The Standard is a scientific.religious measurement of what makes a world Privileged or, in less arcane terms, habitiable by the Major Life Forms of the Galaxy. This set of traits describes over 300 of the worlds in or near the Union Core, and fewer and fewer as one leaves the Orion Arm in any direction.

It is postulated by the Universal Church that the existance of so many such worlds so close to Earth is evidence of Design. The Union Scientific Council rejects this notion, suggesting that the Standard is either the work of an ancient race of terraformers or a really fantastic coincidence.