Articles of the Federation
- 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)
- Jonathan Archer - United Earth
- T'Pau - Confederacy of Vulcan
- Ferrinesh ch'Theru - Andorian Empire
- Gora bim Gral - United Planets of Tellar
- Lillian Hayes - Alpha Centauri Concordium
- Lydia Littlejohn - United Earth
- Nathan Samuels - United Earth
- Haroun al-Rashid - United Earth
- Thomas Vanderbilt - United Earth
- Jie Cong Li - Alpha Centauri Concordium
- Soval - Confederacy of Vulcan
- L'Nel - Confederacy of Vulcan
- T'Maran - Confederacy of Vulcan
- Solkar - Confederacy of Vulcan
- NFN Sarahd - Andorian Empire
- Anlenthoris ch'Vhendreni - Andorian Empire
- Thy'lek Shran - Andorian Empire
- Besh chim Kar - United Planets of Tellar
- 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 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")