Parliament of Guilds
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Cloud City is ruled by three political entities: the Baron Administrator, the Exex, and the Parliament of Guilds.
The guilds not only provide administrative oversight to the various industries that operate on Cloud City and Bespin, but also serve as labor unions for the thousands of workers employed by them. The Parliament's primary function is to broker negotiations between the various guilds, and to encourage cooperation among Cloud City's workforce.
Hierarchy
Mining Guild
The Mining Guild or Miner's Guild controls all aspects of the tibanna gas mining operations on Cloud City, and Bespin at large. It also represents the interests of all residents of Cloud City and Bespin who are involved in the mining industry. Because of this focus, a large proportion of the Mining Guild's membership are Ugnaughts.
Gambling Guild
The Gambling Guild, also called the Gambling Authority or the Liquor & Gambling Guild, supervises and monitors all of Cloud City's gambling institutions. They issue and maintain the licences held by legitimate casinos and sabacc halls, and are responsible for breaking up any illegal gambling, and respond to any allegations of cheating by patrons or game-rigging by casinos. Since many of Cloud City's casinos are also bars and entertainment halls, the Gambling Guild also distributes liquor licences, and caters for the welfare of all casino employees, from waitresses and dealers to guards and dancers.
Mechanics Guild
The oldest of the Parliament of Guilds, the Mechanics Guild was first established during the construction of Cloud City as the Ugnaught Mechanics Union. It initially represented an alliance between the three main Ugnaught tribes, but has since expanded to encompass anyone who is employed as repair, maintenance, or construction staff on Cloud City. It encompasses both those employed by the Cloud City administration directly, and those employed as workers by other corporations in the city, with the exception of those already represented by the Weapons Guild.
Merchant Guild
The Merchant Guild or Merchant's Guild represents all mercantile activity on Cloud City, from food stalls and street vendors to gourmet restaurants luxury boutiques. As well as ensuring all kitchens and eateries are up to code, they also supervise all imports and exports, monitoring the influx of controlled substances into the city with the assistance of the Bespin Wing Guard.
Security Guild
The Security Guild is the civil body that oversees the security and law enforcement organizations of Cloud City - namely the Bespin Wing Guard. They are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of Cloud City's security employees, and respond to any allegations of corruption and malpractice. They are also responsible for the safety and security of the civilian populace, and so are involved in ensuring that security monitors, fire suppression systems, and other health and safety measures remain intact and operable.
Weapons Guild
Because of the role tibanna gas plays in weapons manufacture, the Weaponry Guild (or Weapons Guild) exists to represent any workers on Cloud City employed in this industry, and also to supervise the manufacture, sale, and export of blasters and blaster-equipped vehicles. Anyone wishing to engage in the sale and transport of bulk quantities of firearms requires a permit from the Weapons Guild, and the Guild has the authority to fine or imprison those engaging in unsanctioned arms dealing. They also issue permits for anyone wishing to carry weapons "larger than a pistol in size, or of an unorthodox nature" - a measure to limit the ability of bounty hunters and mercenaries to cause problems for the populace, and also to safeguard the structural integrity of Cloud City from being damaged by high yield weapons.
Trade Spine League
Following the creation of the Greater Javin Corporate Authority, the Trade Spine League - a semi-official network and union of spacers, smugglers, and privateers - was adopted as part of the Greater Javin's security infrastructure: providing a network of licensed traders and spacers who could cooperate to provide assistance, early warnings, and protection to each other. To achieve this, the Trade Spine League needed an appearance of legitimacy, and so Ceto Rübezahl made arrangements for the League to be recognised as one of Cloud City's guilds.