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Social policies are a new concept in Civilization V, representing the non-scientific or religious advancements of your society. They act as a system of gameplay bonuses, activated little by little as your empire develops its Culture. Some of these bonuses are empire-wide (meaning they act on all cities and empire components at the same time), while others are related to particular buildings, units, or even Great People. Many Social Policies enhance individual buildings' functions - check the list of buildings for more info on that.

All policies are organised into trees, and each tree has to be unlocked before the specific policies in it can be adopted. The policies within each tree are further organized into branches, requiring that lower-level policies be adopted before higher-level ones become available. Unlocking a policy tree also activates a special bonus, as does adopting all five policies in it. Besides, each policy tree unlocks an honorific title for the leader.

For more information on the exact process of adopting policies, as well as for different strategies concerning Social Policies, check the Social strategy article.

With the addition of the Gods & Kings expansion, the new Religion system also plays part in social politics. The Piety tree has been redesigned to benefit Religion as well as Culture, and as a reward for completing many branches, the player can spend Faith to purchase certain Great People starting in the Industrial Era. Also, once the Industrial Era comes around, a player's choice of social policies can now drastically impact its standings with another civilization. Civilizations that choose the same Industrial Era policy track (Order, Autocracy, or Freedom) will become friendlier, while civilizations with different policy tracks will become more hostile.In the Brave New World expansion, the social policies have been updated, with the inclusion of the Aesthetics and Exploration policy trees. Also, Piety can now be adopted right from the Ancient Era, while the next trees all unlock an Era earlier, giving the player a wider choice for development in the early game. No Policy trees are mutually exclusive anymore, and the Anarchy concept has been reserved for when you switch Ideology. Order, Autocracy, and Freedom have been excluded as Social policies, but one of these can be adopted as an Ideology once you build three Factories or reach the Modern Era. Even more than in Gods & Kings, a player's choice of Ideology can drastically impact his or her standings with another civilization. Finally, note that some World Wonders are now linked to Social Policy trees (for example, the Pyramids are linked to the Liberty tree) - now they can only be built if the relevant tree has been unlocked, AND you have researched the necessary technology.

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The Tradition tree is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Lord" for male leaders and "Lady" for female leaders.

Adopting Tradition greatly increases the rate of border expansion (25%) in cities (by diminishing the accumulated Culture needed for successive new tiles) and also grants +3 Culture in the Capital. Unlocks building the Hanging Gardens wonder.

Adopting all Policies in the Tradition tree will grant +15% Growth in all cities and +2 Food in each citya free Aqueduct in your first four citiesa free Aqueduct in your first four cities. It also allows the purchase of Great Engineers with Faith starting in Industrial Era.

Policy Effect Requirement Aristocracy +15% Happiness for every 10 Citizens in a City. Adopting Tradition Oligarchy Garrisoned units cost no maintenance and cities with a garrison gain +100% +50% +50% Ranged Combat Strength. Adopting Tradition Legalism Provides a free culture building in your first 4 cities. Adopting Tradition Adopting Tradition Oligarchy Monarchy +1 Gold and -1 Unhappiness for every 2 Citizens in the Legalism Landed Elite +10% Legalism

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The Liberty tree is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Consul". Note that in the expansions, the order of Republic and Collective Rule was switched, although their bonuses remain the same.

Adopting Liberty will provide +1 Culture in every city. Unlocks building the Pyramids wonder.

Adopting all policies in the Liberty tree will grant a free Great Person of your choice near the Capital.

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The Honor tree is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Great".

Adopting Honor gives a +25%+33%+33% combat bonus against Barbarians; from now on notifications will be provided when new Barbarian Encampments spawn in revealed territory. Gain Culture for the empire from each barbarian unit killed. (The Culture earned is equal to the Combat Strength or Ranged Combat Strength of the defeated unit, whichever is greater.) Unlocks building the Statue of Zeus wonder.

Adopting all policies in the Honor tree will grant Gold for each enemy unit killed. (Note that this applies only to units killed directly by your actions. For example, you won't receive Gold for a unit killed by the effect of a Citadel.) It also allows the purchase of Great Generals with Faith starting from the Industrial Era.

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The Piety tree becomes available during the Classical Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Rationalism.becomes available during the Classical Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Rationalism.is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Pious".

