Ferengi Alliance

Facts

• Full name: Ferengi Alliance
• Center of government: Tower of Commerce, Ferenginar
• Core territory consists of the Ferengal system
  • Other territory:
    • Clarus system
    • Irtok system
    • Lappa system
    • Volchok system
• Extremely capitalistic society dominating trade in the vicinity of their space

Bordering territories

• Breen Confederacy
• Cardassian Union
• United Federation of Planets

History

• By 2150: Becomes warp-capable upon purchase of warp drive from the Breen (ENT: "Acquisition"; DS9: "Little Green Men")
• Early 2350s: Early rumors of the Federation through intermediaries lead Grand Nagus Zek to withdraw from active, physical trade, begin seeding rumors of their aggressiveness directly and through trade partners, and begin a military build-up in order to approach eventual first contact from a position of strength (TNG Novel: The Buried Age)
• Late 2350s: The Great Monetary Collapse hits the Alliance (DS9: "Homefront")
  • A major financial disaster, in which sudden rampant inflation led to currency devaluation to stave off economic ruin (DS9: "Homefront")
• May 2364: Official first contact with the Federation (TNG: "The Last Outpost")
  • Actual first contact occurred in May 2355 within the Maxia Zeta system
    • Ferengi vessel FMS Seventy-Fifth Rule attacked the USS Stargazer to prevent disruption of Zek's plan, and was destroyed before its identity could be determined (TNG Novel: The Buried Age; TNG: "The Battle")

Political Structure

• Head of State: Grand Nagus
  • Simultaneously the chief executive of the corporate government of the Alliance and the religious leader of the Ferengi
    • Determines financial direction of the Alliance
      • Aided in this by the First Clerk, the official Nagal financial advisor (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs")
    • Responsible for ensuring the Alliance operates profitably
  • Serves at the discretion of the Board of Liquidators (DS9: "Profit and Lace")
    • The Nagus selects a successor without requiring Board approval, but the Board may remove a Nagus who is not fulfilling their duties to the Alliance (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs", "The Dogs of War")
  • Considered an arbiter of proper professional behavior
    • Only figure with the religious authority to modify the Rules of Acquisition (DS9: "Prophet Motive", "Body Parts")
    • May propose amendments or alterations to the Trade By-laws (DS9: "Profit and Lace")
• Ferengi legal enforcement directed by the Board of Liquidators via Ferengi Commerce Association
  • The Board also governs the Ferengi Commerce Authority (DS9: "Profit and Lace")
    • Agency charged with ensuring that business owners in Ferengi society abide by the Rules of Acquisition and operate according to the Trade By-laws
    • Enforcement handled by Liquidators
      • Field agents given great discretion to ensure compliance, up to and including revocation of license to trade with Ferengi or Ferengi-associated businesses (DS9: "Body Parts"; VOY: "Infinite Regress")
      • Often susceptible to bribes, which are considered normal operating behavior
    • Decisions made by the FCA may be overridden by the Grand Nagus (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs")
    • Agency divided into various devoted commissions specializing in governance of particular industries
      • Ferengi Gaming Commission (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs")
        • Governs all gambling or gaming establishments (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs")
      • Ferengi Health Commission (VOY: "Infinite Regress")
        • Governs health and safety regulations in Ferengi business (VOY: "Infinite Regress")
• See also
  • Ferengi Military