Laws & Policies¶
This comprehensive guide covers all political issues and laws available in Lawmaker. Understanding these helps you define your party's ideology and propose effective legislation.
Political Issues¶
Your party takes positions on 16 political issues. These positions define your ideology and affect how voters perceive you.
Issue Spectrum¶
Each issue has a spectrum from -1 to +1:
- -1.0 = Strong position toward one extreme
- 0.0 = Neutral/centrist position
- +1.0 = Strong position toward opposite extreme
The 16 Issues¶
1. 🙋♀️ Gender Equality¶
Spectrum: Traditional gender roles (-1) ↔ Gender equality (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🤰 Traditional gender roles | -1.0 | Men and women should have distinct roles in society |
| 🙋♀️ Gender equality | +1.0 | Equal opportunities regardless of gender |
Affects: Parental leave laws, workplace policies, family structures
2. ⛪ Role of Religion in Society¶
Spectrum: Secular governance (-1) ↔ Religion in government (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🏛️ Secular governance | -1.0 | Separation of church and state |
| ⛪ Religion in government | +1.0 | Religious beliefs should guide society |
Affects: Religious education, religious organization funding, state ceremonies
3. 🌱 Environmental Protection¶
Spectrum: Growth first (-1) ↔ Environmental protection (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 📈 Growth first | -1.0 | Maximize prosperity and development even at expense of environment |
| 🌱 Environmental protection | +1.0 | Prioritize ecological sustainability even at expense of economic growth |
Affects: Renewable energy, emissions, conservation, development policy
4. 🗽 Individual Liberty¶
Spectrum: Strong leadership (-1) ↔ Individual liberty (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Strong leadership | -1.0 | Centralized authority and order |
| 🗽 Individual liberty | +1.0 | Maximize personal freedom |
Affects: Police powers, censorship, curfews, government authority
5. ⚔️ Military Strength¶
Spectrum: Diplomatic solutions (-1) ↔ Military strength (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ☮️ Diplomatic solutions | -1.0 | Resolve conflicts through negotiation |
| ⚔️ Military strength | +1.0 | Peace through strength |
Affects: Military service policy, defense spending, intervention stance
6. 🌍 Immigration¶
Spectrum: Border security (-1) ↔ Open borders (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🚫 Border security | -1.0 | Control and limit immigration |
| 🌍 Open borders | +1.0 | Free movement across borders |
Affects: Immigration quotas, citizenship, asylum policy
7. 💰 Free Market¶
Spectrum: Wealth redistribution (-1) ↔ Free market (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🚩 Wealth redistribution | -1.0 | Redistribution from rich to poor |
| 💰 Free market | +1.0 | Private ownership and competition |
Affects: Minimum wage, taxation, regulation, economic policy
8. 🎭 Multiculturalism¶
Spectrum: National identity (-1) ↔ Multiculturalism (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🏴 National identity | -1.0 | Prioritize national culture |
| 🎭 Multiculturalism | +1.0 | Embrace diverse traditions |
Affects: Language policy, anthem requirements, cultural programs
9. 👮♂️ Law and Order¶
Spectrum: Rehabilitation (-1) ↔ Law and order primacy (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🔄 Rehabilitation | -1.0 | Reform and second chances for those who made mistakes |
| 👮♂️ Law and order primacy | +1.0 | Strict enforcement and punishment for crimes |
Affects: Police powers, sentencing, criminal justice, youth curfews
10. 🔨 Workers' Rights¶
Spectrum: Business growth (-1) ↔ Protections for workers (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🏢 Business growth | -1.0 | Support entrepreneurship |
| 🔨 Protections for workers | +1.0 | Strong labor rights and wages |
Affects: Minimum wage, unions, labor regulations, retirement age
11. 🛡️ Welfare State¶
Spectrum: Sink or swim (-1) ↔ Welfare programs (+1)
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🏊 Sink or swim | -1.0 | We shouldn't reward failure |
| 🛡️ Welfare programs | +1.0 | Government assistance for those in need |
Affects: Housing assistance, retirement benefits, social safety net
12. 🏗️ Infrastructure Investment¶
Single position issue
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🏗️ Infrastructure focus | +1.0 | Invest in roads, bridges, and utilities |
Affects: Public works, transportation, utilities
13. 📚 Education Investment¶
Single position issue
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 📚 Education priority | +1.0 | Invest in schools and universities |
Affects: School funding, university policy, educational standards
14. 👶 Support for Young People¶
Single position issue
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 👶 Support young people | +1.0 | Invest in education, housing, and opportunities for young people |
Affects: Tuition, housing, youth-focused policies
15. 👨💼 Support for Middle-Aged People¶
Single position issue
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 👨💼 Support middle-aged people | +1.0 | Support working families, career development, work-life balance |
Affects: Parental leave, housing, work policies
16. 👴 Support for Older People¶
Single position issue
| Position | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 👴 Support older people | +1.0 | Support healthcare, retirement benefits, quality of life for older people |
Affects: Pensions, healthcare, retirement policies
Laws Catalog¶
Below are all 17 laws that can be changed through proposals. Each law has 2-4 options representing different policy positions.
