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 The State Of The Federation circa Stardate 5100
(from the FASA: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Sourcebook)
As the United Federation of Planets moves towards the midpoint of its second century, its members can look back on a past
of harrowing near-disaster and hard-won but lasting success. It is difficult to imagine that the founding members of the Federation
were once a squabbling mob of barely civilized, expansionistic races on the brink of war with each other.
The Federation was forged from the most dark and desperate of circunstances. Fate had placed five highly advanced races
within 20 parsecs of each other, and all (except the Vulcans) had developed starflight at nearly the same time. They sought
new worlds to conquer and colonize, and new peoples and new civilizations whose very differences could teach them new knowledge.
Hardly any one of these races expected to find so many others; certainly none welcomed the ideal that all were rivals for
the same type of planets. Class M worlds are few and far between, and most were hotly contested by the spacecraft of other
races. The agressive and capable Humans had no direction in which they could expand where a prior claim did not exist. Having
survived the catastrophic Eugenics Wars, the Earth was better equipped, diplomatically and philosophically, to deal with the
naked aggression - even its own. Still, humans realized that they had to expand so that they would not fall behind the other
races.
Earth was not alone in its worry about the future; even the Tellarites did not dispute that war would become more likely
as expansion tangled the races. The ideal of federation always circulated at conferences of the five major spacefaring worlds.
If a peace council were to be exstablished (like Earth's United Nations or the Ruling Mothers of Tellar), then war could be
prevented as soon as danger became apparent. Better, if that council could anticipate conflict and defuse it before it even
became a danger, war would cease to be the final arbiter of political or racial differences. Even better, if that council
had the authority to explore the space surrounding the major races and if the offensive forces of all the races were bound
not to a planet, or a race, or even to this hypothetical council, but to the idea of maintaining peace at all costs.
The idea was tantilizing but too futuristic for most. How could any race give up its ability to wage war, even if the othere
did so? Who would command these forces or decide how to use them? Who would own the newly discovered worlds, and who would
decide who was to live on them? Many alliances proposing less have been broken for their ambition, but the dream of Federation
lived because of one immutable truth: The future without a Federation would be bloody and futile. There would be Federation
or there would be war; any other out come was highly unlikely.
The memory of their experiences with the Vegan Tyranny hastened the races' efforts towards unity. All realized that beyond
their cozy little sphere was an unknown and possibly hostile universe waiting for them. Even so, hammering out the details
of the new government took years. When the Articles of Federation were signed on Stardate 0/8706.06, it was with hope and
dread for the future, and a universal belief that the future must be made secure for all peoples, present and future.
No one would dispute that the experiment was successful. Peace has been maintained (though occasionally, just barely) among
the members of the Federation, and all the races have planted flourishing colonies throughout its space. Peace and prosperity
have benefitted all Federation members and helped to accelerate the expansion of Federation space. Most importantly, confidence
in and support for Star Fleet and the Federation have grown - which is just as well, because expansion brought with it many
more difficulties than anyone had expected.
Star Fleet has managed to cope successfully with every crisis - whether military, as in the Romulan and Four Years Wars;
domestic, as in the regulation of trade and the performance of diplomatic missions; and in-between, as with the Orion pirate
problem. Not all solutions have been perfect. For instance, though only Star Fleet officially performs surveys and establishes
claims to worlds, for many years, private explorers have been licensed or 'deputized' to perform the same work. There are
still Orion pirates, and the slave trade has proven very difficult to eradicate. Star Fleet and the Federation have managed
to cope by anticipating every reaction - political, economic, social or military.
The Federation's greatest threat comes from the Klingon Empire. The Klingons are so different from Federation races that
the layman finds it difficult to comprehend their culture. They are not a multi-racial cooperative but a single, extremely
determined race. They do not settle new worlds through peaceful means, but rather conquer and subjugate entire races for slavery.
While the Federation Prime Directive forbids inteference with the natural development of a world's civilization, the Klingon
Empire is bent on domination, power, and galactic supremacy. An average Federation citizen might think the Klingons a lesser
power because of their lack of compassion, their pursuit of power for its own end, or simply because they are only one race,
but they are dangerous foes. An aggressive race dedicated to armed struggle, Klingons believe only in the right of the sword.
Only Star Fleets armed might has kept this powerful enemy from expanding into Federation space.
On Stardate 1/5105, armed vessels from the Federation and the Klingon Empire first met and exchanged fire. The Federation
soon had to face the unpleasent fact that a highly advanced and warlike power was expanding in their direction. Star Fleet
was slow to react, its vessels were soon reporting the presence of Klingons from the galactic southern edge of the Romulan
Neutral Zone to the western boundary of known space. The horror of invasion, dormand since the Romulan War, raised its head.
The Federation was threatened and must respond.
The Federation Council might have been willing to concede to the Klingons the `dead zone' of the Orion Arm, where gas clouds
and hot suns made an acceptable natural barrier. However, the wealth of Rigel did not tempt the Klingons; to them, the Orions
were Khesterex a dead culture, not worth the blood - even to a race that prized the spilling of blood. In addition, it was
not possible to halt the Federation's own expansion toward Rigel, into the Arm, and perhaps beyond. The Council feared, and
rightly, that when Klingons confronted a race with some fight in them, they would turn their full attention toward that race.
And so they did.
To the Klingons, it seems only natural and right that the Federation, as a `living creature', would want to conquer worlds.
They did not quarrel with such an ethic, as it was one of their own. They were happy to fight, but soon discovered that the
Federationers came to trade or farm, and not make war. The Federation tried to accomodate the Klingons through diplomacy,
earning only undying Klingon contempt and confusion. What kind of empire negotiates? They wanted to know. Their culture had
only one answer; a weak and querulous one that would have to be eliminated. However, border squabbles had shown that this
`decadent' race possessed a first-rate fleet of armed starships, and a surprising ability to fight when pressed. This delighted
the Klingons. Races despicable for their weakness still had the ability to make a credible defense! To the Klingon mind, it
was the perfect combination of necessity and pleasure. They would rid the galaxy of the Federation and have fun doing it.
The Four Years War utterly invalidated that thinking in the empire. The Federation drove out the Klingon invaders but chose
not to penetrate the Empire, even though they might have done so. Klingons reasoned that if a contemptible race chose not
to destroy them, it could only be because that race held the Klingons in such low esteem that they could accrue no honor in
doing so. Happy disdain thus became unrelenting bloodlust. By neglecting to deliver a crushing defeat on the Klingons, the
Federation had presented instead a crushing, unforgivable insult. The Empire would have its revenge.
The years after the Four Years Wars were harrowing ones for the Federation. Colonists scarcely waited for the shooting
to stop before they flooded the space gained by the Treaty of Axanar. The tide of Federation settlements moved closer and
closer to Klingon space, and there was no place else for colonists to go. Many civilian vessels, explorers, scouts, and colonial
transports dared to cross the border to find homes far away from the restrictions and confines of modern life. Quite a few
of these efforts were ruthlessly destroyed to the last man, but even the horror stories of the few survivors could not dissuade
others from trying. Population pressure was building on the coreward side of the Federation, and it was only a matter of time
before something, somewhere gave.
