https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Federation_law
“With the first link the chain is forged; the first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied; chains us all irrevocably.“
– Jean-Luc Picard, quoting Judge Aaron Satie, 2367 (“The Drumhead“)
Federation Law referred to the legal principles, procedures, and processes that governed and were applied to civil and military citizens of the Federation. The law of the United Federation of Planets was based on several historic documents, such as:
- Magna Carta; Magna Carta was widely considered to be the first step in a long historical process leading to the rule of Federation constitutional law. (TOS: “Court Martial“)
- Statutes of Alpha III; a Bill of Rights originating from planet Alpha III, a base document for the Constitution of the United Federation of Planets (TOS: “Court Martial“)
- Vulcan Bill of Rights; a Bill of Rights originating from Vulcan, a founding member-world of the United Federation of Planets (DS9: “The Maquis, Part I“)
- United States Constitution; The United States Constitution was a base document for the Constitution of the United Federation of Planets. (TOS: “Court Martial“)
- Charter of the United Federation of Planets; The Charter of the United Federation of Planets was the document that was ratified by the original members of the United Federation of Planets at that organization’s founding in 2161. Jonathan Archer was one of the signers of the charter. (TNG: “The Outcast“; ENT: “Zero Hour“, “These Are the Voyages…“)
- Fundamental Declarations of the Martian colonies; The Fundamental Declarations of the Martian colonies was an important legal document drafted on the planet Mars during or after the founding of the Martian colonies in 2103. (TOS: “Court Martial“; VOY: “The 37’s“)
- Acts of Cumberland; The Acts of Cumberland were statutes pertaining to the rights of devices possessing artificial intelligence. (TNG: “The Measure Of A Man“)
The rights afforded to civil citizens of the Federation included the following documents:
- Constitution of the United Federation of Planets; The Constitution of the United Federation of Planets outlining the framework by which the Federation was governed for the mutual benefit and protection of member planets and individual citizens. This document contains at least twelve “Guarantees” related to fundamental individual rights of citizens. The Seventh Guarantee was a fundamental right against self-incrimination protected by the Constitution of the United Federation of Planets. (TNG: “The Drumhead“) Section seven gamma of the Twelfth Guarantee defines an artist as a “person who creates an original artistic work.” The definition was expanded to include holograms in 2378. (VOY: “Author, Author“)
- Federation Uniform Code of Justice; Laws governing citizens of the United Federation of Planets. (DS9: “The Maquis, Part I“, “The Maquis, Part II“)
- Federation Judicial Code; The Federation Judicial Code was a set of guidelines and regulations related to legal issues in the United Federation of Planets. (VOY: “Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy“)
The rights afforded to members of Starfleet include the following documents:
- Starfleet Charter
- General Orders and Regulations; Starfleet General Orders and Regulations were a series of guidelines used to instruct members of Starfleet on the proper etiquette and policy in a situation that requires consultation for a resolution. These guidelines were especially useful in situations where flag officers could not be consulted to resolve a situation. (VOY: “Equinox“) The two most important General Orders were the Prime Directive and the Omega Directive. (VOY: “The Omega Directive“)
- Federation Uniform Code of Justice; The Federation Uniform Code of Justice was the legal basis of Starfleet court martial proceedings. (TNG: “The Drumhead“)
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Specific examples
In the late 2250s, Amanda Grayson harbored her fugitive son, Spock, on Vulcan. She justified this by saying that under Federation law, she did not have to turn him in. As the wife of the Vulcan ambassador, she had the legal authority to invoke diplomatic immunity in order to shield him from extradition, unless the ambassador objected. (DIS: “Light and Shadows“)
Harcourt Mudd had been convicted under Federation law for smuggling, transporting stolen goods and purchasing a space vessel using counterfeit currency. (TOS: “Mudd’s Women“)
In 2267, in his negotiations with the High Teer Akaar, Captain James T. Kirk said the highest law of the Federation stated that a planet belonged to her people and would always belong to the people. (TOS: “Friday’s Child“)
In 2268, Sarek said that Coridan could be protected by Federation law and its wealth administered for the benefit of its people. (TOS: “Journey to Babel“)
Later that year, James T. Kirk ran into Harry Mudd again, he replied that due to all of Mudd’s convictions under Federation law, he should have still been in jail rather than free. (TOS: “I, Mudd“)
In 2269, Harry Mudd claimed to Captain James T. Kirk, who was trying to bring Mudd in for fraud, illegal drug manufacturing and swindling, that since he was on the planet Motherlode, which did not recognize Federation law, he was not subject to the resulting punishment. (TAS: “Mudd’s Passion“)
In 2366, Lieutenant Commander Data informed Kivas Fajo that by abducting him and placing him in his “collection”, he had violated Federation law. (TNG: “The Most Toys“)