Defense¶
⚔️ Military Service Policy¶
Code: military_service
Determines whether citizens are required to serve in the armed forces.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer professional army | ✓ | ☮️ Neutral military, 🗽 High liberty (+0.8), 👶 Supports young (+1.0) |
| National service for those 18-20 | ⚔️ Moderate military (+0.6), 🗽 Neutral liberty, 👶 Moderate young (+0.3) | |
| Conscription from 18-25 | ⚔️ Strong military (+1.0), 🗽 Very low liberty (-0.9), 👶 Neutral young |
Rationale: Military service policies determine armed forces size and readiness, restrict personal freedom through mandated service, and affect young people's ability to pursue education and careers.
Economy¶
💰 Minimum Wage Policy¶
Code: minimum_wage_policy
Sets legal minimum hourly wage for workers.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| No minimum wage | 🔨 No worker protections (-1.0), 💰 Free market (+1.0) | |
| Basic minimum wage | ✓ | 🔨 Moderate protections (+0.5), 💰 Slight regulation (-0.3) |
| High living wage | 🔨 Strong protections (+1.0), 💰 Regulated market (-0.7) |
Rationale: Minimum wage directly affects worker protections vs. business costs and market advocates' preference for wage freedom.
Immigration¶
🌍 Immigration Quota Policy¶
Code: immigration_quota
Controls how many immigrants can enter the country annually.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| No quotas, open immigration | 🌍 Open borders (+1.0), 🎭 Multicultural (+1.0) | |
| Annual quotas with caps | ✓ | 🌍 Controlled (0.0), 🎭 Slight diversity (+0.2) |
| Severely limited immigration | 🌍 Restricted (-0.3), 🎭 Limited diversity (-0.4) |
Rationale: Immigration quotas directly affect border openness and incoming population diversity.
Law & Order¶
👮 Police Powers¶
Code: police_powers
Defines authority and oversight for law enforcement.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Zero tolerance | 👮♂️ Maximum enforcement (+1.0), 🗽 Low liberty (-0.8) | |
| Focus on highest impact crimes | 👮♂️ Moderate enforcement (+0.4), 🗽 Some liberty (+0.2) | |
| Community policing focused on prevention | ✓ | 👮♂️ Reform approach (-0.4), 🗽 High liberty (+0.6) |
Rationale: Police power levels determine enforcement strictness vs. liberty protections through oversight.
Education¶
📖 Religious Education in Schools¶
Code: religious_education
Determines whether religious instruction is part of public school curriculum.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory religious instruction | ⛪ Religious governance (+1.0), 📚 Reduced focus (-0.2) | |
| Optional religious classes | ✓ | ⛪ Some religious (+0.3), 📚 Balanced (+0.3) |
| Strictly secular education | ⛪ Secular state (-1.0), 📚 Academic focus (+0.5) |
Rationale: Religious classes affect secular vs. religious education balance and curriculum design.
🎓 University Tuition¶
Code: university_tuition
Determines who pays for higher education.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Ban universities | 📚 No education (-1.0), 👶 Harms young (-1.0) | |
| Tuition fees | ✓ | 📚 Access with cost (+0.5), 👶 Debt burden (+0.5) |
| Vocational training focus | 📚 Alternative path (+0.5), 👶 Practical skills (+0.5), 🌱 Less env focus (-0.5) | |
| Free higher education for all | 📚 Full access (+1.0), 👶 No debt (+1.0) |
Rationale: Tuition policy determines educational accessibility and affects young people's debt burden.
🎵 National Anthem in Schools¶
Code: national_anthem_policy
Whether students must participate in anthem ceremonies.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory daily anthem | 🎭 National identity emphasis (-0.7), 👶 Required participation (-0.4) | |
| Weekly assembly anthem (participation optional) | ✓ | 🎭 Slight nationalism (-0.2), 👶 Neutral (0.0) |
| No anthem in schools | 🎭 Cultural pluralism (+0.6), 👶 No pressure (+0.2) |
Rationale: Compulsory ceremonies emphasize national identity over cultural pluralism and directly change school routine.
