All Questions
22
questions
4
votes
1
answer
256
views
How long is a Federation/Starfleet life sentence?
In Star Trek: Discovery,
is sentenced to life for mutiny. How long is a life sentence in that?
In Europe, a life sentence can be as little as 15 years, and some countries have a maximum of 25 years. ...
- 5,164
20
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Are humpback whales granted civil rights?
The events of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home establish that humpback whales are sentient beings with their own language, and that this language is at least in theory learnable by non-whales (e.g. the ...
- 19k
9
votes
1
answer
248
views
Did the ruling in "Measure of a Man" have any effect beyond Data?
In light of later episodes and Picard, I am confused as to whether the effect of the ruling of the hearing in the TNG episode "Measure of a Man" was strictly confined inter partes or if it ...
31
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Are there any copyright laws within the "Star Trek" universe that prohibit certain things from being replicated without permission?
I haven't seen any information or thoroughly researched this idea or question. I'm not even sure it's an actual problem, but I'm wondering if certain replicated items infringe on copyright laws in ...
- 311
7
votes
1
answer
458
views
Are joined Trills responsible for the crimes of their predecessors?
I was watching the Star Trek: Deep Space 9 episode, "Dax", wherein a hearing is conducted about whether Jadzia Dax should be extradited for murder and treason committed by Curzon Dax.
I know ...
- 7,152
10
votes
1
answer
537
views
Can an individual apply to become a Federation citizen?
It's a plot point in Deep Space Nine that Nog, as a non-Federation citizen, requires a waiver to attend Starfleet Academy. That leads to the question of how one can become a Federation citizen if one ...
- 19k
10
votes
1
answer
947
views
Why is Guinan allowed to have a non-Starfleet issued rifle?
In the Star Trek TNG episode: Night Terrors, we see Guinan using a rifle in order to break up a brawl at Ten Forward:
In a hilarious piece of dialog she immediately admits that this rifle is not ...
- 9,324
9
votes
1
answer
495
views
Are Federation citizens and/or Starfleet officers allowed to replace healthy organs with bionics if they choose to?
Throughout Star Trek's run we see common use of medical bionics to replace unhealthy organs: Picard has a artificial heart where his was stabbed by a Nausicaan, Geordie has artificial eyes to ...
- 5,281
13
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there a general right to bear arms in the Federation?
In the TNG episode "The Most Toys", the Varon-T disruptor is specifically mentioned as being illegal in the Federation because of its particularly cruel method of killing. Singling out a specific ...
- 19k
4
votes
1
answer
485
views
What is the penalty for unlawful possession of Romulan Ale in the Federation?
Romulan Ale is illegal in the Federation for decades, but both Kirk and Picard and their senior crews are seemingly able to acquire it without too much difficulty, implying that enforcement of the ban ...
- 19k
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Do Starfleet regulations and general orders apply to non-Starfleet Federation citizens?
While preparing an answer to this question, I started to wonder if Starfleet regulations apply to non-Starfleet Federation citizens.
I am aware that during its 50+ years, the terms "Starfleet" and "...
- 7,211
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Did Captain Janeway commit human rights violations?
In Star Trek: Voyager Season 2 Episode 24, "Tuvix", there was an accident that following an away mission to collect some orchid samples. Only one molecular pattern rematerialized, and formed a healthy ...
- 3,459
25
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Does the Federation have the equivalent of Miranda rights?
I am watching DS9 for the first time (almost at the end of season 4) and it struck me that whenever a character is arrested, it seems that they are never told their rights and/or what they're being ...
- 991
11
votes
1
answer
791
views
How did Ro Laren join Starfleet?
As I was reading:
Can non-Federation members join Starfleet?
I wondered, "What about Ro Laren?" (after all, Bajor was not under Federation "tutelage" at that time). So I checked the Memory Alpha ...
- 10.1k
3
votes
1
answer
268
views
In what episodes did the legal systems of "one-off" aliens provide a key plot-element?
This is the third in a cluster of questions related to legal systems in Star Trek.
Besides major species with 'unusual legal systems'. There are a few episodes when a 'one-off' alien legal system ...
- 59.8k