Colonization Procedure Referendum

The Colonization Procedure Referendum was a law passed by the Terran Alliance Parliament restricting and regulating all colonization activity.

History

April 26, 2128, the colonist jumpship Liberator, carrying hundreds of colonists, jumped out-system never to be seen again.

Following this disaster the Terran Alliance Parliament passed the Colonization Procedure Referendum restricting and regulating all colonization activity. All colonization was to be controlled by the Alliance Foreign Ministry and escorted by the newly formed Terran Space Navy.

Further requirements included the appointment of administrators by the Alliance to act as colonial governors.

This had the unintended effect of curbing colonization temporarily.

Provisions

A leaked copy of the Referendum had these provisions:

All extra-solar colonization fails under the sole authority of the Terran Alliance’s Foreign Ministry. Colonization within the solar system is not affected.

All colony ships, regardless of origin or manufacturer, must register with the Terran Alliance, and be equipped with an identification transponder. This ID beacon continuously broadcasts a unique message to identify each ship.

No person whose name appears on a composite list of known subversives may book passage aboard a colony ship unless he has obtained a special governmental waiver.

An armed ship of the Terran Alliance will escort every colony ship departing from Terra.

All colonies settled by citizens of the Terran Alliance automatically become part of the Terran Alliance and its jurisdiction. An Alliance-appointed governor will rule each colony, with authority to use force if necessary.

Exact language of the provisions and a final copy have been lost to history.

References

• DropShips and JumpShips - pg. 12
• House Kurita Sourcebook