Environment¶
🌱 Renewable Energy Mandates¶
Code: renewable_energy
Sets requirements for renewable energy production.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Fossil fuels prioritized | 🌱 No protection (-1.0), 🏗️ No infrastructure (0.0) | |
| Balanced energy mix | ✓ | 🌱 Moderate protection (0.0), 🏗️ Some investment (+0.4) |
| Renewables priority | 🌱 Strong protection (+1.0), 🏗️ Major investment (+0.8) |
Rationale: Energy policy balances economic growth vs. ecological protection and affects energy infrastructure investment.
Welfare¶
🏖️ Retirement Age Policy¶
Code: pension_age
Sets the age when workers can retire with pension benefits.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement at 55 | 👴 Best for elderly (+1.0), 🔨 Worker-friendly (+0.6) | |
| Retirement at 60 | ✓ | 👴 Good for elderly (+0.8), 🔨 Moderate (+0.2) |
| Retirement at 65 | 👴 Acceptable for elderly (+0.6), 🔨 Neutral (0.0) | |
| No pensions | 👴 No support (-1.0), 🔨 Anti-worker (-1.0) |
Rationale: Retirement age directly affects when people can retire and expands/contracts welfare obligations.
Infrastructure¶
🏠 Affordable Housing Programs¶
Code: housing_policy
Government intervention in housing market to ensure affordability.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Market decides housing | 👶 Harms young (-0.6), 👨💼 Hurts families (-0.3), 🛡️ No welfare (-0.4) | |
| Targeted housing subsidies | ✓ | 👶 Helps young (+0.4), 👨💼 Helps families (+0.3), 🛡️ Some welfare (+0.4) |
| Large-scale social housing | 👶 Major support (+1.0), 👨💼 Family support (+0.7), 🛡️ Strong welfare (+1.0) |
Rationale: Housing programs benefit young people and middle-aged families while expanding government welfare support.
Family¶
👶 Parental Leave Policy¶
Code: family_leave_policy
Paid leave for parents after childbirth.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| No state parental leave | 🙋♀️ Traditional roles (-0.4), 👶 Harms young (-0.6), 👨💼 Hurts families (-0.5) | |
| Maternity leave for mothers only (optional) | 🙋♀️ Some tradition (-0.2), 👶 Child benefit (+0.3), 👨💼 Some support (+0.2) | |
| Mandatory maternity leave for mothers only | 🙋♀️ Enforced roles (-0.9), 👶 Child benefit (+0.4), 👨💼 Slight support (+0.1) | |
| Shared, non-transferable parental leave | ✓ | 🙋♀️ Gender equality (+0.8), 👶 Strong benefit (+0.6), 👨💼 Work-life balance (+0.6) |
Rationale: Leave entitlement shapes gender role expectations, benefits child development during infancy, and affects working families' income and work-life balance.
Policing¶
🌙 Youth Curfew Policy¶
Code: curfew_policy
Restrictions on when young people can be out in public.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Strict youth curfew (22:00–05:00) | 👮♂️ High enforcement (+0.8), 👶 Restricted young (-0.8), 🗽 Limited freedom (-0.6) | |
| Limited curfew (Fri–Sat 00:00–04:00) | 👮♂️ Moderate enforcement (+0.3), 👶 Some restriction (-0.3), 🗽 Some limits (-0.2) | |
| No youth curfew | ✓ | 👮♂️ Reform approach (-0.3), 👶 Freedom (+0.4), 🗽 Liberty protected (+0.6) |
Rationale: Curfews aim to reduce late-night crime but restrict young people's social life and personal freedom of movement.
Social Policy¶
🍺 Alcohol Regulation¶
Code: alcohol_policy
Controls availability, pricing, and access to alcohol.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Total prohibition | 👮♂️ Maximum control (+1.0), 🗽 No freedom (-1.0), 👶 Restricted (-0.4) | |
| Strict regulation (age 21) | ✓ | 👮♂️ Controlled (+0.5), 🗽 Limited (-0.4), 👶 Some restriction (-0.2) |
| Liberal policy (age 18) | 👮♂️ Less control (-0.3), 🗽 More freedom (+0.6), 👶 Access (+0.3) |
Rationale: Alcohol availability affects crime and public disorder vs. adult choice and youth access.
