role}.rid for role.',
       ),
     ),
@@ -285,7 +284,7 @@ function user_schema() {
         'columns' => array('uid' => 'uid'),
       ),
       'role' => array(
-        'table' => 'roles',
+        'table' => 'role',
         'columns' => array('rid' => 'rid'),
       ),
     ),
@@ -321,29 +320,12 @@ function user_install() {
     ))
     ->execute();
 
-  // Built-in roles.
-  $rid_anonymous = db_insert('role')
-    ->fields(array('name' => 'anonymous user', 'weight' => 0))
+  // Insert built-in roles.
+  db_insert('role')
+    ->fields(array('rid', 'name', 'weight'))
+    ->values(array(DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID, 'anonymous user', 0))
+    ->values(array(DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID, 'authenticated user', 1))
     ->execute();
-  $rid_authenticated = db_insert('role')
-    ->fields(array('name' => 'authenticated user', 'weight' => 1))
-    ->execute();
-
-  // Sanity check to ensure the anonymous and authenticated role IDs are the
-  // same as the drupal defined constants. In certain situations, this will
-  // not be true.
-  if ($rid_anonymous != DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID) {
-    db_update('role')
-      ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID))
-      ->condition('rid', $rid_anonymous)
-      ->execute();
-  }
-  if ($rid_authenticated != DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID) {
-    db_update('role')
-      ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID))
-      ->condition('rid', $rid_authenticated)
-      ->execute();
-  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -399,5 +381,66 @@ function user_update_8001() {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Replace serial role IDs with machine name strings.
+ */
+function user_update_8002() {
+  // Change serial rid columns into strings.
+  $column = array(
+    'type' => 'varchar',
+    'length' => 64,
+    'not null' => TRUE,
+    'description' => 'Primary Key: Unique user role ID.',
+  );
+  db_change_field('role', 'rid', 'rid', $column);
+
+  $column['description'] = 'Foreign Key: {role}.rid.';
+  db_change_field('role_permission', 'rid', 'rid', $column);
+
+  $column['description'] = 'Primary Key: {role}.rid for role.';
+  db_change_field('users_roles', 'rid', 'rid', $column);
+
+  // Enlarge the role name (label) column.
+  $column = array(
+    'type' => 'varchar',
+    'length' => 255,
+    'not null' => TRUE,
+    'default' => '',
+    'description' => 'Role label.',
+    'translatable' => TRUE,
+  );
+  db_change_field('role', 'name', 'name', $column);
+  // Remove unique index.
+  db_drop_unique_key('role', 'name');
+
+  // Rename the built-in serial role IDs into the hardcoded machine names.
+  db_update('role')
+    ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID))
+    ->condition('rid', 1)
+    ->execute();
+  db_update('role')
+    ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID))
+    ->condition('rid', 2)
+    ->execute();
+
+  db_update('role_permission')
+    ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID))
+    ->condition('rid', 1)
+    ->execute();
+  db_update('role_permission')
+    ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID))
+    ->condition('rid', 2)
+    ->execute();
+
+  db_update('users_roles')
+    ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_ANONYMOUS_RID))
+    ->condition('rid', 1)
+    ->execute();
+  db_update('users_roles')
+    ->fields(array('rid' => DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID))
+    ->condition('rid', 2)
+    ->execute();
+}
+
+/**
  * @} End of "addtogroup updates-7.x-to-8.x".
  */
diff --git a/core/modules/user/user.module b/core/modules/user/user.module
index cfde270..2c8ed84 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/user.module
+++ b/core/modules/user/user.module
@@ -2681,13 +2681,11 @@ function user_roles($membersonly = FALSE, $permission = NULL) {
  * Fetches a user role by role ID.
  *
  * @param $rid
- *   An integer representing the role ID.
+ *   A string representing the role ID.
  *
  * @return
  *   A fully-loaded role object if a role with the given ID exists, or FALSE
  *   otherwise.
- *
- * @see user_role_load_by_name()
  */
 function user_role_load($rid) {
   return db_select('role', 'r')
@@ -2698,34 +2696,14 @@ function user_role_load($rid) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Fetches a user role by role name.
- *
- * @param $role_name
- *   A string representing the role name.
- *
- * @return
- *   A fully-loaded role object if a role with the given name exists, or FALSE
- *   otherwise.
- *
- * @see user_role_load()
- */
-function user_role_load_by_name($role_name) {
-  return db_select('role', 'r')
-    ->fields('r')
-    ->condition('name', $role_name)
-    ->execute()
-    ->fetchObject();
-}
-
-/**
  * Save a user role to the database.
  *
  * @param $role
- *   A role object to modify or add. If $role->rid is not specified, a new
- *   role will be created.
+ *   A role object to modify or add.
+ *
  * @return
  *   Status constant indicating if role was created or updated.
- *   Failure to write the user role record will return FALSE. Otherwise.
+ *   Failure to write the user role record will return FALSE. Otherwise
  *   SAVED_NEW or SAVED_UPDATED is returned depending on the operation
  *   performed.
  */
@@ -2744,14 +2722,20 @@ function user_role_save($role) {
   // Let modules modify the user role before it is saved to the database.
   module_invoke_all('user_role_presave', $role);
 
