Law level
Law Level (Government) Synopsis
Law Level is an indication of the relative oppressiveness of the world or whom the law serves more: the inhabitants (...and visitors) or the government and politcians of a planet (...or polity).
The more centralized a government (polity) is, the more likely the laws codes are to be more oppressive.
Law Level (Description) UWP Data
The (Law Level) code of the UWP is categorized on the (UWP Law Level Code Table) to show prohibitions against weapons. It also influences the difficulty to avoid being harassed or arrested by local authorities.
The Law Level is only a guideline on local restrictions on possession and use of weapons by individuals. Police, Security and Military forces are usually not bound by these law levels, although they may be influcenced by them.
Law Level (Description) UWP Code Table
UWP Law Level Codes Code Description Prohibited Weapons/Controls (including those of earlier codes) 0 (Zero) No Law No Prohibitions (Nuclear Weapons) 1 Low Law Body Pistols, Explosives, poision gas 2 Low Law Portable Energy Weapons 3 Low Law Machine Guns, Automatic Weapons 4 Moderate Law Light Assault Weapons 5 Moderate Law Personal Concealable Firearms 6 Moderate Law All firearms except Shotguns 7 Moderate Law Shotguns 8 High Law Blade Weapons Controlled 9 High Law No weapons outside home A (10) Extreme Law Weapon possession B (11) Extreme Law Rigid control of civilian movement C (12) Extreme law Unrestricted invasion of privacy D (13) Extreme law Paramilitary law enforcement E (14) Extreme law Full-fledged police state F (15) Extreme law All facets of daily life rigidly controlled G (16) Extreme law Severe punishment for petty infractions H (17) Extreme law Legalized oppressive practices J (18) Extreme law Routinely oppressive and restrictive K (19) Extreme law Excessively oppressive and restrictive L (20) Extreme law Totally oppressive and restrictive
Law Level (Government) History & Background (Dossier)
Law is an important component of developing civilizations and helps society to control or direct population behavior and focus on groups goals. Almost all technological and sophontic civilizations develop the concept law within TL-1 through TL-3.
Law is also a very handy tool for autocrats or dictators to establish and control power. Most societies have extensive experience with dictatorships (oppressive rule) and carefully monitor their laws in an effort to minimize or prevent inefficient governance.