In 2367, Wesley Crusher had studied the effects of outpost judiciary decisions on Federation law, which Jean-Luc Picard saw as an excellent opportunity for Crusher to accompany him to Pentarus V to settle a dispute with the miners of that world. (TNG: “Final Mission“)
Bio-mimetic gel was a strictly controlled substance by the Federation and its sale or attempted purchase was prohibited under Federation law. (DS9: “Distant Voices“, “In the Pale Moonlight“)
In 2371, Commander Benjamin Sisko informed Kai Winn Adami that bringing in Shakaar Edon with Starfleet force would violate Federation law, since he would be interfering in Bajoran internal affairs. (DS9: “Shakaar“)
In 2372, Worf informed Quark that trafficking in illegal merchandise, such as a Tallonian crystal he planned to sell to Regana Tosh, was a felony under Federation law. (DS9: “Hippocratic Oath“)
Later that year, Nog informed Quark that as a Starfleet cadet, he was required to report any violation of Federation law to his superiors. But, as he had not been sworn in then, he asked Quark for ten percent of the profits he planned to make smuggling kemocite. (DS9: “Little Green Men“)
In 2375, Koval told Julian Bashir that Luther Sloan wanted revenge for the death of his mentor, Admiral Fujisaki, but he was faced with a dilemma, such as how he would seek vengeance against the Tal Shiar, whom Sloan believed was responsible for Fujisaki’s death, without violating Federation law. (DS9: “Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges“)
See also
External links
- Federation law at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- The Law of the Federation: Images of Law, Lawyers, and the Legal System in “Star Trek: The Next Generation”(X) at the Tarlton Law Library at the University of Texas at Austin
- School of Law – an excellent 1992 Law Review article on law in the 24th century as shown on Star Trek: The Next Generation
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Is Star Trek’s Society Really Socialist?
https://fee.org/articles/is-star-trek-s-society-really-socialist/
Some claim Star Trek presents a socialist utopia, but the themes of technology, individual rights, post-scarcity, and currency, might show otherwise.
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Image Credit: Paramount | YouTube
Daniel Kowalski
Economics Star Trek Socialism Society Culture Science Fiction
There are many popular memes and YouTube videos that present the future society depicted in Star Trek as socialist, and this has led to much debate online between fans. It’s a huge franchise that is composed of, as of now, six television series that take place over a 200-year period, plus 13 feature films. There have been hundreds of writers and producers involved with the franchise, and all of them have left their own marks on what fans call “cannon.”
Most people who find socialism appealing often have their own distorted definition tailored to their personal desires.
In addition to considering the hundreds of writers and producers all leaving their individual and sometimes conflicting impact on Star Trek, we must also consider that the franchise’s point of view is told primarily through Starfleet (military) personnel and not through the average private citizen’s perspective, so there is a distorted view of life in the future.
We also must recognize that most people who find socialism appealing often have their own distorted definition tailored to their personal desires. For our objective analysis, we will go with the dictionary definition of socialism as a system that advocates for the means of production, distribution, and exchange to be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
Advances in Technology
Daily life in the 24th century is depicted as radically different than life in the 21st. There are two technological breakthroughs that are the causes of this.
The most revolutionary is Warp Drive, which allows starships to travel faster than the speed of light. The device helped humans colonize uninhabited worlds to prevent overcrowding on Earth and discover new natural resources. It also led to alien contact, which helped unite the nations of Earth into one government. The expansion of territory, discovery of new natural resources, and diffusion of alien technology created a higher standard of living for humans as many resources became less scarce.
Scarcity has been almost eliminated in the future.
Another revolutionary development was the invention of the replicator. Replicators convert energy into matter and can later convert that matter back into energy to create something else new. By the 24th century, replicators are capable of creating almost anything (some minerals are not replicable) from food to consumer goods. You can ask the replicator for a dish of food, and it will appear out of thin air. When you’re finished eating, you put the dirty dish back into the replicator, and it’s converted back into energy. Scarcity has been almost eliminated in the future.
Individual Rights
Societies that embrace socialism have poor records when it comes to human rights. When the community has ownership of everything, the individual becomes expendable. In Star Trek, Earth and the United Federation of Planets protect the rights of people and businesses. In the TNG episode “The Drumhead,” it is revealed that the Federation’s constitution has twelve guarantees of basic rights for its citizens. The seventh guarantee is the fundamental right against self-incrimination.