That something proved to be the second Klingon war or the Organian Conflict as it is now known. Paranoid over the number
of Federation people poised on the edge of Klingon territory, the Klingons launched their fleets towards the UFP. As both
sides jockeyed for position, the planet Organia gained importance as a strategic location for a base of operations. As Federation
and Klingon forces clashed for control of Organia, the Organians revealed themselves to be organisms of advanced mental power
who had nothing to fear from the Klingons or the Federation, but who had a fundamental dislike of war. Backed up by their
psionic abilities, they unilaterally imposed a cease-fire and a peace treaty.
The Organian Peace Treaty is one of the most studied but least understood documents of its kind. The general public understands
that it prohibits any kind of armed conflict between the Klingons and the Federation; violators simply find that their weapons
do not work any more. It increased the size of both governments (with a corresponding decrease in size of the neutral zone)
and declares that planets along the neutral zone will join which ever side develops them most efficiently. However, there
are many questions about the treaty that simply cannot be resolved. To do so, one would have to ask the Organians, who refuse
to answer. The limits have to be tested, physically, to find what is and what is not permitted.
The prohibition against conflict does not prohibit ships of either side from crossing over into the other, nor does it
seem to prohibit armed conflict (even ship-to-ship battles) at any distance from Organia. Is this because the Organians lack
the necessary range? The Klingons seem to be free to slaughter innocent settlers who venture into Klingon space, and the Federation
can do the same to any Klingons in the UFP. Since the imposition of the Treaty, both sides have been sending forces of varying
sizes across the Neutral Zone, testing to see what size force could cross and still be able to use their armaments. The Federation
has not revealed the results of these tests, but the consensus is that a single ship, operating alone, can use its weapons
freely. This could explain the sudden increase in size of Klingon battleships.
Those Klingons who infiltrate Federation space are bent less on outright destruction or even surprise attacks than on subterfuge,
intelligence gathering, contacting malcontent groups, and other such missions. They seem to be attempting to learn more about
Federation technology and to come to some sort of Klingonish understanding of the peoples and politics of the Federation.
Many of these ships sneak in through Orion free space, and appear 20 parsecs behind the forces that are watching for them.
Whether these raids are official imperial policy or just a permissable discretionary action is anybody's guess.
The Klingon policy (or lack of one) may have blown up in their faces with the theft of the supersecret Project Genesis
data and the spectacular failure of Captain Kruge's mission to the Genesis Planet. The theft seems to have come from within
Star Fleet's own ranks. How deeply the Klingon spy network may run is unknown, but it has become a Federation scandal. Even
if Star Fleet manages to catch the Klingon spies, it will still have to explain to the Council how Klingons managed to infiltrate
Star Fleet Command so deeply. It hardly helps Star Fleet's case that the Klingons were stopped only by a renegade starship
captain in a stolen cruiser.
The future of the Federation is uncertain. Population in the frontiers and the Triangle continues to grow. The Klingons
have not renounced war, but there clandestine tactics against the Federation could be worse than open warfare. One of the
greater horrors to be avoided is war started by the Federation itself, by action or inaction. The idea is unthinkable but
not impossible, at least if present trends continue.
United Federation of Planets
Founded in 2161, the United Federation of Planets, began as an interstellar alliance of colonies and planetary governments.
The common goal of the UFP is mutual trade, exploratory research, scientific endeavours, cultural and diplomatic exchanges
and defensive measures. To date, there are over 150 member planets spread over 8000 light-years.
The UFP is governed over by the Federation Council, composed of members from the various member planets and colonies. The
Council is presided over by the Federation President, whose office can be found in Paris, France, on planet Earth.
The UFP's guidelines are set about in the constitution of the United Federation of Planets. This historic document, written
in 2161, outlines the framework by which the Federation is governed. This document was written to approximate the Constitution
of the United States of America, Earth, first written in 1775 and adopted in 1776.
Starfleet's General Orders
General Order 1
As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution
is considered sacred, no Starfleet personnel may interfere with the normal and healthy development of alien life and culture.
Such interference includes introducing superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of
handling such advantages wisely. Starfleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or
their ship, unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive
takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation.
General
Order 2
No Starfleet personnel shall unnecessarily use force, either collectively or individually, against members of the
United Federation of Planets, their duly authorized representatives, spokespersons, or designated leaders, or members of any
sentient non-member race, for any reason whatsoever.
General Order 3
The sovereignty of each Federation
member being respected in all things, Starfleet personnel shall observe any and all statutes, laws, ordinances, and rules
of governance currently in effect within the jurisdiction of a member planet. Violators of such ordinances will be subject
to such punishments or corrections as shall be determined by local governmental bodies.
General Order 4
If
contact is made with hitherto undiscovered intelligent life-forms, under no circumstance shall Starfleet personnel, either
by word or deed, inform said life-forms that worlds other than their own or intelligent life-forms other than their own exist
outside the confines of their own space.
General Order 5
In cases of extreme emergency, Federation special
representatives are empowered to assume emergency powers to deal with a condition or circumstance that is deemed hazardous
to the welfare of Federation citizenry. Within the scope of these emergency powers, duly authorized civilian personnel may
assume temporary command of Starfleet vessels and/or personnel to deal with the emergency. Starfleet personnel must submit
to their authority for the duration of the crisis.
General Order 6
The request for emergency assistance
from Federation citizenry demands unconditional priority from Starfleet personnel. Such personnel shall immediately respond
to said request, postponing all other activities.
General Order 7
No Starfleet vessel shall visit the planet
Talos IV under any circumstances, emergency or otherwise. This order supersedes General Order 6. Any transgression of this
general order shall be punishable by death.
General Order 8
Upon sighting a warship within Federation space
and identifying it as belonging to a foreign power, the commander of the Starfleet vessel shall determine the reason(s) for
that craft's presence in the vicinity. If there is conclusive evidence that the vessel has hostile intentions, the Federation
vessel may take appropriate action to safeguard the lives and property of Federation members. In such cases, the commander
may use his discretion in deciding whether to use force to disable the hostile vessel. However, care should be taken to avoid
unnecessary loss of sentient life.
General Order 9
No commander of a Starfleet vessel, military or auxiliary,
may grant political asylum to any individual without first being given express permission to do so by a representative of
the Federation government.
General Order 10
If there exists eyewitness testimony by senior officers or
similar verifiable evidence that an individual has violated the Prime Directive, said individual may be relieved of duty by
a duly sworn representative of the Federation government and placed under immediate arrest. The governmental representative
shall then take such action as he deems necessary to minimize the results of the violation.
General Order
11
Starfleet officers with the rank of captain or higher are granted full authority to negotiate conditions of agreement
and/or treaties with legal representatives of non-Federation planets. In such circumstances, the acting officer carries de
facto powers of a Federation Special Ambassador. Any and all agreements arranged in this manner are subject to approval by
the Chief of Starfleet Operations and the Secretary of Starfleet.
General Order 12
Federation officers
may violate Neutral Zone areas as designated by treaty only if such action is required to save the lives of Federation citizens
under conditions of extreme emergency.
General Order 13
Except when orders state to the contrary, Starfleet
personnel will respect the territorial integrity of independent planetary systems and governments, and will not violate territorial
space belonging to such worlds.
