Organs of the Federation

There are six principle organs of the United Federation of Planets:

Federation Council

The lower house of the legislative branch is comprised of each member of the United Federation of Planets, represented by one senior councilor and two deputy councilors, with each member accorded one vote. A member in arrears in the payment of its apportioned budget may not vote in the Federation Council if the arrears equal two or more legislative sessions [one Terran year each], unless the remainder of the Federation Council votes that an acceptation is appropriate.

• any recommendation shall be referred to the Security Council prior to action
• when the Security Council is executing its responsibilities in regards to a dispute or situation, the Federation Council shall refrain from any relevant recommendations (unless so requested by the Security Council
• shall study and make recommendations on issues regarding interplanetary cooperation in regard to politics, encourage development of interplanetary law and codification, and promote cooperation in the fields of economics, culture, social discourse, education and health
• consider and approve a budget for the Federation for each upcoming session, borne by its members as apportioned
• establish subsidiary agencies as needed to perform its functions
• decisions by the Federation Council on 'matters of substance' shall be made on a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members both present and voting; when proposed by one member and seconded by two additional members, a specific issue may be considered to be a 'matter of substance' and decided upon by a simple majority vote of the members both present and voting
• Matters of substance include:
  • recommendations with respect to the maintenance of interplanetary peace and security;
  • the election of non-permanent members to the Security Council;
  • the election of members of the Trusteeship Council;
  • 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.
• decisions on issues not deemed to be a 'matter of substance', shall be made by a simple majority vote of the members present and voting

Security Council

The upper house of the legislative branch is comprised of eleven (11) members of the United Federation of Planets. The five (5) permanent members are Alpha Centauri, Andor, Earth, Vulcan, and Tellar. The six (6) rotating members are elected by the Federation Council, three (3) new members are elected at the end of each session to replace the three longest-serving rotating members. Retiring members are not eligible for immediate re-election. Each member has one vote, with decisions made by affirmative votes of seven (7) members. A member that is party to a dispute will refrain from the vote, with a minimal affirmative majority made up of six voters. Each member is represented at all times at the seat of the UFP, wherever that is determined to best facilitate the Security Council's efforts. Non-members of the Security Council may be invited to participate in discussions (but not vote).

• primarily responsible for prompt and effective action to maintain interplanetary peace and security, under the acceptance of the members of the Federation and their support of its decisions
• provides regular and special reports to the Federation Council
• in accordance with its primary responsibility, works closely with the UFP President to properly employ Star Fleet
• discusses and orders actions regarding:
  • establishment of subsidiary agencies
  • determine the existence of any threats to the peace
  • call upon parties in a dispute to maintain the peace and security via negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, administration through assigned agencies or other peaceful means
  • recommend procedures-at any stage of a dispute-to resolve the dispute
  • decide upon actions to resolve a dispute or return to the maintenance of peace and security, to include:
    • partial or complete interruption of economic relations
    • partial or complete interruption of interplanetary communications
    • partial or complete interruption of space travel
    • severance of diplomatic relations
    • employment of Starfleet with demonstrations, blockades or other operations deemed appropriate
  • invite members (not already present on the Security Council) providing armed force at the behest of the Federation to participate (but not vote) in discussions