THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS QUESTIONNAIRE

(thanks to John Rutherford)

General Background

GFA tends to be a legalistic and litigious society, with great emphasis on reference to written Constitutional rights and laws; there is an emphasis on contractual arrangements in the colonies which mean that there is a wide variation between colonies' legal and political systems, with GFA insistence on 'minimum' standards frequently ignored and not enforced.

Generally speaking, GFA is a free, liberal culture with a profound commitment to democracy. This is marred by an unenlightened attitude to specially bred servant class, G.I's or 'genetic inferiors', who are denied full civil rights and heavily discriminated against in many parts of the GFA.

Q1. Freedom of Movement

To what extent can any member of your population move to any part of your planet (or between systems); without reference to any form of authority (i.e. Customs, Police, or other authorities)?

Esteelers are permitted to travel freely at will. Each citizen carries personal I.D. at all times, by law. There are often tight restrictions, however, on trade goods they are entitled to carry.

Q2. Freedom of Action

Are there any portions of your population precluded from particular jobs or activities (i.e. Women, Blacks, ex-cons, etc)?

To enjoy full civil rights an Esteeler must be classified as 'genetically superior, or 'citizens' (approx 35% of the population on Asteel); the remainder 'genetically natural' (GN) are docile, tough and capable of extreme hard work, but lack creativity and imagination ; they are employed as labourers and servants, especially in the colonies. In theory, GNs are barred from all professional and managerial jobs including the military. In reality, they do many such jobs, especially in the colonies and in many systems the citizen/GN distinction is blurred.

Q3. Freedom of Expression

If an individual or group were extremely critical of your Government's actions or policies, to the extent that it might affect your popularity, what steps would you take?

Esteeler politics is based upon public relations and news management; total freedom of speech is expected, and politicians are expected to use their own media influence to rebut criticism. As this is expensive, Esteeler politicians are often media magnates or rich business people.

Q4. Control of Media

To what degree could you prevent the publication or transmission of information to the general public that you regard as detrimental either to your government, or to the welfare of the people?

This would be very difficult, almost impossible, except by a process of persuasion of the controlling interests of the media (the barons)

Q5. Direct Control of Media

Are there any parts of the media that you have no direct editorial control over?

Almost all of it. The media is almost entirely privately owned. Even the Hyperspace Transmission Stations necessary for interstellar comms tend to be run by private companies.

Q6. Severity of punishment

What punishment is normal for:

a. Mass murderers?	Serious criminals are 'reprogrammed' using brain-wipe technology and re-education, and released with a new identity, always on a different world. Generally, crime is seen as a psycho-medical problem arising from abnormal brain chemistry.
b. Rapists?	Reprogramming.
c. Great Train Robbers?	Reprogramming. There is a persistent rumour, however, that such people are recruited by the military for an unknown role.
d. Traitors?	Reprogramming.
e. Petty theft?	Restitution to victim, and community service.
f. Assault?	Brief imprisonment, and reprogramming in serious cases.
g. Indecent Exposure?	This is seen as a medical issue and is treated by psychological counselling and drug therapy.
h. Illegal parking?	Forfeiture of vehicle.
i. Illegal drug abuse?	Can be prevented by permanent implant of anti-abuse drug in criminal's body; but in many systems all drugs are legal.

Q7. Right of appeal

How would a defendant charged with one of the above crimes appeal against their sentence, and to whom?

There is a complex and comprehensive appeal system, up to a Supreme Court for the Home Worlds, and one for each Quadrant, staffed by independent professional judges.

Q8. Police powers

a. Privacy and civil rights: is there anywhere that your police cannot go, and if there are limits, what are they?

There are no prohibitions, but a citizen may sue the police if his constitutional right o privacy is infringed without due cause, on which point there is much case law.

b. Police powers v. civil rights: under what circumstances may the police arrest and detain?

On reasonable suspicion a crime has been committed, or to prevent one. In all cases the actions of the police are subject to scrutiny in the courts.

c. Complaints procedure: to whom are the police accountable, and by what means may the general public complain or object to their activities?

They are accountable to all citizens by way of judicial review, and a Complaints Authority sits in most systems.

Q9. Open Government

What sort of Government activities are kept secret from the general public?

Only those relating to state security and essential military secrets; and the Government works to assist Esteeler companies maintain commercial confidentiality by secrecy about their business when necessary.