General Order 14
Starfleet personnel may intervene in local planetary affairs
to restore general order and to secure the lives and property of Federation citizens only upon receiving a direct order to
do so from a civilian official with the title of governor or higher.
General Order 15
No officer of flag
rank shall travel into a potentially hazardous area without suitable armed escort.
General Order 16
Starfleet
personnel may extend technological, medical, or other scientific assistance to a member of a previously unrecognized sentient
species only if such assistance in no way compromises the Prime Directive or the security of the Federation or Starfleet.
General Order 17
Starfleet vessel captains are to consider the lives of their crew members as sacred. In
any potentially hostile situation, the captain will place the lives of his crew above the fate of his ship.
General
Order 18
"Upon being accused of treason against the Federation, Starfleet personnel may demand a trail conducted by the
Federation judiciary". If the individual is acquitted, Starfleet Command shall have no further legal recourse against the
accused in said matter.
General Order 19
Except in times of declared emergency, Starfleet personnel may
under no circumstances convey personnel or material between planets or planetary systems when there is reason to believe that
said personnel or material may be used to conduct aggression. This order applies to independent worlds within the Federation
as well as to Federation members.
General Order 20
Officers and personnel of Starfleet Command may employ
whatever means necessary to prevent the possession, transportation, sale, or commercial exchange of sentient beings held against
their wishes within the boundaries of Federation space.
General Order 21
No Starfleet personnel, either
officer or enlisted, may offer his services to an independent foreign government without the express authorization of the
Federation Assembly.
General Order 22
As the rights of individual expression and free discourse are considered
sacred, Starfleet personnel may debate the policies and decisions of their governmental representatives privately at any time,
to the extent that such discussions do not violate their command oath or specific duties to the Federation per these General
Orders or Starfleet regulations.
General Order 23
When verifiable proof is presented to the senior commanding
officer of a Starfleet vessel or post that a Federation representative may currently be acting or have acted in the past to
violate the Prime Directive, the officer may relieve said representative of office, then assume the full powers of that office
pending a full investigation by governmental officials.
General Order 24
If a commanding officer deems
that an individual or group of individuals pose a threat to Starfleet personnel or Federation civilians, he may take any action
deemed necessary (including force) to secure the safety of those threatened.
General Order 25
Civilian
and military personnel taken into custody by Starfleet personnel during times of extreme emergency shall be accorded proper
treatment consistent with their rank or station, insofar as such treatment does not compromise the security of the Federation
or Starfleet.
WE THE INTELLIGENT LIFE-FORMS OF THE UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS DETERMINED
To save succeeding generations from the scourge of intra-galactic war which has brought untold horror and suffering to
our planetary social systems, and
To reaffirm faith in the fundamental intelligent life-form rights, in the dignity and worth of intelligent life-form persons,
to the equal rights of male and female and of planetary social systems large and small, and
To establish conditions under which justice and mutual respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources
of interplanetary law can be maintained, and
To promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
AND TO THESE ENDS
To practice benevolent tolerance and live in peace with one another as good neighbors, and
To unite our strength to maintain intra-galactic peace and security, and
To ensure by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods that armed force shall not be used except in the
common defense, and
To employ intra-galactic machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all intelligent life-forms,
HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS.
Accordingly, the respective social systems, through representatives assembled on the planet Babel, who have exhibited their
full powers to be in good and due form, have agreed to these Articles of Federation of the United Federation of Planets, and
do hereby establish an interplanetary organization to be known as the United Federation of Planets.
CHAPTER I: Purposes and Principles
Article 1
The purposes of the United Federation of Planets are:
1. To maintain interplanetary peace and security within the treaty exploration territory, and to that end: to take effective
collective measures for the prevention of threats to the peace, the suppression of acts of aggression, and to bring about
by peaceful means, and employing the principles of justice and intragalactic law, adjustment or settlement of interplanetary
disputes which might lead to a breach of the peace;
2. To develop friendly relations among planets based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination
of intelligent life-forms, and to other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
3. To achieve interplanetary cooperation in solving intra-galactic problems of economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian
character; in promoting and encouraging respect for intelligent life-form rights; and for fundamental freedoms for all without
distinction as to culture, sex, life-form, or religious belief; and
4. To be a center for conciliation of the actions of all social systems in the attainment of these common ends.
Article 2
The United Federation of Planets and its members, in pursuit of the purposes stated, shall act in accordance with the following
principles:
1. The United Federation of Planets is based on the sovereign equality of all its members;
2. In order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, all members shall fulfill in good
faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with these Articles of Federation;
3. All members shall settle their interplanetary disputes by peaceful means in such manner that intragalactic peace, security,
and justice, are not endangered;
4. In all interplanetary relations, all members shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity
or political independence of any planetary social system, or in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Federation
of Planets;
5. All members shall give the United Federation of Planets every assistance in any action taken in accordance with these
Articles of Federation, and shall refrain from assisting any planetary social system against which the United Federation of
Planets is taking preventive or enforcement action;
6. The United Federation of Planets shall ensure that planetary social systems which are not members of the United Federation
of Planets act in accordance with these principles as necessary for the maintenance of intragalactic peace and security;
7. Nothing within these Articles of Federation shall authorize the United Federation of Planets to intervene in matters
which are essentially the domestic jurisdiction of any planetary social system, or shall require the members to submit such
matters to settlement under these Articles of Federation; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement
measures under Chapter VII.
CHAPTER II: Membership
Article 3
The original members of the United Federation of Planets shall be those planetary social systems which, having participated
in the interplanetary conference on interplanetary federation at Babel, or having previously signed the declaration of the
United Federation of Planets of Stardate 0963, sign these Articles of Federation and ratify them in accordance with Article
109.
Article 4
1. Membership in the United Federation of Planets is open to any other peaceful planetary social systems which accept the
obligations contained in these Articles of Federation and, in the judgment of the United Federation of Planets, are capable
and willing to carry out these obligations;
2. The admission of any such planetary social system to membership in the United Federation of Planets is contingent upon
the decision of the Supreme Assembly upon recommendation of the Federation Council.
Article 5
The Supreme Assembly may suspend the rights and privileges of membership of any member of the United Federation of Planets
against which the Federation Council has taken preventive or enforcement action. The Federation Council may restore these
rights and privileges of membership at its discretion.
Article 6
Any member of the United Federation of Planets which has persistently violated the purposes and principles contained in
these Articles of Federation may be expelled from the United Federation of Planets by the Supreme Assembly upon the recommendation
of the Federation Council.
CHAPTER III: Agencies
Article 7
1. There are established as the principal agencies of the United Federation of Planets: a Supreme Assembly, a Federation
Council. an Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an Interplanetary Supreme Court of Justice, a Star Fleet combined
peace-keeping force, and a Secretariat;
2. Such subsidiary agencies as may be deemed necessary from time to time may be established in accordance with these Articles
of Federation.
Article 8
The United Federation of Planets shall place no restriction on the eligibility of male and female life-forms of any member
planetary social system to participate in any capacity under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary agencies.
