United Systems Federation

## Interstellar State

USF Flag

USF Seal

### Executive

General Government of the United Systems Federation (official)FedGov (colloquial)

### Legislature

Parliament of the United Systems Federation
- General Council (upper house)
- General Assembly (lower house)

### Judiciary

General Court of the United Systems Federation

### Economy

Planned Neodistributist and Market Lavurist Mixed Economy

## General Information

### Capital

Earth, Terran Republic, Sol System, Local Cluster

### Location

Atlanti Crescent, Local Cluster
Exodus Cluster, Attican Traverse
Horse Head Nebula, Attican Traverse

### Language

- Official Lingua Franca
International Standardized English- Other Languages
Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French, Portuguese, High Aesiric, Quenya, Sindarin, Cortesian, Eldarin, Japanese, Quechua, Zulu, etc.

### Species

Humans and Virtual Humans (Virtuans)

The **United Systems Federation**, abbreviated as **USF** and usually referred to as the **United Systems** by the races of the Orion Cluster and as the **Systems Federation** or just the **Federation** by the Citadel races, is a secular interstellar democratic republic made up by the federated union of Humanity's main planetary governments (called Member-Worlds) and their colonies, being founded by Humanity and their synthetic "children", the Virtuans. It was founced in 2239, after Earth and its colonies signed the Treaty of Equals, ending a century of mistrust and conflict between Humanity.

The USF capital-planet is Earth. The three main buildings of the Parliament and the Office of the President (which form together the USF Capitol) are located in Paris, France. The Federal Assembly meets at the Palais Populaire (old Hôtel de la Marine) and the Federal Council in the Palais Féderal (old Hôtel de Crillon), both connected by the Arc de la Concord, which houses the remaining administrative offices of the Parliament and the Office of the President.

## Government and Politics

The United Systems Federation (USF) is a federal republic founded on the principles of the Treaty of Equals, with a commitment to liberal representative democracy. Comprising 27 self-governing Member-Worlds, the USF operates under a constitution that defines the competencies and jurisdiction of both the General Government and the Member-Worlds. The Treaty of Equals holds constitutional significance within the federation.

The governance structure of the USF is characterized by three branches: Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary.

The Parliament of the United Systems Federation, known as the Legislature, is bicameral and consists of the General Council and the General Assembly.

The General Council is composed of 27 Councilmembers, each representing a federated Member-World. The selection of councilmembers varies, with some appointed by the government or head of state of their respective member-worlds and others elected through other systems. Functioning as a check on the General Assembly, the Council scrutinizes bills, reviews, and may amend decisions made by the Assembly. While unable to prevent bills from becoming law, it possesses the authority to delay and compel further evaluation by the Assembly.

Elected directly, the General Assembly is a driving lawmaking force in USF politics. Parliamentarians, representing assembly districts allocated based on population, nominate candidates for the president and vice-president. General elections are held every five years, unless a snap election is called.

The Executive branch, known as the General Government, is led by the President, who serves as both head of government and head of state. The USF adopts an Executive Parliamentary model, combining elements of presidentialism and parliamentarism. The President and senior ministers constitute the Cabinet, the supreme decision-making committee.

The President is directly elected by the people for a five-year term from candidates nominated by the General Assembly. A two-year period of executive immunity follows the election, during which the President and Cabinet are immune from impeachment by a vote of no confidence. To continue ruling for the remainder of their term, they must maintain the confidence of the Assembly. In the event of a successful vote of no confidence, new presidential elections are called. The President also holds the power to dissolve the Assembly and call snap elections to renew the lower house in order to try and prevent a vote of no confidence. Presidential term limits are set at three terms, each lasting five years, with a two-year period of executive immunity for each term.

## Society and Economy

The USF was the first stellar government to have a consulate instead of an embassy at the Citadel, not recognizing the supra-national authority of the Citadel Council and actually being the consulate-type representation created in order to allow diplomatic ties with the USF. Afterward, the Centauri Republic, the Minbari Federation, and many governments of the League of Non-Aligned Worlds received similar representations.

The USF has the highest standard of living and social standards of all the governments in the known galaxy. Human economy is post-capitalistic in nature. Due to its advanced technology and economic system, an energy-based postinopism\*, the USF worlds and other territories have no such thing as famine, scarcity, war and crime. Replication and advanced energy production give the USF an advantage that no other government has, allowing even the smallest colonies and outposts to be self-sufficient.

While most other races in the galaxy have followed one of the traditional technological paths bequeathed by the older races, the much more versatile Mass Effect-based path or the much more variable Jumpspace-based path, Humanity is the only known race to follow a Subspace-based path. Being the first race to discover Subspace and its properties, and still having knowledge about it orders of magnitude beyond any other race, Humanity achieved great technological prowess in a short amount of time. Technologies such as Teleporters, Replicators, Subspace sensors and communication, and Warp Drive are commonplace within Human space, though not in the rest of the galaxy.