🌿 Marijuana Policy¶
Code: marijuana_policy
Legal status of marijuana possession and use.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Full prohibition (prison possible) | 👮♂️ Criminal approach (+0.8), 👶 Harms young (-0.7), 👴 Limited medical (-0.3) | |
| Medical-only (prescription required) | ✓ | 👮♂️ Some enforcement (+0.4), 👶 Limited access (-0.2), 👴 Medical access (+0.6) |
| Decriminalization (≤10g civil fine) | 👮♂️ Reform approach (-0.3), 👶 Youth friendly (+0.7), 👴 Some access (+0.2) | |
| Legalization (age 21; licensed retail) | 👮♂️ Regulatory model (-0.6), 👶 Strong support (+1.0), 👴 Full access (+0.4) |
Rationale: Marijuana policy changes policing burden vs. regulation, affects young voters' preferences, and impacts medical access for older people with chronic illness.
Media¶
📰 Media Censorship Policy¶
Code: media_censorship
Government control over media content and publications.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Strict censorship (pre-publication approval) | 🗽 No freedom (-1.0), 👮♂️ Order maintained (+0.8) | |
| Targeted regulation (post-publication fines) | ✓ | 🗽 Some limits (-0.2), 👮♂️ Balanced enforcement (+0.3) |
| Free press (no prior restraints) | 🗽 Full freedom (+1.0), 👮♂️ Minimal control (-0.4) |
Rationale: Censorship limits freedom of expression and information access vs. maintaining order and public morality.
📺 Public Broadcasting Funding¶
Code: public_broadcasting
Government funding for state broadcaster.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| No public broadcaster | 💰 Free market (+0.7), 🎭 Limited culture (-0.4) | |
| Limited public broadcaster | ✓ | 💰 Some market (+0.2), 🎭 Some culture (+0.3) |
| Major public broadcaster | 💰 State funding (-0.6), 🎭 Cultural promotion (+0.8) |
Rationale: State-funded broadcasters compete with private outlets vs. promoting minority culture and heritage.
Governance¶
🗣️ Official Language Policy¶
Code: official_language_policy
Requirements for language in government and public life.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Ban other languages | 🎭 Assimilation (-1.0), 🗽 Restricted speech (-0.8) | |
| Single official language | ✓ | 🎭 National preference (-0.6), 🗽 Some limits (-0.3) |
| No official language | 🎭 Diversity embraced (+0.5), 🗽 Expression protected (+0.5) | |
| Multilingual rights guaranteed | 🎭 Full diversity (+1.0), 🗽 Full freedom (+0.8) |
Rationale: Language rules signal openness to diversity vs. assimilation and limit expression in public life.
Religion¶
⛪ Religious Observation Policy¶
Code: religious_observation
State relationship with religious organizations and worship.
| Option | Default | Impacts |
|---|---|---|
| Ban organized religion | ⛪ Anti-religion (-1.0), 🛡️ Saves funds (+0.1) | |
| Permit religion with no state support | ✓ | ⛪ Neutral (-0.3), 🛡️ No impact (0.0) |
| Tax-exempt status for religious charities | ⛪ Some support (+0.5), 🛡️ Tax expenditure (-0.3) | |
| Direct state grants to religious organizations | ⛪ Strong support (+1.0), 🛡️ Welfare substitution (-0.6) |
Rationale: Religious policy defines state stance toward organized religion and affects public finances through tax treatment and grants.
Using This Information¶
For Party Creation¶
When creating your party:
- Choose 8-10 priority issues from the 16 available
- Set your positions on each (-1 to +1 scale)
- Build coherent ideology - Make sure positions align
- Consider voter appeal - What will electors support?
For Proposing Laws¶
When proposing legislation:
- Review current state - What's the status quo?
- Choose target option - Which option do you want?
- Check issue impacts - How does this affect political issues?
- Predict voter response - Will voters reward this vote?
For Strategic Voting¶
When voting on proposals:
- Check issue impacts - Does this align with your ideology?
- Consider electoral effects - How will voters see this vote?
- Review your pillars - Is this consistent with your party?
- Think long-term - Build coherent legislative record
Next Steps¶
- Party Management - Define your ideology using these issues
- Legislation & Voting - Propose laws and vote
- Elections & Voters - Understand how voters judge your record
- Strategy Guide - Advanced ideological positioning
Last updated: 2025-01-27 (Catalog version)