The twelfth guarantee covers intellectual property rights and establishes an artist as the person who created an original artistic work (ST: Voyager later has those rights expanded to holograms in the episode “Author, Author”). The emphasis on individual rights is closer to classical liberalism than socialism. We also see glimpses that private businesses exist and thrive in the Federation like Joseph Sisko’s restaurant in New Orleans, Quark’s Bar on Deep Space 9, and holodeck program publisher Ardon Broht.
Post-Scarcity Way of Life
Private businesses and individual rights are not pillars of socialist governments. That’s because the federation and human society are not socialist. There is a higher standard of living that is the result of technological breakthroughs that eliminated hunger and poverty. Buildings can be made with replicators, and rocks can be converted into food. There are things in the Star Trek universe that are scarce because a replicator cannot reproduce them.
Star Trek is what can be considered a post-scarcity society. Medical care also appears to be free (though we only see the medical world through Starfleet) thanks to advances in science.
But there are things we have seen in the Star Trek universe that are still scarce because a replicator cannot reproduce them. Latinum is an alien mineral that is the galactic equivalent of gold, and it is used as currency between different societies. Space transport is also a limited resource, as there is only a certain amount of room for passengers on a ship.
In Star Trek 3, McCoy tries to hire a smuggler with a ship and pay him with money. We also see that genuine antiques are an item people want and cannot replicate because it won’t be the real thing, such as in the DS9 episode “In the Cards,” when a 1951 Willie Mays mint condition baseball card is up for auction and latinum is the only payment accepted.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=W3c9wtbQTZ4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26enablejsapi%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Ffee.org
Currency in the Federation
“In the Cards” is an interesting episode with regard to the economics of Star Trek because it features one of the most direct conversations when Jake Sisko realizes he needs money if he wants to bid at the auction:
Nog: It’s my money, Jake! If you want to bid at the auction, use your own money.
Jake: I’m Human, I don’t have any money.
Nog: It’s not my fault that your species decided to abandon currency-based economics in favor of some philosophy of self-enhancement.
Jake: Hey, watch it. There’s nothing wrong with our philosophy. We work to better ourselves and the rest of Humanity.
Nog: What does that mean exactly?
Jake: It means… it means we don’t need money!
Nog: Well, if you don’t need money, then you certainly don’t need mine!
Some people interpret this scene as the end of the discussion that the Federation, or at least Earth, functions as a socialist society. But the issue of “no money” could boil down to semantics. The currency of Federation Credits exists, as we see in TNG episode “The Price” when the Federation negotiates exclusive use of a wormhole. Jake Sisko did not work and was a dependent of his father. His father probably had credits, but since Jake was trying to buy the baseball card as a surprise gift, he did not approach his dad. It should also be noted that the ultimate winner of the auction was a human named Elias Giger, and he paid in latinum.
Star Trek Is Not Socialist
Star Trek presents the idea of a better future for humanity. But it’s because of technological advances rather than redistributive government policies. It’s a future where most needs and wants are no longer scarce and can be easily provided for. But, most important of all, it’s a future that protects the rights of the individual rather than bulldozing them at the whim of politicians who arbitrarily decide what’s best for the community. Individual freedom is the foundation of the Federation’s values.
FEDERATION MEMBERS
https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Federation_members
The membership of the United Federation of Planets consisted of worlds and species with shared principles of universal liberty, rights and equality. (PRO: “Starstruck“)
At its founding in 2161, the Federation began with four members: Earth, Andoria, Vulcan and Tellar Prime. (ENT: “These Are the Voyages…“)
All members of the Federation had a voice in its governance. (SNW: “Spock Amok“)
By 2373, the Federation consisted of at least one hundred and fifty member planets, spread over eight thousand light years. (Star Trek: First Contact)
At its peak, the Federation included 350 member worlds. By 3189, as a result of The Burn, there were only 38 known to Federation Headquarters. (DIS: “Die Trying“)
After the cause of The Burn was discovered, the Emerald Chain crippled, and a planet made of Dilithium was discovered, the Federation began to rebuild with worlds such as Trill and Ni’Var rejoining the Federation, leading to membership numbering at 60 in 3190. (DIS: “All Is Possible“) After the USS Discovery made contact with Species 10-C, additional worlds opened negotiations to join or rejoin. Such as Andoria who began talks and Earth who were ready to rejoin immediately. (DIS: “Coming Home“)
Presumably the admission policy of the Federation regards governments and/or planets, and not whole species. In practice, a planet had to be unified under one joint government until it can apply for Federation membership. However, there were potential exceptions, such as the Kes.
