Alarian Hierarchy

The Alarian government, known as the Alarian Hierarchy, was a hierarchical meritocracy. While it had great potential for misuse, this was tempered by the civic duty and personal responsibility Alarians learned in childhood.

Alarians had 27 citizenship tiers, beginning with civilians (client races and children). The initial period of military service was the second tier. Formal citizenship was conferred at the third tier, after boot camp. For client races, citizenship was granted after the individual mustered out. Higher-ranked citizens were expected to lead and protect subordinates. Lower-ranking citizens were expected to obey and support superiors. Promotion to another tier of citizenship was based on the personal assessment of one's superiors and co-rankers. At the top were the Primarchs, who each ruled a colonization cluster. The Primarchs voted on matters of national import. They otherwise maintained a "hands-off" policy, trusting the citizens on each level below them to do their jobs competently.

Throughout their lives, Alarians ascended to the higher tiers and were occasionally "demoted" to lower ones. The stigma associated with demotion laid not on the individual, but on those who promoted him when he wasn't ready for additional responsibility. This curbed the tendency to promote individuals into positions beyond their capabilities. Settling into a role and rank was not considered stagnation. Alarians valued knowing one's own limitations more than being ambitious.

Alarians enjoyed broad freedoms. So long as one completed his duties, and did not prevent others from completing theirs, nothing was forbidden. For example, there were no laws against recreational drug use, but if someone was unable to complete his duties due to drug use, his superiors stepped in. Judicial proceedings were "interventions." Peers expressed their concern, and tried to convince the offender to change. If rehabilitation failed, Alarians had no qualms about sentencing dangerous individuals to life at hard labor for the state.