THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS QUESTIONNAIRE

The aim of this questionnaire is to tease out the internal differences between political systems. In terms of the current campaign the questions might be taken to reflect the implementation of national policies in a particular quadrant - so some variation between quadrants would be expected. The questions are aimed at senior government/Governor level policy makers.

(Thanks to Jurrien deJong for these)

Governor of Q7's Note:

As there is some difference between normal practice and the state of emergency, I will give both. In general 3190's SSSQ7 life looks much like the `socialism with a friendly face'. Therefor the state of emergency came as quite a shock and quite a change. The transfer from one way of life to the other increased tensions a lot, but as it was seen as necessary, people seem to have accepted it. As soon it was clear that the Berserkers have dissappeared people asked for the tight rules to be released, which has been done until the emergency reappears.

Q1. Freedom of Movement:

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

Normal: Freedom of movement for business and holiday purposes is free. Migratory Movement of people has to be request to the local labour council, who will figure out whether migration fits the economic plans of the planning departments.

Emergency: people are dissuaded from moving unnecessarily. Forensic movement is allowed, but holidays are kept to a minimium (off course there was total prohibition of movement, other than to work and for evacuation and local travel, but this has been relented after new attacks failed to happen) There is still some evacuation and restructuring of the economy movement around.

Q2. Freedom of Action:

Are there any portions of your population precluded from particular or activities? (Apart from those genetically unsuited to a task, obviously)

not really, its the other way around really. You get posted to a job and have little to say about it. Generally, the govt is friendly to aliens as long as they are on business or holidays. Anyone joining the ranks of socialism is happiliy accepted.

Q3. Freedom of Expression:

Normal: there didn't seem to much criticism around in the old days, and people with real problems were requested to leave rather than to get their way. There was always a steady trickling of emigrants. The SSSQ7 always believed in the voluntary socialism rather than enforced. This is more relaxed in Q7 than in the home systems. Q7 therefor attracts some people from the Home Systems that are more relaxed in their socialism

Q4. Freedom of the Media:

There is no freedom of the media.

Q5. Direct Control of Media:

All the systems media are under direct control of the Ministry of Information. Locally the LLC determines how much of the voice of the people you hear, and this has become quite a lot over time. However, people hear very little about what goes on in other areas.

Q6. Severity of Punishment.

What punishment is normal for:

a. Mass murderers?	'permanent reeducation', regarded as death
b. Rapists?	`heavy' reeducation, combi of imprisonment and psychiatry
c. Great Train Robbers?	`heavy' reeducation
d. Traitors?	banishment
e. Petty theft?	`light' reeducation
f. Common assault?	`light' reeducation
g. Indecent exposure?	`light' reeducation
h. Illegal parking?	Fine and warning from local labour council. 7 warnings means `light' reeducation
i. Illegal Drug abuse?	`heavy' reeducation for `hard' drugs, `light' reeducation for smoking, alcohol, cannabis abuse. The last are all allowed in small quantities

Q7. Right of Appeal:

Each local labour council would have a chamber of social questions, where the perpetrator would be heard before sentenced. Appeal is possible to the regional chambers and in exceptional cases, to the System Chamber.

Q8. Police Powers.

a. Privacy and civil rights: Is there anywhere that your police...

Most job-related stuff is in the Local Labour Council computers, but privacy is pretty big at home and in clubs etc. But there's social control...

b. Police powers vs Civil rights: Under what circumstances may the police arrest and detain?

Upon a LLC, chamber of social questions warrant, or a citizens request, which needs some evidence though

c. Complaints procedure: To whom are the police accountable, and by

Police is a local community service and subject to the chamber of social questions. LLC members may report anything to the local council. The LLC's are pretty autonomous in law and order stuff, but there are possibilities to go around them.

Q9. Open Government:

Defense, the darker parts of diplomacy, some parts of interstellar trade and of course much about the workings of the govt itself. While everybody has a pretty good grab of what goes on at the local level, which is quite open, the SSSQ7 and the individual systems govt are quite closed. People notice very little of this as large part of life is organised through the LLC's.