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Federation planets
Founding members
The United Federation of Planets was founded in 2161 by the following members:AndoriaHomeworld of the Andorians and the Andorian Empire. (ENT: “Zero Hour“, “These Are the Voyages…“) By 3190, they had left, but talks to rejoin commenced after the DMA crisis. (DIS: “Coming Home“)EarthHomeworld of the Humans and United Earth; left the Federation following the Burn in 3089. (ENT: “Zero Hour“, “These Are the Voyages…“; DIS: “People of Earth“) Voiced intent to rejoin in 3190. (DIS: “Coming Home“)Tellar PrimeHomeworld of the Tellarites. (ENT: “Zero Hour“, “These Are the Voyages…“) They were the only founding member that never left into the 32nd century. (DIS: “Coming Home“)VulcanHomeworld of the Vulcans and the Vulcan High Command. Planet renamed to Ni’Var following Vulcan–Romulan reunification; left the Federation following the Burn in 3089, and rejoined in 3190. (TNG: “Gambit, Part II“; ENT: “Zero Hour“, “These Are the Voyages…“; DIS: “Unification III“, “All Is Possible“)
According to several background sources, including the Star Fleet Technical Manual, Star Trek: Star Charts, “It’s Federation Day!“, a newspaper article created as background material for Star Trek Generations, and the novels Articles of the Federation and Star Trek: Enterprise – Rise of the Federation: A Choice of Futures, the independent Alpha Centauri was the fifth original founding member of the Federation. In the Star Fleet Technical Manual, the formal name of the Alpha Centauri state is the Alpha Centauri Concordium of Planets (β); in Rise of the Federation, it is known simply as the Alpha Centauri Concordium.
In the Star Fleet Technical Manual, the formal name of the Vulcan state is given as the Planetary Confederation of 40 Eridani. In the ENT novel Kobayashi Maru and the subsequent Rise of the Federation series, it is known as the Confederacy of Vulcan (β). In Star Trek: Star Charts, it is the Confederacy of Surak. This name is also used for the surviving Vulcan state in the Alternate reality, as seen on wall screens in Star Trek Into Darkness.
In the Star Fleet Technical Manual, the Tellarite state is given as the United Planets of 61 Cygni. In Rise of the Federation, it is known as the United Planets of Tellar (β).
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Council members
The following are members of the Federation who are known to be on the Federation Council.Arcadian homeworldHomeworld of the Arcadians. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)Ariolo homeworldHomeworld of the Ariolo. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)Bzzit Khaht homeworldHomeworld of the Bzzit Khaht. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)Caitian homeworldHomeworld of the Caitians. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)Delta IVHomeworld of the Deltans. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
Efrosian homeworldHomeworld of the Efrosians. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
Based on one being Federation President.Grazerite homeworldHomeworld of the Grazerites. (DS9: “Homefront“)Kasheeta homeworldHomeworld of the Kasheeta. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)Unnamed Federation planetHome to the unnamed alien council members. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
The hat props worn by these aliens were presumably mistakenly cataloged under the species name Kazarites, though the costumes named them as Mazorites. [1] [2] See also: Mazarites.Xelatian homeworldHomeworld of the Xelatians. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)Zaranite homeworldHomeworld of the Zaranites. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
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Other known members
Algolian homeworldHomeworld of the Algolians. (TNG: “Qpid“)
Based on them having a seat on the Federation Archaeology Council.Arbazan homeworldHomeworld of the Arbazan. (DS9: “The Forsaken“)
Based on an Arbazan holding the position of ambassador.ArdanaHomeworld of the Ardanans. (TOS: “The Cloud Minders“)Barzan IIHomeworld of the Barzan. (DIS: “Die Trying“)BenzarHomeworld of the Benzites. (TNG: “Coming of Age“)BetazedHomeworld of the Betazoids. (TNG: “Haven“)Bolarus IXHomeworld of the Bolians. (TNG: “Qpid“; DS9: “The Forsaken“)
Based on them also having a seat on the Federation Archaeology Council.