CHAPTER IV: The Supreme Assembly
Article 9
The Supreme Assembly shall consist of all the members of the United Federation of Planets. Each member shall be entitled
to have not more than five (5) representatives in this body.
Article 10
The Supreme Assembly may discuss any questions on any matters within the scope of these Articles of Federation or relating
to the powers and functions of any agencies provided for in these Articles of Federation and, except as provided in Article
12, may make recommendations to the members and the Federation Council or both on any such questions or matters.
Article 11
1. The Supreme Assembly may consider the general principles of cooperation in maintaining interplanetary peace and security,
including disarmament and the regulation of armaments, and may make recommendations with regard to such principles to the
members or the Federation Council or both;
2. The Supreme Assembly may discuss any questions relative to the maintenance of intragalactic peace and security put to
it by any member or the Federation Council, or a non-member planetary social system in accordance with Article 25 Paragraph
2 and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations with regard to any such questions to the members, the Federation
Council, the pleading planetary social system, or to all of these. Any such question on which action is necessary shall be
referred to the Federation Council by the Supreme Assembly either before or after discussion;
3. The Supreme Assembly may call situations which are likely to endanger the interplanetary and intragalactic peace and
security to the attention of the Federation Council;
4. The powers of the Supreme Assembly as set forth in this Article shall not limit the scope of Article 10.
Article 12
1. Where the Federation Council is executing the functions assigned to it under these Articles of Federation with respect
to any dispute or situation, the Supreme Assembly shall make no recommendation with regard to that dispute or situation unless
so requested by the Federation Council;
2. The Supreme-Secretariat, with the consent of the Federation Council, shall notify the Supreme Assembly at each session
of any matters relating to the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security which are under discussion in the Federation
Council, and shall notify the Supreme Assembly, or the members if the Supreme Assembly is not in session, immediately when
the Federation Council completes its deliberations on any such matters;
Article 13
1. The Supreme Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of: A) Promoting interplanetary
cooperation in political fields and encouraging the progressive development of interplanetary law and its codification; B)
Promoting interplanetary cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the
realization of intelligent life-form rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to culture, sex, language,
or religion;
2. The further responsibilities, functions, and powers of the Supreme Assembly with respect to matters mentioned in Paragraph
1(A) above are set forth in Chapters IX and X.
Article 14
Subject to the provisions of Article 12, the Supreme Assembly may recommend measures for the peaceful adjustment of any
situation, regardless of origin, which it deems likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among the planets,
including situations resulting from violations of the provisions of these Articles of Federation setting forth the purposes
and principles of the United Federation of Planets.
Article 15
1. The Supreme Assembly shall receive and consider regular and special reports from the Federation Council; which reports
shall include an account of the measures that the Federation Council has decided upon or taken to maintain interplanetary
peace and security;
2. The Supreme Assembly shall receive and consider reports from the other agencies of the United Federation of Planets
over regular intervals to be agreed by the Supreme Assembly and the agency in question.
Article 16
The Supreme Assembly shall perform such functions of intra-galactic trusteeship as are assigned to it under Chapters XII
and XIII, including the approval of the trusteeship agreements for areas which are not designated as strategic.
Article 17
1. The Supreme Assembly shall consider and approve the budget of the United Federation of Planets.
2. The expenses of the United Federation of Planets shall be borne by the members as apportioned by the Supreme Assembly;
3. The Supreme Assembly shall consider and approve any financial and budgetary arrangements with specialized agencies referred
to in Article 56 and shall examine the administrative budgets of such specialized agencies with a view to making recommendations
to the agencies concerned;
4. All budgets and expenses of the United Federation of Planets shall be made and paid in the common interplanetary credit.
The common interplanetary credit shall be the official medium of exchange within the United Federation Treaty Exploration
Territory.
Article 18
1. Each member of the Supreme Assembly shall have one vote;
2. Decisions of the Supreme Assembly on matters of substance shall be made on a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members
present and voting. These matters shall include: recommendations with respect to the maintenance of interplanetary peace and
security; the election of non-permanent members to the Federation Council; the election of members of the Trusteeship Council
in accordance with Paragraph 1(C) of Article 85; the admission of new members to the Federation; the suspension of rights
and privileges of membership; the expulsion of members; questions relating to the operation of the trusteeship system; budgetary
questions; and questions proposed as matters of substance according to Paragraph 4 below;
3. Decisions on other questions, including the determination of additional categories of questions to be considered as
matters of substance, shall be made by a simple majority vote of the members present and voting;
4. Specific questions which would normally be decided by simple majority may be considered as matters of substance if such
consideration is proposed by any member and seconded by two others.
Article 19
A member of the United Federation of Planets which is in arrears in the payment of its financial obligations to the United
Federation of Planets shall have no vote in the Supreme Assembly if the amount it is in arrears equals or exceeds the amount
of the contributions due from it for the preceding two accounting periods. The Supreme Assembly may, nevertheless, permit
such a member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the member.
Article 20
The Supreme Assembly shall meet in regular periodic sessions and in such special sessions as occasion may require. Special
sessions shall be convoked by the Supreme-Secretariat at the request of the Federation Council or of a majority of the members
of the United Federation of Planets.
Article 21
The Supreme Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure, except that the Supreme Assembly shall not revoke or alter
procedures presented for it in these Articles of Federation. It shall elect its president for each session.
Article 22
The Supreme Assembly may establish such subsidiary agencies as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.
CHAPTER V: The Federation Council
Article 23
1. The Federation Council shall consist of eleven (11) members of the United Federation of Planets. The United Nations
of the Planet Earth, the Planetary Confederation of 40 Eridani, the United Planets of 61 Cygni, the Star Empire of Epsilon
Indii, and the Alpha Centauri Concordium of Planets shall be permanent members of the Federation Council. The Supreme Assembly
shall elect six (6) other members of the United Federation of Planets to be non-permanent members of the Federation Council,
due regard be especially paid, in the first instance, to the contribution of the members of the United Federation of Planets
to the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security and to the other purposes of the United Federation of Planets, and
also to equitable geo-galactic distribution;
2. The non-permanent members of the Federation Council shall be elected for a term of two (2) session periods. In the first
election of non-permanent members, however, three (3) shall be elected for a term of one (1) session period. A retiring member
shall not be eligible for immediate re-election.
Article 24
1. In order to assure prompt and effective action by the United Federation of Planets, its members confer on the Federation
Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its
duties under this responsibility the Federation Council acts on their behalf;
2. In discharging these duties the Federation Council shall act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United
Federation of Planets. The specific powers granted to the Federation Council for the discharge of these duties are laid down
in Chapters VI, VII, VIII, and XII;
3. The Federation Council shall submit regular and, when necessary, special reports to the Supreme Assembly for its consideration.
Article 25
The members of the United Federation of Planets agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Federation Council in
accordance with these Articles of Federation.
Article 26
In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of interplanetary peace and security with the lease diversion of
the United Federation of Planets' life-forms, as well as economic resources for armaments, the Federation Council shall be
responsible for formulating, with the assistance of Star Fleet Headquarters staff referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted
to the members of the United Federation of Planets for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments.
