Human/Superman Regulations Act

The Human/Superhuman Regulations Act (HSHRA) is a bill passed by the U.S. congress in late 1992 and first signed into law by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1983. It followed in the wake of similar laws being passed in various other countries around the globe. The laws has since been expanded and ammended by multiple other bills passed over the years.

Outline

The laws established the legal basis for superhuman existence and operation, in particular regards to law enforcement and crime. It guarantees basic human rights to all supers and sets up limits and restrictions on their activities.
In its current form, it establishes, amongst others, the following rules:

Prohibition on Vigilante Activity

All superhuman vigilante activities have been prohibited. Officially the Department of Superhuman Affairs does therefore not recognise a distinction between Vigilantes and Rogues. In effect, it has been shown that Sanctioned Super groups often inofficially turn a blind eye on their activities if they operate within the same bounds as the sanctioned supers would.

Superhuman Registration

This article establishes the requirement for all superpowered individuals to register with the Department of Superhuman Affairs. By far the most controversial part of the bill at the time of its passing, it was meant to ensure the government could easily monitor and ensure the safety both of and from all supers in the country. As super numbers have since risen, more and more supers have "fallen through the net" and are not listed anywhere, with many foregoing registration. It is still mandatory to register in order to serve in an Sanctioned capactiy.

Independent Super Working Regulations

This article establishes the right to use superhuman abilities for personal use and in a private environment only. It also allows limited use of superhuman abilities for civilian work, so long as they are not used to infringe on both the right or fair chances of other civilians.
Often criticised for hampering innovation and denying the world access to widespread tinker tech, it effectively places any superhuman business ventures under specific oversight of the competition authorities and their local government for approval of projects, sales and other ventures.

Stay On Lethal Force & Civilian Protection

These articles establish that the two "golden rules" of both Rogues and Sanctioned Supers: Firstly, no civilian must be harmed or targeted by harmful superpowers. This is to ensure similiar rules to those of war on the battlefield. Secondly, no lethal force may be used by either law enforcement or rogues against each other. This is to prevent an escalation and "arms race" of lethality that would inevitably catch civilians in the crossfire.
Anyone violating these rules forfeits the proctions granted by them.
This article has been singled out as the one responsible for "normalising" super crime and many attempts to repeal it and topple it before the Supreme Court have been made.
It effectively also resulted in a nation-wide stay on any and all death penalties, though many states still rule them as such. As the threat of execution might lead Rogues to resist arrest with lethal force if their crimes are heavy enough, the threat of this escalation was to be eliminated. To ensure equal and fair treatment between powered and non-powered individuals, all normal death penalties were also stayed.

Costumes & Identity

The laws also dictate that every super active in law enforcement needs to wear an outfit that clearly establishes them as a super. This is similiar to the requirement of being clearly identifiable as a combatant in warfare and serves the same purpose. It has been often mocked as a the "Spandex Law", due the frequency of that material being used for costumes in the early days of super crime.
They also guarantee the secrecy of identity to all supers, even under capture in case of criminals. The intended effect is to disencourage Rogues from targeting a Sanctioned super's family and therefore civilians, by offering them the same protection and chance of a normal life after release from prison should they honour these rules.

Effective

1983

Related Historical Events

• 1983 CE
  Human/Superhuman Regulations Acts