An interstellar nation consisting of over 150 states united for mutual benefit.
Government[]
The legislature of the government is the Council of the United Federation of Planets, more commonly known as the Federation Council. A unicameral body, the Council is comprised of one Federation Councillor from each member state, and meets in the Federation Council Chambers on Earth. Specifically, the Council Chambers are located on Floor One of the Palais de la Concorde in the city of Paris.
The Federation Council conducts its business in sessions that convene every six months, with three-week intervals between actual meetings. According to the Articles of the Federation, all councillors must be present at the beginning of a session in order to participate in future meetings; those that are not present must wait until the next session convenes, six months later. The Council conducts much of its business by dividing itself into numerous sub-councils with jurisdiction over specific areas of import; the Security Council, for instance, has jurisdiction over matters of Federation security. Some of the sub-councils, such as Security and Judiciary, are permanent, while others are created on an as-needed basis. The councillors from the five founding states are automatically appointed to the permanent sub-councils. Otherwise, membership in sub-councils is determined by the President, who nominates a councillor for a particular role; these choices are then confirmed by the full Council.
In accordance with the Articles of the Federation, sessions of the full Council are presided over by the President (barring special circumstances, such as their being off-world). The President stands at a podium near the north wall, while the councillors sit in seats arranged in rising rows of twenty. The podium determines who may speak to the Council for the record, and recognized speakers may only address the Council from the speaker’s floor, located in the centre of the room between two sets of councillors’ seats. The law does not specify an upper limit to the number of people who can hold the floor, but few presidents ever allow the number to exceed three. At that point discussions generally devolve into shouting matches.
Councillors have computer terminals at their work stations, which they may use to silently contact one another, as well as send messages to people outside the chamber. Lights on each terminal are activated if the councillor in question desires to address the Council. No one may speak if they have not been recognized by the podium. During sub-council sessions, members may speak without having to be recognized by the chair; these sessions are usually presided over by a member of the council in question rather than the President. The President can choose to oversee proceedings as they desire, though. The President is generally expected to solicit the active participation of the appropriate sub-council in determining executive policies; as such, there is far less separation of powers between the Council and the Presidency than in many traditional Earth governments.
The exact means of elevation to the Council differs between member states. The Republic of Bajor, for instance, determines its Councillor by having a candidate nominated by the First Minister; they are then confirmed by the Chamber of Ministers. The Andorian Empire selects its councillor from among the political party currently holding the majority of seats in the Parliament Andoria. The representative from Triex is appointed by the Triexian Curia, while the councillors for both Betazed and Gnala are popularly elected. Membership on the Council is of course a great honour, and as of 2266, only T’Pau of Vulcan had ever refused a seat.
The President, meanwhile, ascends to the position through popular election, serving an unlimited number of four-year terms. Presidential candidates are declared by the Federation Council, which reviews anonymously-submitted petitions for candidacy before declaring that a given individual qualifies. When a president unexpectedly resigns, dies, or is otherwise unable to discharge the powers of the office, the Federation Council declares one of its members President Pro Tempore. The President Pro Tempore then serves for a month, while a special election is called.
The president’s office is on Floor Fifteen of the Palais de la Concorde. Fifteen also features a private study for the president, an office and waiting room for the president’s secretary and guests, the Presidential Transporter Room, a large hallway, and two large meeting rooms named after former presidents: the Ra-ghoratreii Room and the Wescott Room. The fourteenth and thirteenth floors house the president’s staff. The office for the Presidential Chief of Staff, and those of cabinet members, are located on the outer rim of the fourteenth. Various deputy chiefs and speechwriters are housed in the inner rim, as well as on the thirteenth floor. It is customary for each administration to redecorate the Presidential Office, and the top three floors of the Palais, as the president sees fit.
The official residence of the President is Château Thelian, located in the Vallée de la Loire in France and built to the specifications of other famous châteaux in the valley. Château Thelian is as large as the Château de Saint Brisson, which itself served as the residence of former presidential Chief of Staff Koll Azernal. Built during the term of Thelianaresth th’Vorothishria in the early 24th Century, Château Thelian now features a sitting room with the portraits of each president who has occupied it since. It also features a private transporter room, typically used for quick transit between the château and the Palais.
