Big Brother Rule Book

The **Big Brother Rule Book** (or simply, the **House Rules**) is a handbook of rules and regulations created by Big Brother for housemates during their stay in the house. It plays a major part in the show, and it can affect a housemate's stay inside the house if he or she violates one or more of the rules, as each violation results in a corresponding punishment.

Big Brother's House Rules may vary throughout each country and season, and are enforced at the sole discretion of production. Some countries may have stricter house rules while others have more lenient ones. Some twists can also alter the season's respective rules and regulations.

## International House Rules

The following house rules are the most important rules in the Big Brother House and must be followed by contestants all around the world. If a housemate were to violate these rules, he or she could face a punishment or ejection.

* Housemates shall have no contact with the outside world.
* All housemates must wear microphone lapels at all times, except when swimming or sleeping.
* Conversations in the Diary Room should always stay confidential. No one should ever share such conversations with other housemates unless told to do so.
* Whispering inside the house is strictly prohibited. (Whispering is defined as talking too softly for a microphone to detect)
* Housemates should never intimidate, threaten or act violently towards any other housemate.
* Tasks are compulsory, but housemates may be permitted to refrain from participating where health or other reasons are accepted by Big Brother.
* Speaking in another language aside from the official language used by the show is strictly prohibited.
* The housemates should never deliberately break anything inside the house.
* Covering or tampering microphones or cameras, writing secret messages, talking under hidden places (such as bedding, tables and beds) are strictly prohibited.
* The Housemates must leave the house immediately (after brief goodbyes) once evicted and immediately experience an interview with the host on live television.
* Production has the sole discretion over what to broadcast and what not to broadcast.
* The following items are forbidden inside the house:
	+ Drugs and narcotics
	+ Personal medication (except in consultation with Big Brother)
	+ Weapons
	+ Watches
	+ Money, check books, or credit/debit cards
	+ Mobile/cell phones
	+ TVs, Computers, or Gaming Devices
	+ PalmPilots or electronic organizers
	+ Agendas or diaries
	+ Magazines
	+ Books, aside from official religious texts
	+ Pens or any similar writing implements (unless provided by Big Brother)
	+ Paper or writing pads (unless provided by Big Brother)
	+ Musical instruments (allowed in some countries)
	+ Any ready-made games, such as playing cards (unless received from production)
	+ Any item requiring electrical or battery power
	+ Radios or walkmans
	+ CDs or CD players
	+ Clothes entirely white in color, with prominent commercial logos (unless authorized), or messages to the outside world.
	+ These items will not be returned until the end of the game/if you're evicted from the Big Brother house.

## Big Brother US

In the Big Brother (US), the majority of the house rules enforced internationally are also enforced in the house, with key differences regarding how the game is played.

Some of these rules that appear specifically on the North American version include the following; the housemates are allowed to talk about nominations, as well as influence others to vote; the housemates aren't given a weekly house budget. Instead, certain housemates go on *slop* for a week, determined by either a challenge or the Head of Household.

* The winner of the Power of Veto may elect to remove one nominee from the block, including themselves. If the Power of Veto is golden, the HOH must immediately select a replacement nominee. If it is diamond, the winner of the power must immediately select a replacement nominee.
* Houseguests must vote to evict one of the two nominees on live television, unless declared ineligible to vote. Unless otherwise directed, the vote will be cast in the diary room.
* Specific rules about the house and how the houseguests are responsible for its maintenance.

## Violation & Punishments

A violation is an unlawful action made by a Housemate/Houseguest that is considered as improper conduct in the Big Brother Rule Book. Every violation made has a corresponding punishment.

Typically, each housemate can only be given three strikes of violations which means they can only receive three warnings within their whole stay inside the Big Brother House. Once they had three or more strikes, they automatically face *forced eviction*.

* **1st Strike:** Violators may have a light punishment, usually, punishments that hinder their normal lives in the house such as *being tied together for a certain amount of time*, or *wearing an embarrassing costume*.
* **2nd Strike:** Violators may receive an automatic nomination.
* **3rd Strike:** Violators will have to be forcibly evicted out of the house.

Despite having three strikes, there are rules that if violated may result in ejection regardless of the strike count. Some of these grave violations include; violent behavior, abusive & offensive remarks, and failure to observe the 24-hour Rule.