LAWS AND STANCES
• Abortion: Only permitted if a religious court believes it is to save the life of a pregnant woman.
• Adultery: Illegal, carries a fine of $1,000 for each proven case in a religious court.
• Affirmative action: Not practiced
• Age of consent: 16
• Age of majority: 16
• Artificial insemination: Permitted
• Assisted suicide: Illegal.
• Bestiality: Illegal.
• Birth control: Only contraceptive pill and the IUD are state approved. Other methods are available privately and are not state approved.
• Childcare: All families get eight hours a week childcare paid for between ages of 6 months and four years of age.
• Concealed carry: Any individual who is currently serving in the military for more than two years or has recieved an honourable discharge after two years service is permitted to apply for a licence.
• Death penalty: Technically the Empire still retains the death penalty. Executions use one of four methods a) stoning, b) burning, c) strangling, and d) beheading, each of which being the punishment for specific offences. No one however may receive the death penalty unless there were a minimum of twenty-three jurors adjudicating in that person's trial who, by a majority vote, gave the death sentence, and where there had been at least two competent witnesses who testified before the court that they had seen the litigant commit the capital offence. The death penalty can theoretically be given for a wide variety of crimes murder, rape, bestiality, sorcery, wounding a parent, kidnap and being a false prophet. In most cases a jury is made up of 12 individuals however for these crimes a prosecution can request a jury of up to 30 individuals. If found guilty stoning is carried out by burying the individual up to their neck and dropping a rock weighing at least 100kg on their head. Burning is carried out by pouring molten metal into the persons throat. Strangling uses a garrotte. Beheading is carried out with a sword. The last execution in the Empire took place in 1957 by beheading. The conditions in place mean the prospect of a future death penalty are highly unlikely.
• Divorce: Permitted only by decree of a religious court.
• Double jeopardy: Not permitted
• Drinking age: 16
• Driving age: 16
• Education: School is compulsory for all between the age of 4 and 18. There are a wide choice of educational options.
• Eminent domain: The Empire may take any land but must pay compensation at the market value plus 5%.
• Equal pay for equal work: Yes
• Felony disenfranchisement: No one in prison may vote
• Flag desecration: Criminal offence punishable by fine and/or prison
• Gambling age: 18
• Gun purchase age: May only be purchased with a medical certificate and having attended a firearms safety course. Once a purchase is made there is a 72 hour wait before the gun may be handed over.
• Homosexuality in the military: Don't Ask Don't Tell
• Human cloning: Illegal unless for medical concerns
• In vitro fertilization: Legal
• Marriageable age: 16 with parents permission, 18 without
• Military conscription: No
• Minimum wage: Yes
• Parental leave: For mothers - 8 months on full pay, 2 months on half pay, up to 6 further months on no pay. For Father:- 1 month on full pay, 1 month on half pay, up to three further months on no pay.
• Polygamy: Permitted only for men if certain criteria are fulfilled. First it must be for a specific reason e.g an infertile wife. Then it must be approved by a religious court where any current wives give their permission freely. While legally permitted polygamy is extremely rare with only a handful of cases each year going ahead.
• Pornography: Legal
• Prostitution: Legal in licenced venues
• Same-sex marriage: Not permitted
• School leaving age: 18
• Sex reassignment surgery: Not Permitted
• Sex toys: Legal
• Sexually transmitted diseases: Knowingly infecting someone is the equivalent of assault with AIDS/HIV being charged with murder
• Smoking age: 16
• Sodomy laws:- Morally frowned upon but not illegal.
• State ideology: Officially None
• State religion: Freedom of religion permitted but Judiasm influences almost all decisions
• Stem cell research: Only permitted using embryos less than 40 days old
• Taxation: As determined by Emperor based on income
• Torture: Not permitted
• Trial by jury: Traditionally 12 jurors used, however prosecution can request up to 30. This is determined by the judge.
• Universal healthcare: For non-cosmetic cases.
• Voting age: 18
• Women's rights: Protected in law
• Working age: Hours limited for those under 18.
• Working week: Overtime must be paid after 40 hours have been worked.
In The Empire there are two types of court.
Imperial Courts here Criminal cases such as murder, theft etc
Religious Courts are used for moral issues such as abortion, divorce, adultery etc. The judges are Rabbi's selected for their knowledge of Jewish laws and appointed by a committee of their peers for a period of 12 months. A judge may serve multiple terms. Should a non-Jew require a divorce they are still heard in Religious Court.
Religious Courts can not impose a jail sentence without referring the case to an Imperial Court.