Article 27
1. Each member of the Federation Council shall have one vote;
2. Decisions of the Federation Council on all matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of seven (7) members, except
as provided in Paragraph 3 below;
3. In decisions under Chapter VI, and under Paragraph 3 of Article 52, a party to the dispute shall refrain from voting.
The minimal affirmative majority required in such a case shall be six (6).
Article 28
1. The Federation Council shall be so organized as to be able to function continuously. Each member of the Federation Council
shall, for this purpose, be represented at all times at the seat of the United Federation of Planets;
2. The Federation Council shall hold periodic meetings at which each of its members may, if it so desires, be represented
by a member of its government or by some other specially designated representative;
3. The Federation Council may hold meetings at such places other than the seat of the United Federation of Planets as in
its judgment will facilitate its work.
Article 29
The Federation Council may establish such subsidiary agencies as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.
Article 30
The Federation Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the method of selecting its governor.
Article 31
Any member of the United Federation of Planets which is not a member of the Federation Council may participate, without
vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Federation Council whenever the latter considers that the interests
of the member are specifically affected.
Article 32
Any member of the United Federation of Planets which is not a member of the Federation Council or any planetary social
system which is not a member of the United Federation of Planets, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the
Federation Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute. The Federation
Council shall lay down the conditions as it deems just for the participation of a planetary social system which is not a member
of the United Federation of Planets.
CHAPTER VI [ 6485] Pacific Settlement of Disputes
Article 33
1. The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of interplanetary peace and
security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement,
resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice;
2. The Federation Council shall, when it deems necessary, call upon the parties to settle their dispute by such means.
Article 34
The Federation Council may investigate any dispute, or any situation which might lead to interplanetary friction or give
rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the maintenance
of interplanetary peace and security.
Article 35
1. Any member of the United Federation of Planets may bring any dispute, or any situation of the nature referred to in
Article 34, to the attention of the Federation Council or the Supreme Assembly;
2. A planetary social system which is not a member of the United Federation of Planets may bring to the attention of the
Federation Council or the Supreme Assembly any dispute to which it is a party if it accepts in advance, for the purposes of
the dispute, the obligation of pacific settlement provided in these Articles of Federation;
3. The proceedings of the Supreme Assembly in respect to matters brought to its attention under this Article will be subject
to the provisions of Articles 11 and 12.
Article 36
1. The Federation Council may, at any stage of a dispute of the nature referred to in Article 33 or of a situation of the
nature referred to in Article 34, recommend procedures or appropriate methods of adjustment;
2. The Federation Council shall take into consideration any procedures for the settlement of the dispute which have already
been adopted or proposed by the parties;
3. In making recommendations under this Article the Federation Council should also take into consideration that legal disputes
should as a general rule be referred to the Interplanetary Supreme Court of Justice in accordance with the provisions of the
Statute of that Court.
Article 37
1, Should the parties to a dispute as referred to in Article 33 fail to settle it by means indicated in the Article, they
shall refer it to the Federation Council;
2. If the Federation Council deems that the continuance of the dispute is in fact likely to endanger the maintenance of
interplanetary peace and security, it shall decide whether to take action under Article 36 or to recommend such terms as it
may consider appropriate.
Article 38
Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 33 through 37 inclusive, the Federation Council may, if all the parties
to any dispute so request, make recommendations to the parties with a view to a pacific settlement of the dispute. Breaches
of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression
Article 39
The Federation Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression,
and shall make recommendations to maintain or restore interplanetary peace and security;
Article 40
In order to prevent aggravation of the situation, the Federation Council may call upon the parties concerned to comply
with such provisional measures as it deems necessary or desirable. Such provisional measures shall be without prejudice to
the rights, claims, or position of the parties concerned. The Federation Council shall take into account any failure to comply
with such provisional measures.
Article 41
The Federation Council may decided what measures short of the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its
decisions, and may call upon the members of the United Federation of Planets to apply such measures. These may included partial
or complete interruption of economic relations, interplanetary communication and space travel, and severance of diplomatic
relations, or such other measures as the Federation Council shall deem appropriate.
Article 42
Should the Federation Council consider that measures under Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate,
it may take such action by armed force as necessary to maintain or restore interplanetary peace and security. Such actions
may include demonstrations, blockades, and other operations by Star Fleet combined peace-keeping forces.
Article 43
All members of the United Federation of Planets, in obligation to the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security,
agree to make available to Star Fleet, on call of the Federation Council, armed forces, assistance, and facilities, including
rights of passage, necessary for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security.
Article 44
When the Federation Council has decided to employ force to mitigate a situation it shall, before calling upon a member
not represented on that Council to provided armed forced in fulfillment of obligations assumed under Article 43, invite that
member to participate in the decisions of the Federation Council relating to the employment of contingents of the member's
armed forces.
Article 45
In order to enable the United Federation of Planets to take urgent military measures, all members so capable shall assign
contingents of their own armed forces to Star Fleet to be employed as a single peace-keeping force of the United Federation
of Planets. All contingents so assigned, and for the duration of their assignment, shall hold full faith and loyalty to the
United Federation of Planets and the protection of the purposes and principles of the Articles of Federation.
Article 46
Plans for the Application of Star Fleet armed forces shall be made by the Federation Council with the assistance of the
military staff committee of Star Fleet Headquarters.
Article 47
1. There shall be established within Star Fleet a military staff committee to advise and assist the Federation Council
on all matters relating to the United Federation of Planets' military requirements for maintaining interplanetary peace and
security;
2. The military staff committee shall consist of the chiefs of staff of the permanent members of the Federation Council,
or their representatives. Any member of the United Federation of Planets may be invited to provide representation on the military
staff committee where its responsibilities requires the participation of that member in its work;
3. The military staff committee, with the authorization of the Federation Council, shall establish a Star Fleet as the
armed peace-keeping forces of the United Federation of Planets. It shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance
of all facilities of Star Fleet, including armed ships, starbases, and training facilities;
4. The military staff committee shall be responsible under the Federation Council for the strategic direction of Star Fleet
armed forces, and the other armed forces of the members when required for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security.
Article 48
The action required to carry out decisions of the Federation Council for the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security
shall be taken by Star Fleet, using such contingents as appropriate to the specific action.
Article 49
The members of the United Federation of Planets shall join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures
decided upon by the Federation Council and in assisting Star Fleet in the performance of its duties and obligations.
Article 50
If preventive or enforcement measures against any planet are taken by the Federation Council, any other planet, whether
or not it is a member of the United Federation of Planets, which finds itself confronted with special economic difficulties
arising from the carrying out of these measures shall have the right to consult with the Federation Council with regard to
the solution of said difficulties.
Article 51
Nothing in these Articles of Federation shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense against
armed attacks occurring to members of the United Federation of Planets, until the Federation Council has taken measures necessary
to maintain interplanetary peace and security, and Star Fleet forces can be brought into action. Such actions taken by members
of the United Federation of Planets in their self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Federation Council.
