Interstellar Union

The Interstellar Union is a federal democratic-republican union of the vast majority of worlds inhabited by hominids. It is also known as the Union Interstellaire (UI; French), Interstellar Unionis (Latin), the Interstellare Union (German), Unión Interestelar (Spanish), Unione Interstellare (Italian), 星联 (Xīng Lián, literally ‘Star Union’; Chinese), and usually abbreviated to either IU or UI. All public documents are produced in at least English and Chinese, and most in all seven of the predominant languages, but the Union has no legal official language. As on Earth, there are a plethora of languages spoken throughout Inhabited Space.

In practical terms, the wealth and large populations of the Old Worlds, mean they dominate interstellar politics. They are thus widely recognized as the de facto leaders of the Union, owing to their immense power and influence.

This does not mean that smaller worlds are without power. The Union still functions as a democracy and the important Security Council of the Interstellar Union (SCIU; pronounced ‘skew’) has a rotating membership elected from the Council writ large, except those of the Core Worlds, which are known as the Permanent Members. These are the worlds of the Five Systems Alliance: Earth, Mars, Cytherea, Arda, Drake, Carolan, and Maradon. The worlds of Sol-Centauri technically vote separately, but being the constitutional members of the singular United Republic, disagreements are exceedingly rare.

## History

Following the Second Interstellar War, the United Republic champions the formation of the Interstellar Union, bringing together the majority of the planets in Inhabited Space. The Union itself serves as a loose confederation of sovereign states. It is the growth of a secessionist faction, known as the Independence Coalition, led by the powerful trade world of Massifax, that ultimately leads to a devastating, decades-long interstellar war, known variously as the Coalition Wars and the Floodfire Wars.

Following these wars, the Interstellar Union, with the secessionist worlds reintegrated, is reformed. The expansion of the military tachyon communications networks to create a civilian omninet is championed by the Imperial heir to Mars, Viktr Young. This is created in conjunction with increased centralization of the Interstellar Union under a new Executive. The new omninet allows the votes of the populations and representatives of each world to be quickly tallied. That representatives can now remain on their respective homeworlds while casting votes is seen as important in combating the rampant development of a “capital culture” of ruling elites. As well, the omninet makes the efficient popular election of a single President feasible. Many authorities formerly held by Congressional conference committees are not vested in the new Executive Branch, which oversees a weak but important central administration.

## Members

### United Republic

The Old Worlds of Cytherea, Earth and Mars together form the Solar Federation following the conclusion of the Third World War on Earth and the wider First Interstellar War. The Federation joins together these three worlds for the purposes of unitary defense, and unified policy, both foreign and domestic. It is, by far, the most powerful single entity in Inhabited Space and is considered the de facto leader of the Interstellar Union.

Following the Second Interstellar Wars, the Solar Federation is expanded and reformed into the United Republic of Sol-Centauri. As the second world colonized, with the largest economy and military outside of the Solar Federation, Arda has long been a de facto Old World, but is now officially given de jure coequal status with Earth, Mars, and Cytherea. With the advent of the Interstellar Union, the United Republic gains additional Senators for Earth’s Luna and the Martian Provinces of Galilea, Titan, and Poseidon.

## Five Systems Alliance

Officially abbreviated to FAMS, but more commonly known as the Five Systems Alliance (FSA), the worlds of the Free Association for Mutual Security are committed to united defense and policies for mutual economic security. Collectively they are known as the "Core Worlds" or the "Founding Partners" to distinguish them from the Associate Security Partners

### Universal Guarantee of Security

The Universal Guarantee of Security is made by the Alliance for the defense of the entire Union; most worlds possess no military force of their own, but are instead protected by Alliance forces as Associate Security Partners. Most contribute financially to their protection, but this is not a requirement under the Guarantee. Larger worlds that do possess military forces generally lack space forces and so are still host to Alliance fleets. Generally speaking, most of these Alliance forces are provided by Earth, Mars, and Arda.

## Government

### Executive Branch

The Interstellar Union has a weak but important executive branch. It serves primarily to partner with individual worlds to align efforts and facilitate cooperation towards common interests. It is led by the President, who is formally elected by the Senate, as directed by popular vote. Important authorities include the regulation of currency and trade, declarations of emergency and crisis, and coordination of emergency services and law enforcement.

### Legislative Branch

The Congress of the Union, also called the Parliament comprises three chambers: the Council, the Senate, and the Assembly. Formerly, conference committees held executive authorities.

The Council’s principal special duties are to: confirm executive appointments, and approve declarations of crisis and emergency. The Council also has the power to impeach the President, but not other officials. It consists of one Councilor from each star system. Councilors serve twelve-year terms and every two years one sixth of the seats are up for election.

The Senate’s most special functions are to serve as electors for President and to conduct trials of officials impeached by the Assembly. It consists of two Senators from each world. Senators serve six-year terms and every two years one third of the seats are up for election.

The Assembly is especially focused on oversight, and its special powers are to impeach government officials from any of the three branches and craft the annual proposed budget. Assembly seats are distributed proportionally by population among each world. Representatives serve two-year terms.