## Military

Starfleet is the USF's exploration and defense branch, its military. It has one of the biggest fleets in the entire known space, with more than 10,000 starships. However, most Starfleet ships are multi-task, being scientific laboratories, exploration vessels, and defensive vessels at the same time. Starfleet is unique compared to the militaries of the other powers due to its greater focus on exploration, non-military scientific research, and diplomacy. The USF also has the more regional Planetary Militias (PMs), each one responsible for the defense and patrolling of a member-world's territory. The PMs show their own chain of command, though they are all integrated into Starfleet authority. Of the 27 member-Planets, only 8 keep a Planetary Militia. Some PMs, such as the Valhallan Guard of Asgard and the Valinoran Fleet, prefer to design their own ships based on their own cultural standards.

The Citadel Council regards the USF as a "sleeping giant" as only about 0.3% of the USF's population (about 355 million people) serve in Starfleet and the Planetary Militias.

## Membership and Scale

### Membership and Scale

As of the year 2530, the United Systems Federation (USF) spans an expansive territory, encompassing 27 member-worlds and over 6,000 colonized sites, including asteroids and various outposts. Among these, approximately 800 are settled planets and independent moons. The diversity of these colonies ranges from densely populated and economically, politically, and strategically significant worlds like Titan, with a population of 206 million, to pioneer outposts like Sinzar, sustaining a mere 10,000 colonists. The habitability of these worlds varies, with some naturally meeting human standards, while others undergo varying degrees of terraforming based on local conditions and the presence of indigenous lifeforms.

Human space within the USF is marked by cultural diversity. Some worlds trace their foundations to the cultural and ethnic heritage of a single Earth nation (e.g., Heian, Xiangbala, Arcturus), while others boast more varied population bases (e.g., Nova Prime, Proxima). Some have developed unique cultures of their own (e.g., Valinor, Cortesa, Asgard). Despite this diversity, Humanity overwhelmingly dominates the population in Human space, with only alien diplomatic staff and individuals with special status permitted to reside in the USF. Babylon 5 stands out as the sole Human-controlled settlement with a substantial non-Human population, constituting one-third of its residents.

## Administrative Structure

The United Systems Federation is divided into 27 federated administrative units known as Member-Worlds. Despite the term "Member-World" being somewhat misleading, as it encompasses more than a single planet, each member-world constitutes an administrative unit consisting of a Core Planet, which may include dependencies such as colony worlds and space habitats. These entities are largely autonomous and self-governing, represented within both their Member-World Government and the General Government.

A Core Planet serves as the political and demographic core of a Member-World, with 27 such planets representing over 75% of the USF population. The Core Planet includes not only the population of the planet itself but also Incorporated Moons and Habitats. Conversely, Unincorporated Moons and Habitats are colonies under the authority of a Member-World but not part of its Core Planet. Status may change, as Unincorporated Dependencies have the freedom to vote and join another Member-World, provided mutual agreement. When an unincorporated dependency reaches a specified population threshold (900 million as of 2530), it automatically becomes an independent Member-World within the USF.

There are also dependent territories under the direct jurisdiction of the USF General Government, established through an Act of Parliament or Presidential Decree. These Federal Special Dependencies have unique laws and regulations, such as Babylon 5, governed by the 2520 Babylon Charter, with more lenient regulations on alien immigration and residency, and a mixed civil-military governing structure.

### Expansion and Accession

New Member-Worlds are normally added to the USF through automatic *status elevation* of dependent territories such as planets or moons after reaching a certain population threshold. The Constitution also allows for the *accession* of independent worlds into the USF. One-third of Human extrasolar polities had decided not to sign the Treaty of Equals in 2239, and it would not be until 2346 that the last independent Human government in the Crescent would join. Accession of alien governments is also theoretically possible, as it is explicitly permitted in the Constitution, but has never occurred, given the perceived challenges rooted in Humanity's somewhat inward-looking and, at times, xenophobic culture.

### Spatial Divisions

Human space is categorized into three regions: Core Space, Local Colonies, and Outer Colonies. Core Space, concentrated within the Atlanti Crescent, houses 99.6% of the USF population and is the most densely populated region in the known galaxy. The Local Colonies include worlds and holdings beyond the Crescent, in the within the Local Cluster, colonized after 2498, reachable independent of the Mass Relay Network, usually situated within 500 light-years from Earth. The Outer Colonies extend beyond the Sol Cluster, scattered throughout the galaxy via the Mass Relay Network, with a notable presence in the Attican Traverse.

Despite its vastness, Humanity's territory represents a small fraction of the entire galaxy, mainly concentrated within a one hundred light-year radius around Sol. In contrast, the galaxy itself boasts a diameter of approximately 100,000 light-years. In addition, the Exodus Cluster is recognized by the Citadel Council as USF territory, with Horse Head Nebula in a similar situation, and the Attican Traverse's southeastern part as Human preferential territory, despite being largely uncolonized and unexplored.