-  if (!empty($role->rid) && $role->name) {
-    $status = drupal_write_record('role', $role, 'rid');
-    module_invoke_all('user_role_update', $role);
-  }
-  else {
+  $exists = db_select('role', 'r')
+    ->fields('r', array('rid'))
+    ->condition('rid', $role->rid)
+    ->execute()
+    ->fetchAll();
+
+  if (empty($exists)) {
     $status = drupal_write_record('role', $role);
     module_invoke_all('user_role_insert', $role);
   }
+  else {
+    $status = drupal_write_record('role', $role, 'rid');
+    module_invoke_all('user_role_update', $role);
+  }
 
   // Clear the user access cache.
   drupal_static_reset('user_access');
@@ -2764,15 +2748,10 @@ function user_role_save($role) {
  * Delete a user role from database.
  *
  * @param $role
- *   A string with the role name, or an integer with the role ID.
+ *   A string with the role ID.
  */
 function user_role_delete($role) {
-  if (is_int($role)) {
-    $role = user_role_load($role);
-  }
-  else {
-    $role = user_role_load_by_name($role);
-  }
+  $role = user_role_load($role);
 
   db_delete('role')
     ->condition('rid', $role->rid)
diff --git a/core/modules/user/user.permissions.js b/core/modules/user/user.permissions.js
index 4b6d4c9..2707512 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/user.permissions.js
+++ b/core/modules/user/user.permissions.js
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ Drupal.behaviors.permissions = {
         .attr('title', Drupal.t("This permission is inherited from the authenticated user role."))
         .hide();
 
-      $table.find('input[type=checkbox]').not('.rid-2, .rid-1').addClass('real-checkbox').each(function () {
+      $table.find('input[type=checkbox]').not('.rid-anonymous, .rid-authenticated').addClass('real-checkbox').each(function () {
         $dummy.clone().insertAfter(this);
       });
 
       // Initialize the authenticated user checkbox.
-      $table.find('input[type=checkbox].rid-2')
+      $table.find('input[type=checkbox].rid-authenticated')
         .bind('click.permissions', self.toggle)
         // .triggerHandler() cannot be used here, as it only affects the first
         // element.
diff --git a/core/modules/user/user.test b/core/modules/user/user.test
index f8a1d3a..d6f71ec 100644
--- a/core/modules/user/user.test
+++ b/core/modules/user/user.test
@@ -1247,10 +1247,10 @@ class UserPermissionsTestCase extends WebTestBase {
 
     $this->admin_user = $this->drupalCreateUser(array('administer permissions', 'access user profiles', 'administer site configuration', 'administer modules', 'administer users'));
 
