Senate Loyalty Hearings · 1953 Player Reference Card · KEEP HIDDEN FROM TABLEMATES
IF YOU ARE LOYAL
You are a patriotic State Department employee. Win by clearing 3 of 5 hearings. You do not know who the infiltrators are. Argue. Question. Vote.
IF YOU ARE AN INFILTRATOR
You serve the Soviets. You know your fellow infiltrators. Win by compromising 3 of 5 hearings. Hide in plain sight. Vote like an American.
The 5 Hearings
The Subcommittee will conduct five Loyalty Hearings. Whichever side wins three first wins the game.
Loyal Americans win by clearing 3 hearings.
Infiltrators win by compromising 3 hearings.
Or: If the Senate rejects 5 proposals in a single hearing, the committee is paralyzed — that hearing automatically compromises.
Your Two Cards
If named to a Hearing, you receive two cards and secretly play one.
CLEAR — supports the patriotic outcome.
SUBVERT — sabotages the hearing.
Loyal Americans MUST play CLEAR.
Infiltrators MAY play either.
If any one SUBVERT appears, the hearing is COMPROMISED.
One Hearing, Step by Step
PHASE 01Proposal
The Committee Chair names the required number of investigators (themselves included or not).
PHASE 02Senate Vote
All players vote at once: thumbs up = approve, thumbs down = reject. Majority approves. If rejected, the chair passes to the left.
PHASE 03Secret Hearing
Named investigators play one card face-down. Cards are shuffled, then revealed. One SUBVERT = compromised.
U.S. State Department · Loyalty Review Board · 1953EYES ONLY