SCG Civics: Difference between revisions

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Reason: This page a work in progress and actively under construction. There information herein is currently being updated and should not yet be treated as accurate.

The Sol Central Government has many tiers of civic status that an individual can possess, intertwined with many levels of local, planetary, and federal citizenship. This page will help outline these categories as they are described in law. While this page covers federal civic status – which guarantees many of the fundamental rights and protections of sapients within the SCG – many people living within Sol self-identify with their planet or colony of residence, whose civic infrastructures can vary wildly within the broader framework of the SCG.

Categories of Civic Status

Citizens

Eligibility

The primary sources of Solar citizenship are:

By birth:
- Humans born within SCG space are automatically SCG citizens. This includes all colonies of the SCG as well as stations and vessels with a license registered within the SCG.
- Children of SCG citizens are automatically granted SCG citizenship.
  - Artificially-born humans (e.g. “vat-borns”) are considered the legal child of the person(s) who commissioned their creation and are eligible for citizenship accordingly.
By naturalization:
- Non-citizens living within the SCG are eligible to apply for citizenship so long as they meet the following criteria:
  - Are human.
  - Have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years (see below).
  - Have no felony convictions within the SCG.

Additionally, all applicants are subject to screening and review by the Bureau of Citizenship. This is often a long, drawn-out process, with additional scrutiny given to emigrants from “high-risk” areas (namely, emigrants from the GCC and Northern Gaia).

Under the current SCG Charter, only humans are eligible for citizenship. This is a highly controversial issue and one currently being debated in the Solar Assembly.

Rights

Citizens are afforded all rights and privileges of the SCG under the law. Citizenship is a prerequisite for service within many of the SCG's state services, including the Fleet and the Expeditionary Corps, as well as the Army (which restricts membership to natural-born citizens only). Some exceptions apply in the case of positronics (see below). Additionally, only citizens may vote in Solar elections or hold elected office within the SCG.

Permanent Residents

Eligibility

Permanent residency is a legal status granted to individuals who are non-citizens but are allowed to live permanently within the SCG. Barring special cases, permanent residency is usually the first step towards becoming a naturalized citizen; it also covers rights and status for those who live within the SCG but are unwilling or unable to pursue full SCG citizenship.

To obtain permanent residency, a person must apply for a Permanent Residency Card with the Bureau of Citizenship. The following groups may apply for permanent residency:

Spouses and immediate relatives (parent, child, sibling) of current SCG citizens and permanent residents.
Workers employed within the SCG.
Asylum seekers.
Free positronics created within the SCG or falling into any of the previous categories.
Any persons without citizenship or permanent resident status who do not otherwise fall into one of the previous categories, provided they arrived in the SCG before age 14.

As with citizenship applications, applications for permanent residency are subject to stringent screening and review by the Bureau of Citizenship. Only humans and positronics are currently eligible for permanent residency.

Rights

Residents are afforded almost all the same rights as citizens with the exception of the ability participate in government or state service.

Visitors

Visitors are persons who are temporarily in the SCG, usually under a visa.   The SCG issues a variety of both short-term and long-term visas, including for work, education, leisure, and asylum, as well as immigration visas for those intending to seek permanent residence later on. Visas are usually obtained at a local SCG consulate in the area a visitor is traveling from or through a direct application with the Ambassadorial Service if a consulate is unavailable. Certain corporations retain the right to issue visas directly, though corporate visas are usually subject to additional restrictions and only apply under their jurisdiction.

All sapient species are eligible to apply for visas within the SCG, though under some circumstances, the SCG does not require a visa for visitation. For example, traveling through SCG space does not usually require a visa. Additionally, certain non-SCG groups (such as members of affiliated colonies) do not require a visa to visit neighboring SCG systems.

Visitors are afforded the rights that apply to them under their visa, as well as the standard legal rights afforded to sapients in SCG space.

Special Cases

Positronics

With their origins entirely within the SCG, as well as third generations being shackled, positronics, while not Citizens, are able to join the uniformed services of the SCG, with second generation IPCs able to join the Expeditionary Corps, and third generation able to join both the Fleet and Corps.

Gaians

While on paper, Gaians would not usually be permitted admittance to the Expeditionary Corps or Defence Forces, as the planet is legally not a member state of the SCG, the ongoing military administration has routinely ignored tradition with ideas of Gaians in the service furthering the Gaian South's allegiance and dependency on the SCG, thus, provided they have never resided in Gaia's Northern Hemisphere post-conflict, they are permitted to join the EC or Defence Forces.

This policy is somewhat controversial, with the argument against it is one of following legal precedent. This however has been overshadowed by the reality on the ground, with the vast political capital held by Brigadier General Montgomery along with the mandate he holds as Military Governor of the Gaian Administrative Area permitting the regulations to be bent.

New Colony Citizens/Residents

Upon the integration of a new colony into the SCG, all those who younger than 14 would instantly become citizens of the SCG, while all other members of the colony would become residents with extra privileges. Specifically, the ability to take part in the government of that colony up to the system level, represent the colony if elected to the Solar Assembly or Senate, and serve within the Planet's PDF/SDF. They however would still be unable to serve within the SCG Armed Forces, or any appointments to the federal government.

