The UFP, or "Federation" as it is more commonly known, is the pre-eminent power of known space. It was founded in 2161 in the wake of the Earth-Romulan wars by five main races - Terrans, Alpha Centaurians, Vulcans, Tellarites, and Andorians - 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 Federation is governed by the Federation Council, which is made up of representatives from each member planet. It is headquartered at San Francisco, Terra. Presiding over the Federation Council is an elected Federation Council President, who makes his office at Paris, Terra. Each member world is entitled to retain its own form of government, its own military, and its own intelligence agencies. The planet Vulcan, for example, is governed by a the Vulcan Council and a group of titled ministers, possesses a small interstellar navy, and has an internal intelligence agency known as the V'Shar. Law within in the Federation is regulated by the Uniform Code of Justice.

The main military power of the Federation as a whole is Starfleet, which is described in more detail below.

The Federation uses a non-monetary economic system of "credits" to govern trade. 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 interstellar borders of the Federation there are _many_ non-member worlds. Most of these are less-developed worlds, declared off-limits by the tenants of the Prime Directive. These planets are being left to develop as they will under the protection of a Federation whose existence they are unaware of. When a world has reached the appropriate phase of cultural development, it is contacted and strongly encouraged to join the Federation. Other non-member worlds are neutral or are allied to the Federation. An example of the latter is Kaferia, a highly advanced non-Federation world located well within Federation space, which nevertheless has maintained strong ties with the Federation for centuries.

The Federation is an enlightened entity, an oasis in a sea of autocracies. It is peaceful, but expansionistic.

RECENT EVENTS:
With the wave of 'xenophobia' sweeping the UFP, a series of 'Reforms' have been trumpeted and railroaded through the Council by the 'New Reform' or 'Hawk' party. A reactionary, conservative group, they favour the following:

-The PAX LEX NATURALIS: laws banning the research and employment of Cybernetic instruments, lifeforms, and all nanotechnology unless medically necessary.

-The Emergency Powers Act: Legislation allowing the Federation Council to directly suspend some civilian rights 'For the Good of the Federation' during 'Times of Emergency'.

-"Project Archangel" a fleet assessment that came out in 2368 on the heels of the Borg Invasions but preceding the Dominion War. During the war, The Top Secret Phases II and III of the Project were enacted, changing the Fleet's ship design philosophy, Starfleet Training and Tactical doctrine, and the very tone of Starfleet itself.

-Increased resistance to trusting the Romulans in any way, shape or form.

-Dissillusion of the Border Patrol and Diplomatic corps, and the formation of a 'Liason Officer Corps' who are responsible directly to the Council and not to Starfleet.

STARFLEET
Starfleet is the exploratory, diplomatic, scientific, and above all military body of the Federation, founded, like the UFP, in 2161.

Starfleet is controlled by Starfleet Command. Its main body, Starfleet Headquarters, is located in San Francisco, Terra, as is the main campus of Starfleet Academy, its training center. Starfleet Command has other centers in the network of Starbases throughout UFP space. Although there is a very strict chain of command, in practice individual Starfleet officers are allowed a great deal of autonomy, since the large size of the UFP makes effective communications difficult. Starfleet administers the thousands of subspace relay stations throughout Federation space, but even with this network, communications from Starfleet Command to a ship on the frontier can take months.

Legal cases within Starfleet and its personnel are handled by a Judge Advocate General. Internal matters within Starfleet are handled by Starfleet Security. Starfleet also maintains an agency called Starfleet Intelligence, which operates as the external counterpart to Starfleet Security. It is responsible for interstellar intelligence and espionage. Starfleet is unusually progressive in that it allows citizens from non-Federation worlds to serve in its ranks. In many cases this is done with the idea that these individuals, when they muster out, will serve as strong voices on their homeworlds for union with the Federation. This policy does not extend to citizens of overtly hostile worlds, of course.