Honor system

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The honor system is a philosophical way of running a variety of endeavors based on trust and honor. Something that operates under the rule of the "honor system" is usually something that does not have strictly enforced rules behind its functioning. In the UK, it would more often be called a "trust system" and should not be confused with the British honours system.

A person engaged in a honor system has strong negative connotations associated with breaking or going against it. The negatives may include things like community shame, loss of stature, or in extreme situations, banishment.

In some places, for example, public transportation such as trains operate on an honor system. The local government may find it impractical or overly expensive to install ticket-checking turnstiles at every station, and instead rely on casual human surveillance to check if all train riders possess tickets. In such a system one could thus ride the train without paying, and simply hope he would be lucky enough to avoid a random ticket check during his trip. Though unethical, such behavior is impossible for an honor system by itself to prevent. However, some train companies discourage fare-dodging by means of a penalty fares system, in which a person who is caught travelling without a valid ticket is charged a significantly greater amount than what a ticket would have cost for the journey being made. In London, UK, the Docklands Light Railway largely operates such a system, as is the case with many UK bendy buses and many branch line railway services. The MAX light rail system in Portland, Oregon works much in the same way; Occasionally an attendant will come by and check tickets, and if you are caught you will face a hefty fine. The third time you are found out, you will be banished from the system entirely. Some hotels in continental Europe operate an honor bar, allowing guests to serve and record their own drinks and saving the cost of a night bartender. The Christian Faithpay system is also an honor system.

In some colleges, the honor system is used to administer tests unsupervised. Students are generally asked to sign an honor code statement that says they will not cheat or use unauthorized resources when taking the test. As an example, at the University of Virginia a student taking an examination is required to sign, date and include the following pledge: "On my honour as a student I have neither given nor received aid on this examination." There is but one penalty for transgression of the honour code, and that is dismissal from the University.