Tables of Examples

General Examples
	Citizen	Resident	Visitor
Human	Yes	Yes	Yes
IPC	No	Yes	Yes
Other Non-Human	No	No	Yes
Uniformed Service	Yes	No	No
SFP Tracker	Yes	Yes	No
SFP Agent	Yes	No	No
Federal Government	Yes	No	No
Work on the Torch	Yes	Yes	Yes

System of Origin Specific Examples
	Citizen	Resident	Visitor
All SCG	Default	Yes	N/A
All GCC	Naturalization Only	Yes	Yes
Gaia	No	Yes	Yes
Other Human	Naturalization Only	Yes	Yes
Other Non-Human	No	No	Yes

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Cleanup
-|reason = This page a work in progress. There information herein is currently being updated and should not yet be treated as accurate.}}
+|reason = This page a work in progress and actively under construction. There information herein is currently being updated and should not yet be treated as accurate.}}
-The [[Sol Central Government]] has many tiers of civic status that an individual can possess, dependent on varying circumstances. This page will help outline the guidelines and categories as they are <u>described in law</u>. Citizens are most often self-identified with their Planetary Citizenship, but at all times fall into a category of federal civic status.
+The [[Sol Central Government]] has many tiers of civic status that an individual can possess, intertwined with many levels of local, planetary, and federal citizenship. This page will help outline these categories as they are described in law. While this page covers federal civic status – which guarantees many of the fundamental rights and protections of sapients within the SCG – many people living within Sol self-identify with their planet or colony of residence, whose civic infrastructures can vary wildly within the broader framework of the SCG.
 == Categories of Civic Status ==
-=== Citizenship ===
+=== Citizens ===
-Citizens of Sol are those born within the SCG or on a SCG Flagged Station or Vessel, Naturalized Citizens, or the children of Citizens.
-Citizens are afforded all rights and privileges of the SCG under the law, as well as free ability to serve within the SCG’s [[Expeditionary Corps|uniformed]] [[Fleet|services]], elected terms as positions within both [[Sol Central Government Organisations|civil]] and administrative governmental administrations such as the SFP (other than trackers), Judiciary, Presidency, and other unelected appointments.
+==== Eligibility ====
+The primary sources of Solar citizenship are:
-Unlike other Human states, both former and present where Service guaranteed Citizenship, In the SCG Citizenship permits Service.
+* By birth:
+** Humans born within SCG space are automatically SCG citizens. This includes all colonies of the SCG as well as stations and vessels with a license registered within the SCG.
+** Children of SCG citizens are automatically granted SCG citizenship.
+*** Artificially-born humans (e.g. “vat-borns”) are considered the legal child of the person(s) who commissioned their creation and are eligible for citizenship accordingly.
+* By naturalization:
+** Non-citizens living within the SCG are eligible to apply for citizenship so long as they meet the following criteria:
+*** Are human.
+*** Have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years (see below).
+*** Have no felony convictions within the SCG.
-=== Residency ===
+Additionally, all applicants are subject to screening and review by the Bureau of Citizenship. This is often a long, drawn-out process, with additional scrutiny given to emigrants from “high-risk” areas (namely, emigrants from the [[Gilgamesh Colonial Confederation|GCC]] and [[Gaia|Northern Gaia]]).
-Residents of Sol are those who reside within the SCG for an extended period, either during the Naturalization process, are ineligible for citizenship, or do not feel the need to obtain citizenship. They are sometimes viewed as ‘freeloaders who don't want to commit’ by some political parties, as they are afforded almost all the same rights as citizens.
-Residents are afforded the same rights as citizens with the exceptions of the ability to serve within the State Service or Government
+Under the current SCG Charter, only humans are eligible for citizenship. This is a highly controversial issue and one currently being debated in the Solar Assembly.
-=== Visitor ===
+==== Rights ====
-Visitors are Persons who do not reside in the SCG, and are temporarily in the State for various reasons, usually under a visa.
+Citizens are afforded all rights and privileges of the SCG under the law. Citizenship is a prerequisite for service within many of the SCG's state services, including the [[Sol Central Government Fleet|Fleet]] and the [[Expeditionary Corps]], as well as the [[Sol Central Government Army|Army]] (which restricts membership to natural-born citizens only). Some exceptions apply in the case of positronics (see below). Additionally, only citizens may vote in Solar elections or hold elected office within the SCG.
-Visitors are afforded the rights that apply to them under their visa, as well as the standard legal rights afforded to all those in SCG space.
+=== Permanent Residents ===
-== Who Can Be What ==
+==== Eligibility ====
-The SCG, for varying reasons, bars some individuals from the ability to obtain Residency or Citizenship.
+Permanent residency is a legal status granted to individuals who are non-citizens but are allowed to live permanently within the SCG. Barring special cases, permanent residency is usually the first step towards becoming a naturalized citizen; it also covers rights and status for those who live within the SCG but are unwilling or unable to pursue full SCG citizenship.
