| The United Federation of Planets is a confederation of unified planetary governments and colonies in the Alpha and parts of the Beta Quadrant. The peoples that populate the member worlds of the Federation are numerous and diverse. Though most races are humanoid, other life-forms are included within the boundaries of the Federation, even ethereal non-corporeal beings. Among the vast numbers of government agencies that span the loosely governed network of planets and systems, the most prominent institution is Starfleet. With an armada of exploring vessels and highly trained officers at their helm, the fleet is dedicated to the peaceful exploration of new civilizations. From their mission logs, the Federation can glean new scientific information, make contact with new races, and expand the frontiers knowledge. The Federation was established in 2161, on the planet Babel, the result of a need for an agency of defense against the Romulans. Five races - Terrans, Alpha Centaurians, Vulcans, Tellarites, and Andorians - chartered the United Federation of Planets for their mutual benefit and protection. Individual rights and civil liberties are guaranteed by the Constitution of the United Federation of Planets, signed in 2161. The Federation has expanded rapidly since, and today is composed of some 150 planets, bound together in a voluntary union for trade, exploration, diplomacy, and mutual protection. The Articles of Federation were signed by the United Nations of Earth, Epsilon Indii, the Alpha Centuri Concordium of Planets, Vulcan and many more, to provide a common defense against the threat of attack from the Romulan Star Empire. The constitution signed at Babel provided for freedoms and liberties for all races, a representative democratic government with universal sufferage, and established Starfleet. The planets in the Federation are all governed by the Federation Council. Composed of representatives from each member planet, the Council is based in San Francisco, Earth and reelected every two years. Presiding over the Council is the Federation Council President, whose office is set in Paris, Earth. Every member state is entitled to its own military, government system and intelligence agencies. Localized government is insituted as opposed to a powerful central government, and it is in this way that freedom and individuality of all member states are realized. However, the Federation law must be observed, and this keeps order within a myriad of different systems that comprise the Federation. The balanced system of democracy and socialist economy evolved from the early days of capitalism. During the three hundred years since the height of currency-based capitalism, the Federation has developed a society where money and personal gain are no longer at the forefront of their citizens' ambition. In place of a monetary-based economic system, the Federation utilizes "credits" to govern trade with those worlds that do. Interstellar trade is largely free and unregulated, apart from certain contraband things such as slaves, drugs, and weapons of mass destruction. Because of its freedom and diversity, the Federation is wealthy and prosperous. Within the boundaries of Federation territory are many lesser-developed non-member worlds whose technology has not reached the point of interstellar travel. As decreed by the Articles of the Federation, these worlds are strictly off-limits, and contact is forbidden until they reach the proper phase of technological advancement. When that occurs, the Federation sends a diplomatic envoy that makes first contact and encourages the world to join in the Federation. However, the decision is solely theirs. Should they decide to decline the offer, the Federation will sign neutral or alliance treaties that serve to smooth out relations. The extraordinary characteristic of the Federation is that there is no one dominant culture. Some races, such as the Vulcans, have a unified society, religion, and cultural base. Humans, however, are unified as a people, but still pride themselves on their different cultural values. There are nearly 150 member-planets in the Federation, creating a mosaic of cultures and traditions, bound together by their common interests: peace, order, liberty, and the discovery of new knowledge. The Federation is not perfect in its organization and function, but when the strong tradition of individual freedom, respect for life, and the pursuit of knowledge is considered, the institution is at the very least one that will leave lasting good. |
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| The United Federation of Planets |
| STATISTICS Geography Total Area: 58,500,000,000 LY3 Disputes: Dispute with Klingon Empire over Archanis Sector; Dispute with Maquis insurgents over colonies in Cardassian Demilitarized Zone. (Terminated) Natural Resources: dilithium, lead, iron, silicon, titanium, thorium, molybendum, deuterium. Planetary Use: Agricultural 2%;Inhabited 5%;Industrial 12%;Unused 81% People Population: 875,234,000,000 Birth Rate: 9 Births/1,000 Population (2372) Death Rate: 8 Deaths/1,000 Population (2372) Life Expectancy at Birth: 124 years male, 129 years female (Terran) Total Fertility Rate: 1.1 children born/woman (2372) Nationality: noun-Federation(s); adjective-Federation Species Divisions: Humanoid 78%; Non-Humanoid 13%, Non-Corporeal 9% Religion: Secular Humanism 51%; Christianity 9%; Jewish 1%; Bajoran 2%; Betazed 3%; other 11%; none 23% Language: predomitably Federation Standard English, sizable minorites speaking Vulcan, Bajoran, and Betazed. Universal Translators virtually eliminate most language barriers. Labor Force: 411,258,000,000 Government Long-Form Name: The United Federation of Planets; abbreviated as UFP Type: republic; strong democratic tradition Administrative Divisions: 156 Member worlds, 1295 Colony worlds. Independence: August 12, 2161 Constitution: August 12, 2161 Legal System: based on English-Terran common law; judicial review of legislative acts. National Holiday: Federation Day, August 12 (2161) Executive Branch: president, cabinet Legislative Branch: Unicameral Federation Counsel Judicial Branch: Federation Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Jaresh-Inyo Suffrage: Universal at age 18 Elections: President-every 6 years; Federation Council-every 4 years Flag: blue background with the words "The United Federation of Planets" in gold type centered in the bottom third of the flag. The seal of the Federation (Circular disk covered with starfield, surrounded by laurel branches) is centered in the upper two-thirds of the flag. Economy Overview: The Federation has a massive socialist economy built around large scale, inexpensive production of almost all consumer goods. No money is used for all basic expenses (food, clothing, shelter). A large scale heavy industrial base can build almost anything. The economy is in a wartime production mode because of the recent war with the Klingons, the Borg threat, and the Dominion threat. Unemployment Rate: 1% Budget: 2.98 Trillion Credits (FY 2372) Industrial Production: growth rate +1.9% (2372) Industries & Agriculture: large-scale replication, starship/space station construction, pharmaceutical agriculture, computer programming, asteroid mining, antimatter production Illicit Drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption; significant production of Romulan Ale, and Brekkian Felicium Fisical Year: Calendar Year Communications Spaceways: 51,500 LY Spaceports: 119 Major Spaceports, 789 Minor Spaceports, 6341 Space Stations Merchant Marine: 1470 ships, 3266 unmanned cargo drones. Telecommunications: 621,000,000,000 comn terminals; 8743 subspace comn relays; 5220 commerical holorecreation transmitters. Defense Forces Branches: Department of Exploration and Defense (including Starfleet Command and Marine Corps) Defense expendatures: 841 Billion Credits (FY 2372) |
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