Until 2381, the president was protected at all times by members of Starfleet Security, which featured a special presidential protection division. These officers were typically dressed in standard Starfleet uniforms - on formal occasions, they would wear Starfleet dress uniforms or the formal dress of their homeworld. In 2381, during the term of Nanietta Bacco, an independent agency took over protecting the President; these agents were not members of Starfleet and wore dark civilian uniforms. Starfleet Security does maintain a continuous physical presence within the Palais, adjacent to the president, and is responsible for general security. Starfleet also provides escort when the President travels off-world. Within star systems, the President typically travels on one of three Starfleet shuttlecraft: The T’Maran, the sh’Rothress and the al-Rashid. Named after three 22nd century presidents, the shuttles are based out of the Palais de la Concorde and most commonly provide transportation within the Sol system. When the president travels, at least two of the shuttles are used, so that there will always be a decoy should the party come under attack. The president’s staff and bodyguards are usually evenly divided between the craft. All communication channels established between the shuttles and other ships or outposts are secure, and the forward half of the craft can be cut off from the back through a descending bulkhead. This allows privacy, and prevents shuttle pilots receiving information they lack the security clearance to hear. When the president travels between star systems, he, she or it typically makes use of a non-Starfleet ship bearing the name Paris One, though again Starfleet provides escorts. The President may also sometimes travel aboard a Starfleet ship, typically a capital vessel. As of 2380, the Galaxy-class USS Venture had most commonly been used for presidential transport.
The duties of the president are numerous. As the Federation lacks the strict separation of powers found in many governments, the president not only serves as head of the executive branch, but also as head of the legislature. As such, the Articles of the Federation hold that the president is required to preside over all full sessions of the Federation Council, “barring special circumstances.” The president “has the option, but is not required, to preside over meetings of the various sub-councils”. If the president chooses to decline, the chair of said council serves as the presiding officer. The president is also required to nominate Federation Councillors to the sub-councils, with the full Council then being responsible for ratifying nominations. While presiding over a Council or sub-council session, the president reserves the right to determine who may or may not address the room from the speaker’s floor, and also determines when voting on a bill or resolution is to take place. The president may not vote themselves, though.
The president is generally expected to solicit the participation of councillors from the appropriate sub-councils when dealing with issues pertaining to their jurisdiction, and a full sub-council is sometimes capable of exercising authority nearly equal to that of the president. For instance, the Federation Security Council has the right to order Starfleet Operations to in turn issue orders to subordinate Starfleet agencies, such as the Starfleet Corps of Engineers. An order from the president over-rides an order from a sub-council in executive issues, though. The president has the right to executive review of any legislation passed by the Council, and may veto a bill. From there, the bill may be sent back to the Council, which in turn might override the veto if a sufficiently large number of councillors vote as such. The president may also introduce bills and resolutions to the Council.
Members[]
Aaamazzara
Algol
Alonis
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Proxima II
Andorian Empire (Andoria, Alrond, Cimera III, Syrinx III, Threllvia IV, Weytahn)
Antede
Arbazan Foundation (Arbazan, Jul’thernore, Koko, Kokori, Nulorm)
Arken
Aurelia
Axanar
Benzar
Betazed (Betazed, Darona)
Bolarus (Bolarus IX, Myrmidon)
Bre'el
Cairn
Cait (Cait, Havelind, Hochlor IV, Kirisha IV, Macadarna, Narval)
Candelar IV
Canopus
Carnegie
Casperia Prime
Centrelis
Cestus III
Confederated Martian Colonies (Mars)
Cort
Cygneti Matriarchate (Cygnet XIV, Cygnet IV, Cygnet VIII (joint administration with Earth))
Cyrel
Damiano
Delb II
Deltan Union (Delta, Cinera and Seyann, Albegad, Brannik IV)
Deneva (Deneva, Ingraham B)
Denobula (Denobula, Ados, Teerza Prime)
Draylax
Eeiauou
Efros
Evora
Hermat Directorate (Hermat, Amphibalus III, Teridus IV)
Huan
Ithen
Izar
Kashet
Kazar
Koa
Nasat
Pahkwa
People’s Republic of Coridan
Plutocracy of Ardana (Ardana)
Pythagos Clans
Risan Hedony (Risa, Donia, Koolhaas, Tazi)
Sauria
Tiburon
Third Republic of Bajor (Bajor, Andros, Dreon VIII, Free Haven, Golana, Prophet’s Landing, Valo)
Trill Symbiosis (Trill, Caldik Prime, Sappora VII, Shal Tul)
Tygar
Tyran (Tyrus, Khefka IV)
Tyrellia
United Earth (Earth, Luna, Titan)
United Planets of Tellar (Tellar, Kera and Phinda, Brantik, Hakon)
United Rigel Colonies (Rigel II, Rigel III, Rigel IV, Rigel V, Rigel VI, Rigel VIII, Rigel IX, Rigel X, Rigel XII, McIlvain’s Planet)
Vulcan Confederacy of Surak (Vulcan, T’Khut, Vulcanis Lunar Colony, Cor Caroli V, Cor Caroli IX, Harmony, Nisus, P’Jem, Trilan)
Zakdorn League (Zakdorn, Glix, Lacertae, Qualor II)
Zalda (Zalda, Ricktor Prime)
Zanri
Zaran (Zaranei)
Zimonia