CorazoniaHomeworld of the Corazonians. (LD: “In the Cradle of Vexilon“)CoridanHomeworld of the Coridanites. (TNG: “Sarek“)Gelrak VHomeworld of the Gelrakians. (LD: “Temporal Edict“)Haliian homeworldHomeworld of the Haliians. (TNG: “Aquiel“)Hekaras IIHomeworld of the Hekarans. (TNG: “Force of Nature“)KaminarHomeworld of the Kelpiens and the Ba’ul. (DIS: “Die Trying“)Peliar Zel IIHomeworld of the Pelians. (TNG: “The Host“)Rigel IVHomeworld of the Rigellians. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)RisaHomeworld of the Risians. (TNG: “Captain’s Holiday“)TrillHomeworld of the Trill. (DIS: “That Hope Is You, Part 2“)Unnamed Federation planetHome to the unnamed alienambassadors. (TOS: “Journey to Babel“)Unnamed Federation planetHome to the unnamed copper-skinnedaliens. (TOS: “Journey to Babel“)
An unfilmed scene from ENT: “Terra Prime” would have established these as the Ithenites mentioned in “Azati Prime”. They were previously identified in Stardate magazine (issue 11) as the Dayen.Unnamed Federation planetHome to the unnamed cross-dressingdelegates. (TOS: “Journey to Babel“)Unnamed Federation planetHome to the unnamedfemaledelegates. (TOS: “Journey to Babel“)Unnamed Federation planetHome to Volis’ species. (TOS: “Journey to Babel“)Unnamed Federation planetHome to the unnamed brown-skinneddelegates. (TOS: “Journey to Babel“)Zakdorn homeworldHomeworld of the Zakdorn. (TNG: “Peak Performance“)Zelonite homeworldHomeworld of the Zelonites. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
According to VOY: “The Voyager Conspiracy“, Ktarians were officially “with the Federation”, but it is not specified if they were members or allies.
Furthermore, Ithenite, Klingons, and Xindi were mentioned by Daniels as part of the Federation in a possible 26th century. (ENT: “Azati Prime“)
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Protectorates
Evora homeworldHomeworld of the Evora. (Star Trek: Insurrection)
According to a deleted scene from the end of “Insurrection”, the Ba’ku planet was also to become a protectorate.
Haven was said to have a treaty with the Federation which required Starfleet to protect it, and thus may have been an official protectorate.Coppelius (also called Ghulion IV)Homeworld of the Coppelius androids. (PIC: “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2“)
Colonies
- See: Federation colonies
The exact status of Federation colonies has never been clearly established. While due to the large amount of colonies it seems unlikely that they have full member status, it would be plausible to assume that they enjoy a status not unlike to that of Federation protectorates.
Proposed members
These following were in the process of gaining Federation member status as of the year indicated.Angosia III (2366)Homeworld of the Angosians. (TNG: “The Hunted“)Antede III (2365)Homeworld of the Antedians. (TNG: “Manhunt“)Antica (2364)Homeworld of the Anticans. (TNG: “Lonely Among Us“)Bajor (2373)Homeworld of the Bajorans. (DS9: “Emissary“)Cairn homeworld (2370)Homeworld of the Cairn. (TNG: “Dark Page“)Catulla (2269)Homeworld of the Catullans. (TOS: “The Way to Eden“)Gideon (2268)Homeworld of the Gideon and the Gideon Council. (TOS: “The Mark of Gideon“)Kesprytt III (2370)Homeworld of the Kesprytt and the Kes and Prytt governments. (TNG: “Attached“)Selay (2364)Homeworld of the Selay. (TNG: “Lonely Among Us“)
Uninhabitable
Appendices
Related topics
Background information
In TOS: “Journey to Babel“, set in 2268, the ambassadors of Federation planets attended the Babel Conference, at that time there were thirty-two ambassadors, suggesting there were at least thirty-two member worlds in the Federation at that time.
According to a dossier on the home page of Star Trek, in the alternate reality, the Federation had one hundred twenty member planets and seven hundred colonies in the 2250s. [3]
According to Star Trek: Star Charts (United Federation of Planets IV), in 2378, there were 183 members and 7,128 affiliates. The area of the Federation was eight thousand cubic light years. At the last census, in 2370, there were 985 billion individuals living in the Federation.
Aleek-Om was identified as a “Federation historian” in the Star Trek Concordance, possibly based on the script, suggesting Aurelia might be a member. Bilana III was also identified as a member in the Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 83) and Star Trek: Star Charts. In Star Trek Online‘s Agents of Yesterday expansion pack, Mizar IV was the site of a Federation colony, suggesting that Mizar II is located within Federation space and holds a membership on the Federation Council.
“Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad” introduced the idea of “Federation aligned species”, though no examples were given. According to “Maps and Legends“, by 2399 thousands of species depended on the Federation for unity and cohesion.
External links
- Federation colonies at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Federation members at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Federation protectorate at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