CHAPTER VIII: Star Fleet
Article 52
1. There is established a Star Fleet as the armed peace-keeping forces of the United Federation of Planets. It shall initially
by comprised of contingents assigned to it by members of the United Federation of Planets under Article 43 until such time
as facilities, recruitment, and training obviates the necessity of drawing upon the armament of any member, except as provided
in Article 49;
2. The operations and actions of Star Fleet shall at all times be under the direct cognizance of the Federation Council
and the military staff committee which shall also prepare and approve the budget for Star Fleet operations;
3. Initial expenditure is authorized under these Articles of Federation for the establishment of a Star Fleet Headquarters
and two starbases to be equitably located within the boundary of the United Federation of Planets and outside of any possible
conflict with the territorial boundaries of any member of the United Federation of Planets. The Federation Council shall review
and approve such other expansions of starbases and other facilities as shall seem appropriate from time to time in the maintenance
of interplanetary peace and security;
4. Initial expenditure is also granted under these Articles of Federation for the establishment of a Star Fleet Academy
for the purpose of training officers and personnel for Star Fleet duty. The standards for such training shall be determined
by the military staff committee and approved by the Federation Council.
Article 53
1. The training of Star Fleet officers and personnel shall included all fields of science and technology as well as the
military arts in Star Fleet. It is the intent of these Articles of Federation that Star Fleet shall be used to conduct missions
of scientific exploration and investigation within the treaty exploration territory wherever its services are not required
in the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security;
2. Star Fleet Headquarters and the Federation Council shall be at all times kept informed of the activities undertaken
or contemplated for the scientific exploration and investigation of the treaty exploration territory.
CHAPTER IX: Interplanetary Economic and Social Cooperation
Article 54
With a view to creating conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful relations among planetary
social systems based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of all intelligent life-forms, the
United Federation of Planets shall promote: A) Higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and
social progress and development; B) Solution of interplanetary economic, social, health, and related problems, as well as
interplanetary cultural and educational cooperation; and C) Universal respect for, and observance of, intelligent life-form
rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to culture, sex, language, or religion.
Article 55
All members pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the United Federation of Planets for
the achievement of the purposes and goals set forth in Article 54.
Article 56
1. The various specialized agencies, established by interplanetary agreement and having wide interplanetary responsibilities
as defined in their basic instruments in economic, social, cultural, educational, health, and related fields, shall be brought
into relationship with the United Federation of Planets in accordance with Article 62;
2. Such agencies thus brought into relationship with the United Federation of Planets are hereinafter referred to as specialized
agencies.
Article 57
The United Federation of Planets shall make recommendations for the coordination of the policies and activities of the
specialized agencies.
Article 58
The United Federation of Planets shall, where appropriate, initiate negotiations among its members concerned for the creation
of any new specialized agencies required for the accomplishment of the purposes set forth in Article 54.
Article 59
Responsibility for the discharge of the functions of the United Federation of Planets as set forth in this Chapter shall
be vested in the Supreme Assembly and, under the authority of the Supreme Assembly, in the Economic and Social Council, which
have for this purpose the powers set forth in Chapter X.
CHAPTER X: The Economic and Social Council
Article 60
1. The Economic and Social Council shall consist of eighteen (18) members of the United Federation of Planets as elected
by the Supreme Assembly;
2. Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 3, six (6) members of the Economic and Social Council shall be elected each session
period for a term of three (3) session periods. A retiring member shall be eligible for immediate reelection;
3. At the first election, eighteen (18) members of the Economic and Social Council shall be chosen, the term of office
of six (6) members so chosen will expire at the end of one (1) session period, and the terms of six (6) other members at the
end of two (2) session periods in accordance with arrangements made by the Supreme Assembly;
4. Each member of the Economic and Social Council shall have one (1) representative.
Article 61
1. The Economic and Social Council may make or initiate studies and reports with respect to interplanetary economic, social,
cultural, educational, health, and related matters and may make recommendations with respect to any such matters to the Supreme
Assembly, to the members of the United Federation of Planets, and to specialized agencies concerned;
2. It may make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect for, and observance of, intelligent life-form rights
and fundamental freedoms for all;
3. It may prepare draft instruments with the rules prescribed by the United Federation of Planets;
4. It may prepare draft instruments for admission to the Supreme Assembly, with respect to matters falling within its competence;
5. It may call, in accordance with the rules prescribed by the United Federation of Planets, interplanetary conferences
on matters falling within its competence.
Article 62
1. The Economic and Social Council may enter into agreements with any of its agencies referred to in Article 56, defining
the terms on which the agency concerned shall be brought into relationship with the United Federation of Planets. Such agreements
shall be subject to approval by the Supreme Assembly;
2. It may coordinate the activities of the specialized agencies through consultation with and recommendations to such agencies
and through recommendations to the Supreme Assembly and to the members of the United Federation of Planets.
Article 63
The Economic and Social Council may take appropriate steps to obtain reports from the specialized agencies. It may make
arrangements with the members of the United Federation of Planets and with the specialized agencies to obtain reports on the
steps taken to give effect to its own recommendations and to recommendations on matters falling within its competence by the
Supreme Assembly.
Article 64
The Economic and Social Council may furnish information to the Federation Council and shall assist the Federation Council
upon its request.
Article 65
1. The Economic and Social Council shall perform such functions as fall within its competence in connection with the carrying
out of the recommendations of the Supreme Assembly;
2. It may, with the approval of the Supreme Assembly, perform services at the request of members of the United Federation
of Planets and at the request of specialized agencies;
3. It shall perform such other functions as are specified elsewhere in these Articles of Federation or as may be assigned
by the Supreme Assembly.
Article 66
1. Each member of the Economic and Social Council shall have one vote;
2. Decisions of the Economic and Social Council shall be made by a majority of the members present and voting.
Article 67
The Economic and Social Council shall set up commissions in economic and social fields and for the promotion of intelligent
life-form rights, and such other commissions as may be required for the performance of its functions.
Article 68
The Economic and Social Council shall invite any member of the United Federation of Planets to participate, without vote,
in its deliberations on any matter of particular concern to that member.
Article 69
The Economic and Social Council may make arrangements for representative of the specialized agencies to participate, without
vote, in its deliberations and in those commissions established by it, and for its representatives to participate in the deliberations
of the specialized agencies.
Article 70
The Economic and Social Council may make suitable arrangements for consultation with non-governmental intra-planet organizations
which are concerned with matters within its competence. Such arrangements may be made with interplanetary organizations and,
where appropriate, with planetary organizations after consultation with members of the United Federation of Planets concerned.
Article 71
1. The Economic and Social Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the method of selecting its own director;
2. The Economic and Social Council shall meet as required in accordance with its rules, which shall include provision for
the convening of meetings at the request of a majority of its members.
