Citizenship

The inhabitants of the empire are divided into two distinct groups, citizens and rezidenzi.

The rezidenzi, who make up the majority of the core world populations, live most of their lives on their home of birth rarely traveling off world for anything other than vacation opportunities. The rezidenzi are cared for by the government with their basic needs assured by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Under this system each rezidenzi is provided a basic living space with a food dispenser and terminal. This space is very minimal measuring 2m x 6m including the hygienic unit. In addition the citizen has no say as to where his unit is located. In addition the rezidenzi have access to community cafeterias and common spaces. Larger unit are available for rent so if a rezidenzi wishes to improve his living conditions he has but to find a way to earn credits. The philosophy behind this arrangement is that luxuries belong to those who put forth the effort to acquire them. Industry is rewarded by this system and the core worlds are rich with artistic and creative endeavors.

Education is free through the terminal and classes range from traditional subject of history, mathmatics and literature to programming and art. Classes in skills such as martial arts or painting are available from instructors though these usually involve payment of some sort for the instructor.

Another side of this system is not commonly known to the general populous, the food provided by the dispenser units are laced with a mild contraceptive. The gradual buildup of the drug in those who do not supplement their diet with outside sources of nutrition prevents them from conceiving. So the lazy are well cared for but are not adding to the future burden of the system. As a result only a small percentage of rezidenzi are in this self created dead end.

The majority of the rezidenzi pursue some sort of craft or activity that fills their day and earns them credits ranging from traditional jobs to competing in sporting events for prize money and performing in various theater venues. Almost any constructive endeavor can be a means for earning spending money.

Communities also exist in rural areas primarily for those willing to tend community farm lots providing fresh produce both for themselves and for sale to the urban centers. Members of these communities earn a percentage of the profits of the sales for their efforts. There are also people who elect to devote themselves to preserving a cultural heritage in dedicated communities for the edification of humanity. A good example are the restored native American tribal villages that are scattered throughout the former United States that preserve the customs and rituals of their respective tribes.

While travel off world requires visas for rezidenzi on world travel is unrestricted and 25- 50 credits will get one anywhere he might want to go.

All in all life for the rezidenzi is comfortable and rewarding but there are those who want more. For these individuals there is the option of citizenship.

With citizenship comes the right to own property and hold positions of responsibility within the government and mega corps. The right to travel freely from planet to planet is also a major motivator to pursue citizenship.

The roads to citizenship are many and varied.

The “simplest” method is to pay a 1 million credit filing fee and apply for citizenship. Baring any major hurdles, such as a secret life as an axe murderer, the application is approved and citizenship is granted. While this route does make for a number of dilettantes the number of families able or willing to pay the fee keeps this to a very small minority of the population. The other methods take a bit longer but are more accessible to motivated individuals.

One of the most common and well known paths to citizenship is military service. An eight year tour grants citizenship to everyone who serves in any capacity.

Homesteading, that is emigrating to a colony world and living there ten year grants not only citizenship to the individual but his offspring also become citizens on their tenth birthday regardless of whether they were born on the colony or not. In fact all inhabitants of a colony world become citizens on their tenth birthday until such time as the world goes from being a colony and is raised to full member status and their economy reaches the point where the ratio of population to jobs requires the shift to the rezidenzi system to remain stable.

Serving on a merchant vessel or working on a space station builds what are known as bankable hours towards citizenship. 50,000 hours are needed to qualify for this path and the more risky the job the higher percentage of bankable hours it earns. Working maintenance on a station usually has a 50% bankable ratio meaning it would take 100,000 hours to bank the 50,000 needed. On a merchant vessel every hour spent off-world is bankable so it has a 100% ratio. Orbital construction and other highly skilled professions actually carry ratings higher than 100%.

Citizenship has also been granted for exceptional achievements and contributions to the empire or the general good.

Some megacorps will offer to sponsor one’s citizenship as an incentive to attract people with special or particularly desired talents.

One thing that should be noted is that if a citizen resides on a rezidenzi world their children are rezidenzi when they come of age. The only exceptions to this rule are the members of the imperial house. The “recognized” imperial offspring pass citizenship automatically to their next generation and those who are fully entered into the house of Eximus pass their franchise on into perpetuity.