Articles of the Federation

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  • Guiding document for the United Federation of Planets (ENT Novel: Last Full Measure, To Brave the Storm)
  • Also known as the Federation Charter, Federation Constitution
  • Signed August 12, 2161 (ENT Novel: To Brave the Storm)
  • Officially went into effect upon signing by representatives of the five founding governments as the first five signatories (S31 Novel: Control)
  • Signatories in approximate order (ENT Novel: To Brave the Storm, S31 Novel: Control)
  • Divided into set of articles establishing the government itself and list of Guarantees reaffirming rights of the citizens
  • Articles
    • Article 51: Enforces right of due process for refugee citizens by member worlds potentially among other topics (TNG Novel: Losing the Peace)
    • Article 109: Enforces freedom of movement for refugee citizens on other member worlds (section 47) potentially among other topics (TNG Novel: Losing the Peace)
    • Bans interference in internal affairs of foreign states (DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges")
    • Bans discrimination by caste (DS9: "Accession")
    • Establishes that all sentient life-forms within Federation territory or aboard Federation property are entitled to the rights and protections of the Articles (TNG: "The Perfect Mate")
    • Provides for right of Federation to claim eminent domain over all member worlds or unoccupied planets within sovereign territory as necessary for the functioning of government (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
      • Applies only to such areas; independent colonies within Federation territory or colonies established in contested regions outside official Federation borders are exempt (VAN Novel: Harbinger)
    • Amended late-2260s to ban wholesale destruction of planetary surfaces and/or bodies even in times of war (TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
      • Known as the "Eminiar Amendment" due to it having been established following the threatened invocation of Starfleet's General Order 24 against Eminiar VII (TOS: "A Taste of Armageddon"; TNG Novel: A Time to Kill)
    • Provides authority that should any member world request help when dealing with a problem threatening the survival of that world, duly appointed Federation representatives have the right to implement a solution to that problem for the safety of the member world when such a solution presents itself (TNG Novel: A Time to Hate)
    • Requires the President to preside over all sessions of the entire council barring special circumstances (Novel: Articles of the Federation)
      • The President need not preside over meetings of sub-councils, but may if they wish (Novel: Articles of the Federation)
  • Guarantees
    • First Guarantee: Establishes right to counsel for criminal defendants (VAN Novel: Precipice)
    • Seventh Guarantee: Establishes right not to self-incriminate during criminal proceedings (TNG: "The Drumhead")
    • Twelfth Guarantee: Establishes rights of artists with regards to control over their creations (VOY: "Author, Author")