CHAPTER XI: Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing Regions
Article 72
Members of the United Federation of Planets which have assumed responsibilities for the administration of regions whose
intelligent life-forms have not yet attained a full measure of self-government recognize the principle that the interests
of the inhabitants of these regions are paramount, and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost, within
the system of interplanetary peace and security established by these Articles of Federation, the well-being of the inhabitants
of these regions, and, to this end, take as their aims: A) To ensure, with due respect for the cultures of the intelligent
life-forms concerned, their political, economic, social, and educational advancement, their just treatment, and their protection
against abuses; B) To develop self-government, to take due account of the political aspirations of the intelligent life-forms,
and to assist them in the progressive development of their free political institutions, according to the particular circumstances
of each region and its intelligent life-forms and their varying stages of advancement; C) To further interplanetary peace
and security; D) To promote constructive measures of development, to encourage research, and to cooperate with one another
and, when and where appropriate, with specialized interplanetary bodies with a view to the practical achievement of the social,
economic, and scientific purposes set forth in this article; and E) To transmit regularly to the Supreme-Secretariat for informational
purposes, subject to such limitations as security and statutory considerations may require, statistical and other information
of a technical nature relating to economic, social, and educational conditions in the regions for which they are respectively
responsible other than those regions to which Chapter XII and XIII apply. Article 73 Members of the United Federation of Planets
also agree that their policy in respect of the regions to which this Chapter applies, no less than in respect of their metropolitan
areas, must be based on the general principle of good-neighborliness, due account being taken of the interests and well-being
of the rest of the territory of the United Federation of Planets in social, economic, and commercial matters.
CHAPTER XII: Interplanetary Trusteeship System
Article 74
The United Federation of Planets shall establish under its authority an interplanetary trusteeship system for the administration
and supervision of such regions as may be placed thereunder by subsequent individual agreements. These regions are hereinafter
referred to as trust regions.
Article 75
The basic objectives of the trusteeship system, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Federation
of Planets as laid down in these Articles of Federation, shall be: A) To further interplanetary peace and security; B) To
promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the trust regions, and their progressive
development towards self-government or independence as may be appropriate to the particular circumstances of each region and
its intelligent life-forms concerned, and as may be provided by the terms of the trusteeship agreement; C) To encourage respect
for intelligent life-form rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to culture, sex, language, or
religion, and to encourage recognition of the interdependence of the intelligent life-forms of the galaxy; and D) To ensure
equal treatment in social, economic, and commercial matters for all members of the United Federation of Planets and their
nationals, and also equal treatment for the latter in the administration of justice, without prejudice to the adjustment of
the foregoing objectives and subject to the provisions of Article 79.
Article 76
1. The trusteeship system shall apply to such regions in the following categories as may be placed thereunder by means
of trusteeship agreements: A) Regions now held under mandate; B) Regions which may be detached from alien social systems as
a result of interplanetary war; and C) Regions voluntarily placed under the trusteeship system by social systems responsible
for their administration; 2. It will be a matter for subsequent agreement as to which regions in the foregoing categories
will be brought under the trusteeship system and under what terms.
Article 77
The trusteeship system shall not apply to regions which have become members of the United Federation of Planets, relationships
among which shall be based on the respect for the principle of sovereign equality.
Article 78
The terms of trusteeship for each region to be placed under the trusteeship system, including any alteration or amendment,
shall be agreed upon by the social systems directly concerned, including the mandatory power in the case of regions held under
mandate by a member of the United Federation of Planets, and shall be approved as provided for in Articles 82 and 84.
Article 79
1. Except as may be agreed upon in individual trusteeship agreements, made under Articles 76, 78, and 80, placing each
region under the trusteeship system, and until such agreements have been considered, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed
in or of itself to alter in any manner the rights whatsoever of any social systems or any intelligent life-forms or the terms
of existing agreements to which members of the United Federation of Planets may respectively be parties; 2. Paragraph 1 of
this Article shall not be interpreted as giving grounds for delay or postponement of the negotiation and conclusion of agreements
for placing mandated and other regions under the trusteeship system as provided for in Article 76.
Article 80
The trusteeship agreement shall in each case include the terms under which the trust region will be administered and designate
the authority which will be exercising the administration of the trust region. Such authority, hereinafter called the administering
authority, may be one or more social systems of the United Federation of Planets itself.
Article 81
There may be designated, in the trusteeship agreement, a strategic area or areas which may included part or all of the
trust region to which the agreement applies, without prejudice to any special agreement or agreements made under Article 43.
Article 82
1. All functions of the United Federation of Planets relating to strategic areas, including the approval of the terms of
the trusteeship agreements and of their subsequent alteration or amendment, shall be exercised by the Federation Council;
2. The basic principles set forth in Article 75 shall apply to the intelligent life-forms of each strategic area;
3. The Federation Council shall, subject to the provisions of the trusteeship agreements and without prejudice to security
considerations, avail itself of the assistance of the Trusteeship Council to perform those functions of the United Federation
of Planets under the trusteeship system relating to political, economic, social, and educational matters in the strategic
areas.
Article 83
It shall be the duty of the administering authority to ensure that the trust region shall play its part in the maintenance
of interplanetary peace and security. To this end the administering authority may make use of volunteer forces, facilities,
and assistance from the trust region in carrying out the obligations towards the Federation Council undertaken in this regard
by the administering authority, as well as for the local defense and the maintenance of law and order within the trust region.
Article 84
1. The functions of the United Federation of Planets with regard to the trusteeship agreements for all regions not designated
as strategic, including the approval of the terms of the trusteeship agreements and their alteration or amendment, shall be
exercised by the Supreme Assembly;
2. The Trusteeship Council, operating under the authority of the Supreme Assembly, shall assist the Supreme Assembly in
carrying out these functions.
CHAPTER XIII: The Trusteeship Council
Article 85
1. The Trusteeship Council shall consist of the following members of the United Federation of Planets: A) Those members
administering trust regions; B) Such of those members mentioned by name in Article 23 as are not administering trust regions;
and C) As many other members elected for three (3) session periods by the Supreme Assembly as may be necessary to ensure that
the total number of members of the Trusteeship Council is equally divided between members of the United Federation of Planets
which administer trust regions and those which do not;
2. Each member of the trusteeship council shall designate one (1) specially qualified intelligent life-form to represent
it therein.
Article 86
The Supreme Assembly and, under its authority, the Trusteeship Council, in carrying out their functions, may: A) Consider
reports submitted by the administering authority; B) Accept petitions and examine them in consultation with the administering
authority; C) Provided for periodic visits to the respective trust regions at times agreed upon with the administering authority;
and D) Take these and other actions in conformity with the terms of the trusteeship agreement.
Article 87
The Trusteeship Council shall formulate a questionnaire on the political, economic, social, and educational advancement
of the inhabitants of each trust region, and the administering authority for each trust region within the competence of the
Supreme Assembly shall make a periodic report to the Supreme Assembly upon the basis of said questionnaire.
Article 88
1. Each member of the Trusteeship Council shall have one vote;
2. Decisions of the Trusteeship Council shall be made by a majority of the members present and voting.
Article 89
1. The Trusteeship Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the method of selecting its director;
2. The Trusteeship Council shall meet as required in accordance with its rules which shall include provision for the convening
of meetings at the request of a majority of its members.
Article 90
The Trusteeship Council shall, when appropriate, avail itself of the assistance of the Economic and Social Council and
of the specialized agencies in regard to matters with which they are respectively concerned.
CHAPTER XIV: The Interplanetary Supreme Court of Justice
Article 91
The Interplanetary Supreme Court of Justice shall be the principal judicial instrument of the United Federation of Planets.
It shall function in accordance with the appended statute, which is based upon the statute of the tribunals of Alpha III,
and forms an integral part of these Articles of Federation.