-    // Find the new role ID - it must be the maximum.
-    $all_rids = array_keys($this->admin_user->roles);
-    sort($all_rids);
-    $this->rid = array_pop($all_rids);
+    // Find the new role ID.
+    $all_rids = $this->admin_user->roles;
+    unset($all_rids[DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID]);
+    $this->rid = key($all_rids);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1374,7 +1374,9 @@ class UserAdminTestCase extends WebTestBase {
     $this->assertText($user_c->name, t('Found user C on filtered by perm admin users page'));
 
     // Filter the users by role. Grab the system-generated role name for User C.
-    $edit['role'] = max(array_flip($user_c->roles));
+    $roles = $user_c->roles;
+    unset($roles[DRUPAL_AUTHENTICATED_RID]);
+    $edit['role'] = key($roles);
     $this->drupalPost('admin/people', $edit, t('Refine'));
 
     // Check if the correct users show up when filtered by role.
@@ -2027,15 +2029,15 @@ class UserRoleAdminTestCase extends WebTestBase {
     // correspond to an integer, to test that the role administration pages
     // correctly distinguish between role names and IDs.)
     $role_name = '123';
-    $edit = array('name' => $role_name);
+    $edit = array('name' => $role_name, 'rid' => $role_name);
     $this->drupalPost('admin/people/permissions/roles', $edit, t('Add role'));
     $this->assertText(t('The role has been added.'), t('The role has been added.'));
-    $role = user_role_load_by_name($role_name);
+    $role = user_role_load($role_name);
     $this->assertTrue(is_object($role), t('The role was successfully retrieved from the database.'));
 
     // Try adding a duplicate role.
     $this->drupalPost(NULL, $edit, t('Add role'));
-    $this->assertRaw(t('The role name %name already exists. Choose another role name.', array('%name' => $role_name)), t('Duplicate role warning displayed.'));
+    $this->assertRaw(t('The machine-readable name is already in use. It must be unique.'), t('Duplicate role warning displayed.'));
 
     // Test renaming a role.
     $old_name = $role_name;
@@ -2043,15 +2045,15 @@ class UserRoleAdminTestCase extends WebTestBase {
     $edit = array('name' => $role_name);
     $this->drupalPost("admin/people/permissions/roles/edit/{$role->rid}", $edit, t('Save role'));
     $this->assertText(t('The role has been renamed.'), t('The role has been renamed.'));
-    $this->assertFalse(user_role_load_by_name($old_name), t('The role can no longer be retrieved from the database using its old name.'));
-    $this->assertTrue(is_object(user_role_load_by_name($role_name)), t('The role can be retrieved from the database using its new name.'));
+    $new_role = user_role_load($old_name);
+    $this->assertEqual($new_role->name, $role_name, 'The role name has been successfully changed.');
 
     // Test deleting a role.
     $this->drupalPost("admin/people/permissions/roles/edit/{$role->rid}", NULL, t('Delete role'));
     $this->drupalPost(NULL, NULL, t('Delete'));
     $this->assertText(t('The role has been deleted.'), t('The role has been deleted'));
     $this->assertNoLinkByHref("admin/people/permissions/roles/edit/{$role->rid}", t('Role edit link removed.'));
-    $this->assertFalse(user_role_load_by_name($role_name), t('A deleted role can no longer be loaded.'));
+    $this->assertFalse(user_role_load($role_name), t('A deleted role can no longer be loaded.'));
 
     // Make sure that the system-defined roles cannot be edited via the user
     // interface.
diff --git a/profiles/standard/standard.install b/profiles/standard/standard.install
index eef8d0c..fdc5428 100644
--- a/profiles/standard/standard.install
+++ b/profiles/standard/standard.install
@@ -409,6 +409,8 @@ function standard_install() {
 
   // Create a default role for site administrators, with all available permissions assigned.
   $admin_role = new stdClass();
+  $admin_role->rid = 'administrator';
+  // @todo Proper human-readable label (at least ucfirst()).
   $admin_role->name = 'administrator';
   $admin_role->weight = 2;
   user_role_save($admin_role);