Shadow Proclamation

The Shadow Proclamation is the name of both a compact or treaty related to galactic law (or even high authorities), and the governing body of said compact or treaty. The purpose of the Proclamation is to govern how different civilisation interact with one another.

The Proclamation is first mentioned in series 1 episode Rose. The Doctor uses Convention 15 of the Shadow Proclamation to gain an audience with the Nestene Consciousness, for the purposes of negotiating an end to the Autons' attempted takeover of earth.

It is next mentioned in the series 4 episode Partners in Crime. According to the Doctor, the breeding of Adipose children on Earth was a violation of the Proclamation since the "seeding" of Level 5 planets was prohibited. Miss Foster, the woman in charge of the breeding program, was concerned that the Doctor had alerted the Shadow Proclamation to her activities. Captain Jack's Monster Files, on the official BBC website, referenced the Shadow Proclamation having arrested the Adiposian First Family (who were behind the breeding program) and taken custody of the children.

The next mention is in the series 4 episode The Fires of Pompeii. Upon discovering that aliens are at work in 1st century Pompeii, The Doctor demands that the alien identify it's place of origin and species designation "as set down by the Shadow Proclamation".

Since the Shadow Proclamation has only been referenced in conjunction with Earth, it is likely the Proclamation exists to regulate contact between alien races and civilisations that are not aware of or have not become part of the galactic community, such as Earth up to (at least) the 21st century.

Other references

 * Rose Tyler tried unsuccessfully to bluff the leader of the Sycorax by mentioning the Shadow Proclamation, in a jumbled way. (DW: The Christmas Invasion)