Article 92
1. All members of the United Federation of Planets are ipso facto parties to the statute of the Interplanetary Supreme
Court of Justice;
2. A social system which is not a member of the United Federation of Planets may become a party to the statute of the Interplanetary
Supreme Court of Justice on conditions to be determined in each case by the Supreme Assembly upon the recommendation of the
Federation Council.
Article 93
1. Each member of the United Federation of Planets undertakes to comply with the decision of the Interplanetary Supreme
Court of Justice in any case to which it is a party;
2. If any party to a case fails to perform the obligations incumbent upon it under a judgment rendered by the court, the
other party may have recourse to the Federation Council, which may, if it deems necessary, make recommendations or decide
upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgment.
Article 94
Nothing in these Articles of Federation shall prevent members of the United Federation of Planets from entrusting the solution
of their differences to other tribunals by virtue of agreements already in existence or which may be concluded in the future.
Article 95
1. The Supreme Assembly or the Federation Council may request the Interplanetary Supreme Court of Justice to give an advisory
opinion on any legal question;
2. Other bodies of the United Federation of Planets and the specialized agencies, which may at any time be so authorized
by the Supreme Assembly, may also request advisory opinions of the court on legal questions arising within the scope of their
activities.
CHAPTER XV: The Supreme-Secretariat
Article 96
The Secretariat shall be comprised of a Supreme-Secretariat and such staff as the United Federation of Planets may require.
The Supreme-Secretariat shall be appointed by the Supreme Assembly upon the recommendation of the Federation Council, and
shall be the chief administrative officer of the United Federation of Planets.
Article 97
The Supreme-Secretariat shall act in that capacity in all meetings of the Supreme Assembly, of the Federation Council,
of the Economic and Social Council, and of the Trusteeship Council, and shall perform such other functions as are entrusted
to the Secretariat by these bodies. The Supreme-Secretariat shall make a periodic report to the Supreme Assembly on the work
of the United Federation of Planets.
Article 98
The Supreme-Secretariat may bring to the attention of the Federation Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten
the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security.
Article 99
1. In the performance of their duties the Supreme-Secretariat and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from
any government or from any other authority external to the United Federation of Planets. They shall refrain from any action
which might reflect on their positions as interplanetary officials responsible only to the United Federation of Planets; 2.
Each member of the United Federation of Planets undertakes to respect the exclusively interplanetary character of the responsibilities
of the Supreme-Secretariat and the staff and shall not seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Article 100
1. The staff shall be appointed by the Supreme-Secretariat under regulations established by the Supreme Assembly;
2. Appropriate staffs shall be permanently assigned to the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and, as
required, to other bodies of the United Federation of Planets. These staffs shall form a part of the Secretariat;
3. The paramount consideration in the employment of the staff and in the determination of the conditions of service shall
be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard shall be paid to the
important of recruiting the staff on as wide a geo-galactic basis as possible.
CHAPTER XVI: Miscellaneous Provisions
Article 101
1. Every treaty and every interplanetary agreement entered into by any member of the United Federation of Planets after
these Articles of Federation come into force shall as soon as possible be registered with the Supreme-Secretariat and published
by him;
2. No party to any such treaty or interplanetary agreement which has not been registered in accordance with the provisions
of Paragraph 1 of this Article make invoke that treaty or agreement before any body of the United Federation of Planets.
Article 102
In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the members of the United Federation of Planets under these Articles
of Federation and their obligations under any other interplanetary agreement, their obligations under these Articles of Federation
shall prevail.
Article 103
The United Federation of Planets shall enjoy in the territory of each of its members such legal capacity as may be necessary
for the exercise of its functions and the fulfillment of its purposes.
Article 104
1. The United Federation of Planets shall enjoy in the territory of each of its members such privileges and immunities
as are necessary for the fulfillment of its purposes;
2. Representatives of the members of the United Federation of Planets and officials of the organization shall similarly
enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the
organization;
3. The Supreme Assembly may make recommendations with a view to determining the details of the application of Paragraphs
1 and 2 of this Article or may propose conventions to the members of the United Federation of Planets for this purpose.
CHAPTER XVII: Transitory Security Arrangements
Article 105
1. Pending the coming into full force of such special agreements referred to in Article 43 as in the opinion of the Federation
Council enable it to begin to exercise of its responsibilities under Article 42, the parties to the declaration of the United
Federation of Planets shall consult with one another and the other members of the United Federation of Planets with a view
to such joint action on behalf of the organization as may be necessary for the purpose of maintaining interplanetary peace
and security;
2. Nothing in these Articles of Federation shall invalidate or preclude action in relation to any social system which has
been an adversary of any signatory to these Articles of Federation, taken or authorized as a result of that war by the governments
having responsibility for such action.
Article 106
Amendments to these Articles of Federation shall come into force for all members of the United Federation of Planets when
they have been adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members of the Supreme Assembly and ratified in accordance
with their respective statutory processes by two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the United Federation of Planets, including
all the permanent members of the Federation Council.
Article 107
1. A general conference of the members of the United Federation of Planets for the purpose of reviewing these Articles
of Federation may be held at a date and place to be fixed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members of the Supreme
Assembly and by a vote of any seven (7) members of the Federation Council. Each member of the United Federation of Planets
shall have one (1) vote in the conference;
2. Any alterations of these Articles of Federation recommended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the conference shall
take effect when ratified in accordance with their respective statutory processes by two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the
United Federation of Planets including all the permanent members of the Federation Council;
3. If such conference has not been held before the tenth regular session of the Supreme Assembly following the coming into
force of these Articles of Federation, the proposal to call such a conference shall be placed on the agenda of that session
of the Supreme Assembly, and the conference shall be held if so decided by a majority vote of the members of the Supreme Assembly
and by a vote of any seven (7) members of the Federation Council.
CHAPTER XVIII: Ratification and Signature
Article 108
1. These Articles of Federation shall be ratified by the signatory governments in accordance with their respective statutory
processes;
2. The ratifications shall be deposited with the government of the United Nations of the Planet Earth, which shall notify
all of the signatory government of each deposit as well as the Supreme-Secretariat of the organization when he has been appointed;
3. These Articles of Federation shall come into full force upon the deposit of the ratifications by the United Nations
of the Planet Earth, the Planetary Confederation of 40 Eridani, the United Planets of 61 Cygni, the Star Empire of Epsilon
Indii, the Alpha Centauri Concordium of Planets, and by a majority of the other signatory social systems. A protocol of the
ratifications deposited shall thereupon be drawn up by the government of the United Nations of the Planet Earth which shall
communicate copies thereof to all of the signatory governments;
4. The governments signatory to these Articles of Federation which ratify it after it has come into force will become original
members of the United Federation of Planets on the date of the deposit of their respective ratifications.
Article 109
These Articles of Federation, of which the various language texts are equally authentic, upon the coming into full force
of the United Federation of Planets, shall be transferred by the United Nations of the Planet Earth to the organization for
permanent deposit in its archives. Duly certified copies thereof shall be transmitted by the Supreme-Secretariat to the Governments
of all the signatory social systems. In faith whereof the representative of the governments of the United Federation of Planets
have signed these Articles of Federation.
Done at the planet Babel, Stardate 0965
(Followed by the signature sheets of the original signatory governments)
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