Adopting Piety reduces the time to build Culture buildingsShrines and Temples{{{3}}} by 15%.50%.50%. Unlocks building the Great Mosque of Djenne wonder.

Adopting all policies in the Piety tree will reduce the Culture cost of future Policies by 10%provide a 20% discount on purchases of all religious units and buildings with Faith and Holy Sites provide +3 Gold and +3 Culturecause a Great Prophet to appear and Holy Sites provide +3 Culture.

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The Patronage tree becomes available during the Medieval EraMedieval EraClassical Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Enlightened".

Adopting Patronage makes your Influence with City-States degrade 25% slower than normal. Unlocks building the Forbidden Palace wonder.

Adopting all policies in the Patronage tree will make other players' Influence with City-States decrease 33% more per turn than usualmake other players' Influence with City-States decrease 33% more per turn than usualcause allied City-States to occasionally gift you Great People.

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The CommerceCommerceAesthetics tree becomes available during the Medieval EraMedieval EraClassical Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Master" for male leaders and "Mistress" for female leaders.

Adopting Commerce boosts Gold output in Capital City by 25%Commerce boosts Gold output in Capital City by 25%Aesthetics allows you to earn Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians 25% faster. Unlocks building the Uffizi.

Adopting all Policies in the CommerceCommerceAesthetics tree will grant +1 Gold from every Specialistwill grant +1 Gold from every Trading Post and double Gold from Great Merchant trade missions. May purchase Great Merchants with Faithdoubles the theming bonus you receive from Museums and Wonders. It also allows the purchase of Great Writers, Artists, or Musicians with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.

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The RationalismRationalismCommerce tree becomes available during the Renaissance Era. It cannot be active at the same time as PietyRenaissance Era. It cannot be active at the same time as PietyMedieval Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Doge".

Adopting Rationalism boosts Science gained from research agreements by 50%Rationalism grants +15% Science while the empire is HappyCommerce boosts Gold output in Capital City by 25%. Unlocks building Big Ben.

Adopting all Policies in the RationalismRationalismCommerce tree will grant +1 Gold from Science buildings2 free Technologies. May purchase Great Scientists with Faith+1 Gold from every Trading Post. It also allows the purchase of Great Merchants with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.

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The FreedomFreedomExploration tree becomes available during the Renaissance Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or AutocracyIndustrial Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or AutocracyMedieval Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Captain".

Adopting Freedom increases the rate at which Great People are born by 25%Freedom increases the rate at which Great People are born by 25%Exploration gives +1 Movement for Naval units and +1 Sight for Naval Combat units. Unlocks building the Louvre.

Adopting all Policies in the FreedomFreedomExploration tree will increase the base yield from Great Tile Improvements by 100% and length of Golden Ages increased by 50%will increase the base yield from Great Tile Improvements by 100% and length of Golden Ages increased by 50%. May purchase Great Artists with Faithallows you to see Hidden Antiquity Sites. It also allows the purchase of Great Admirals with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.

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The AutocracyAutocracyRationalism tree becomes available during the Industrial Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or FreedomIndustrial Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or FreedomRenaissance Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Wise".

Adopting Autocracy reduces Unit Gold Maintenance costs by 33%, allowing an empire to field a larger militaryAutocracy reduces Unit Gold Maintenance costs by 33%, allowing an empire to field a larger military. Receive 10 Culture as plunder for each point of Culture produced in captured cityRationalism will grant +10% Science while the empire is Happy. Unlocks building the Porcelain Tower.

Adopting all Policies in the AutocracyAutocracyRationalism tree will grant a 20% attack bonus to all Military Units for 30 turns25% attack bonus to all Military Units for 50 turns. May purchase Great Generals and Great Admirals with Faithfree Technology. It also allows the purchase of Great Scientists with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.

Related achievements

Artistic License

Policy track. Fully explore the Aesthetics

Death Before Shame

Fully Explore the Honor Policy Track.

Diplomacy by Other Means

Fully Explore the Autocracy Policy Track.

Eighty-Eight Miles per Hour

Policy Track. Fully Explore the Rationalism

Freedom Isn't Free

Fully Explore the Freedom Policy Track.

Lux Perpetua Luceat Eis

Fully Explore the Piety Policy Track.

Master of the House

Fully Explore the Tradition Policy Track.

Money Doesn't Grow on Trees

Fully Explore the Commerce Policy Track.

Team Player

Fully Explore the Patronage Policy Track.