-To be able to be a Naturalized Citizen, one must have resided within the SCG beginning prior to their 13th birthday and be a Human. Otherwise, Citizenship can only be obtained on birth within the SCG, or through conditions surrounding a colony joining the SCG. The SCG also withholds the right to deny citizenship to persons who would otherwise be permitted for political reasons, almost always in relation to the ongoing Cold War with the [[Gilgamesh Colonial Confederation|GCC]]
+To obtain permanent residency, a person must apply for a Permanent Residency Card with the Bureau of Citizenship. The following groups may apply for permanent residency:
-To be able to be a Resident, one must be a Human or [[Positronics|Positronic]]. [[Unathi]], [[Skrell]], [[Diona|Dionea]], [[Giant Armoured Serpentid|GAS]], and [[Adherent]] are all barred from Residency, and can only be within the SCG as a Visitor under a Visa.
+* Spouses and immediate relatives (parent, child, sibling) of current SCG citizens and permanent residents.
+* Workers employed within the SCG.
+* Asylum seekers.
+* Free [[positronics]] created within the SCG or falling into any of the previous categories.
+* Any persons without citizenship or permanent resident status who do not otherwise fall into one of the previous categories, provided they arrived in the SCG before age 14.
+As with citizenship applications, applications for permanent residency are subject to stringent screening and review by the Bureau of Citizenship. Only humans and positronics are currently eligible for permanent residency.
+==== Rights ====
+Residents are afforded almost all the same rights as citizens with the exception of the ability participate in government or state service.
+=== Visitors ===
+Visitors are persons who are temporarily in the SCG, usually under a visa.   The SCG issues a variety of both short-term and long-term visas, including for work, education, leisure, and asylum, as well as immigration visas for those intending to seek permanent residence later on. Visas are usually obtained at a local SCG consulate in the area a visitor is traveling from or through a direct application with the Ambassadorial Service if a consulate is unavailable. Certain corporations retain the right to issue visas directly, though corporate visas are usually subject to additional restrictions and only apply under their jurisdiction.
+All sapient species are eligible to apply for visas within the SCG, though under some circumstances, the SCG does not require a visa for visitation. For example, traveling through SCG space does not usually require a visa. Additionally, certain non-SCG groups (such as members of affiliated colonies) do not require a visa to visit neighboring SCG systems.
+Visitors are afforded the rights that apply to them under their visa, as well as the standard legal rights afforded to sapients in SCG space.
 === Special Cases ===
 ==== Positronics ====
-With their origins entirely within the SCG, as well as third generations being shackled, Positronics, while not Citizens, are able to join the Uniformed Services of the SCG, with Second Generation IPCs able to join the Expeditionary Corps, and Third Generation able to join both the Fleet and Corps.
+With their origins entirely within the SCG, as well as third generations being shackled, positronics, while not Citizens, are able to join the uniformed services of the SCG, with second generation IPCs able to join the Expeditionary Corps, and third generation able to join both the Fleet and Corps.
 ==== Gaians ====
-While on paper, Gaians would not usually be permitted admittance to the Expeditionary Corps or Defence Forces, as the planet is legally not a member state of the SCG, the ongoing Military Administration has routinely ignored tradition with ideas of Gaians in the service furthering the Gaian south's allegiance and dependency on the SCG, thus, provided they have never resided in Gaia's Northern Hemisphere post-conflict, they are permitted to join the EC or Defence Forces.
+While on paper, Gaians would not usually be permitted admittance to the Expeditionary Corps or Defence Forces, as the planet is legally not a member state of the SCG, the ongoing military administration has routinely ignored tradition with ideas of Gaians in the service furthering the Gaian South's allegiance and dependency on the SCG, thus, provided they have never resided in Gaia's Northern Hemisphere post-conflict, they are permitted to join the EC or Defence Forces.
 This policy is somewhat controversial, with the argument against it is one of following legal precedent. This however has been overshadowed by the reality on the ground, with the vast political capital held by Brigadier General Montgomery along with the mandate he holds as Military Governor of the Gaian Administrative Area permitting the regulations to be bent.
-=== New Colony Citizens/Residents ===
+==== New Colony Citizens/Residents ====
-Upon the integration of a New Colony into the SCG, all those who younger than 13 would instantly become citizens of the SCG, while all other members of the Colony would become Residents with extra privileges. Specifically, the ability to take part in the Government of that Colony up to the System level, represent the Colony if elected to the Federal Assembly or Senate, and serve within the Planet's PDF/SDF. They however would still be unable to serve within the Federal Armed Forces, or any Appointments to The Federal Government.
+Upon the integration of a new colony into the SCG, all those who younger than 14 would instantly become citizens of the SCG, while all other members of the colony would become residents with extra privileges. Specifically, the ability to take part in the government of that colony up to the system level, represent the colony if elected to the Solar Assembly or Senate, and serve within the Planet's PDF/SDF. They however would still be unable to serve within the SCG Armed Forces, or any appointments to the federal government.
 == Tables of Examples ==