District 13

In a somewhat paranoia fueled attempt to avoid unintentionally sucombing to the same fate as The Capital, President Coin, as well as a small number of other high ranking District 13 government officials, put in place a system of laws to change the minds of anyone who would consider trying to over through the country’s government. These laws grant any citizen of the country of or over the age of 18 the ability to own and be owned by other citizens and possibly government officials- though owning them is reserved for other officials of equal or higher rank- under certain circumstances.

These circumstances are any situation when any eligible citizen or official saves another eligible individual in one form or another. This varies from saving one’s life to getting them out of debt and far beyond. The loseness of that specific part of the laws is like that by design, by giving it an incredibly broad meaning, it gives government officials and loyal citizens more opportunities to squash any rebels or those suspected of rebelling.

Even though the situation is likely to be rare, the laws are also set up to give any eligible individual control over those who already hold ownership over someone else, so long as that individual is otherwise capable of gaining ownership of their theoretical ****. In these situations, the newly enslaved individual would still maintain ownership over their own **** or slaves and be able to order them to do things, so long as those orders don’t violate orders by the highest ranked owners or said highest ranked owner doesn’t disagree with said orders. In that case, the highest ranked owner has the final say, as well as having general ownership over anyone lower than them in the system.

This ownership can also given away, restoring the enslaved individual to full autonomy, or signed away to another individual, so long as it would work within the above outlined laws and guidelines. Both processes are able to be completed with relatively simple and easy to fill out paperwork. The only time either process would be unable to be completed is with relinquishing ownership, which cannot be done by government officials or loyalists when those owned are or were rebels.

These laws were designed to both deter rebellion and make the government’s fight easier were an uprising to take place, as it would likely give them and their supporters control over a large number of rebels.