Federation Membership
Membership in the United Federation of Planets has three tiers of involvement, with varying rights and responsibilities associated with each.
Full Membership
Planets with full membership enjoy the most rights but also bear the most responsibilities.
Full member planets enjoy voting representation on the Federation Council and any other council on which they serve. A member may provide up to five representatives to the Federation (one ambassador and four vice-ambassadors), along with their respective staff. While each representative is addressed as "councilor", the ambassador leads and has final say over the delegation (operating under the authority of the member planet) and generally serves on the council with the most prestige; the vice-ambassadors sit on any other serving councils, attend fact-finding or diplomatic missions, or serve other envoy-related responsibilities in the ambassador's stead. If a member planet has no seat on any other council, they often choose to send one ambassador to represent their planet on the Federation Council.
Members may request financial support for any issue that attracts their attention, such as for projects that improve the economic or educational well-being of their planets. New trade routes or the provision of investment capital for the development projects are common requests and the disaster relief for catastrophes that may strike any Federation planet generally come the Federation Council's largess. When a member planet suffers an economic collapse, whether due to a crisis or poor financial management, the UFP may assist in economically bailing them out and suggest measures and support that will reduce the likelihood of further financial difficulties.
The Federation's judicial system is open to all citizens and member worlds. The UFP maintains regional and sector courts, and, in addition, an appellate process is guaranteed by the UFP Constitution, to help insure that the Federation courts reach fair and reviewed decisions. Appeals may go as far as the Interplanetary Supreme Court of Justice. The courts also hear disputes between member worlds and provide support to members on issues of local laws. The jurisdiction of the UFP extends primarily to interstellar law and the protections afforded to individuals by the Articles of the Federation. Member worlds have their own laws and judicial systems which retain their authority to resolve internal matters. Federation legal experts will only serve in advisory roles on matters concerning the domestic laws of a planet.
The reputation of the UFP's Diplomatic Service extends far beyond the Federation borders. Member worlds can request diplomatic and cultural support from the UFP. The Federation Diplomatic Service serves to keep the different member worlds at peace with each other by helping to open lines of communication and settle disputes. Federation diplomats will aid planets in improving relations with nonmember worlds and even negotiate treaties and trade agreements on behalf of a planetary government. They provide arbitration services to resolve internal political disputes or conflicts with colonies. Although few members can claim to have joined for this benefit, those that take advantage of the UFP's diplomatic support find it extremely useful.
Star Fleet provides for the defense of member worlds. For some planets, especially because of their relative location to a given border, this is the foremost reason to join the UFP. The Security Council takes the defense of its member worlds very seriously; members can rely on Star Fleet to defend them against aggression.
Associate Membership
Associate member worlds enjoy all of the privileges of a full member, except for voting. They may send a delegation with one ambassador and staff to represent the planet; this ambassador may sit in on all council meetings, engage in periods of open debate without any required invitation, and provide for the consulate requirements of their residents. However, for any vote that occurs, the associate member worlds must sit out.
As associate members, they are also not required to provide any revues to the Federation budget and most generally do not, since they do not have voting representation. They may request Funding for any project, just as a full member can, but their lack of "buy-in" will be a factor in the decision. Additionally, in times of crisis or other need, the Federation may request revenues or other forms of support (such as resources or personnel) from associate members; while the associates cannot be forced to fulfill the request, any recalcitrance can be considered after the event, including up to dismissal from the Federation.