- Gliese (United Kingdom of Gliese and Selene) — New Boston

- Wagadou (Republic of Wagadou) — New Mombasa

- Nueva Hispania (United States of Nueva Hispania) — Montepillar

- Sirius (Democratic Republic of Sirius) — Lycaon

- Regulus VII (Regulan Council) — Stjerneborg

- Altair (United Nations of Altair) — Alnajim

- Arcturus III (Arcturan Assembly) — Montbréton

- Heian (United Republic of Heian) — Yamato

- Rohan Prime (Rohani State) — Amaravati

- Draconis IV (Draconian Freehold) — New Aztlán

- Andros (Androsian Federative Republic) — Navidad

- Starhaven (Starhaven Free State) — Harvest

### Protected-Planets and Occupied Territories

The Protected-Planets are a provision of the USF Constitution. It states that any planet within the USF territory discovered to have sentient life must be put under this provision. Protected-Planets are sentient life reservations protected by the USF to ensure the undisturbed development of a pre-stellar civilization. Though the USF and research institutions may engage studies on these planets, they are prohibited from interfering in their societies except to prevent mass extinction.

According to the Constitution, the USF is expected to recognize the entire star system the protected species live in as their sovereign territory when they achieve interplanetary travel and to make contact when they achieve interstellar travel. The USF will provide a space lane through USF territory to allow the new interstellar civilization contact with the wider galaxy.

By 2540, there were 4 sentient species under the protection of the USF: The humanoid Na'vi from Pandora and Veelani from Veranasi, the delphinoid Malsans from Malsa Secundus, and the reptilian Drogons from Dherakarr.

The most unique of all those planets, Pandora, is studied by the USF for its planet-wide biological naturally-occurring neural network formed by the planet's plant life, to which Pandora's animal life's can interface.

The Constitution also has provisions and rules set about how to act when the USF needs to occupy a territory. Since its foundation, the Occupation of the Dilgar State between 2516 and 2528 is the only example of a full military occupation and installation of a provisional Starfleet-led government by the USF.

**Population**

The 2530 Census showed the population of the United Systems Federation was comprised of 118,428,029,000 people, 96% being (organic) Human, and 4% being Virtual Human (Virtuan). Given the USF's extremely restrictive entrance policy, a negligible number of aliens are known to live in USF controled space. The space habitat of Babylon 5, which also houses the main interstellar diplomatic institutions of the Orion Cluster, is the only Human settlement with a sizeable alien presence. Numbering 3 million, non-Humans comprise one-third of its population. Throughout the rest of Human space, alien residents are present in the form of diplomatic staff, news correspondents, and those with a Special Alien Resident Status (SARS) provided by the government, a number of 1.1 million alien residents. Combined with the non-Humans residing on Babylon 5, there are 4.1 million non-Humans in USF space, comprising 0.0035% of the USF population. Worlds within USF space but under Protected-Planet status are not counted with the USF population, being independent worlds under USF protection.

Though the USF Constitution technically allows for alien worlds to join, no non-Human was ever granted USF citizenship and the rights that come with it and it is unlikely to change. The non-Humans closest to citizen status are the residents of Babylon 5, who are entitled to many rights and services such as healthcare and access to justice. Still, B5 residents are not automatically allowed to travel to the rest of Human space.

There have been talks for the implementation of less restrictive immigration policy and opening alien access to citizenship. However, concerns regarding the USF wildly different economic system, as well as culture, integration, and social cohesion have been raised in opposition to such propositions.

The core planets of the Member-Worlds house the majority of the Human population, totaling 84.7 billion, 75.6% of the Human population and averaging 3.14 billion people per planet. On the other hand, the USF colonies, numbering 6,000 colonized sites, of which 800 are planets and independent moons, have a combined population of 27.4 billion, 24.5% of the Human population and averaging 34.3 million per planet. The colonies' population size can vary from a few thousand to hundreds of millions.

## Real Life

### Comparison to its Human counterparts

The USF was envisioned as an alternate version of the Federation from Star Trek, eerily similar to it (to the point of having even the same ship classes), though visibly different. Think Terran Empire, but not evil. It is more Human-centric and less open to aliens than the Federation, though. Humans in THB have the same wonder for the unknown and desire to explore as those from Star Trek, but centuries of isolation, with only a Starfish Alien race and a relentless Human-derived enemy to talk to, have certainly tempered Humanity's attitude towards aliens. Not hateful, mostly, but certainly distrustful. In this sense, they are less xenophobic than the Earth Alliance in Babylon 5, more like the Systems Alliance in Mass Effect.

Technologically, the USF is generally just as advanced at any given times as the Federation in Star Trek was at the same time. For example, in 2260, the USF was throwing around similar things to the Federation at 2260, such as Constitution-class starships and duotronic computers. The USF in the 26th-century, thus, is as advanced one can imagine the Federation to be in the 26th-century. It is more advanced in some aspects and less so in others, though. USF terraforming is more advanced, they did continue research into Genesis, for instance. On the other hand, despite being in the 26th-century, USF warp propulsion is compared to early-25th century Federation warp propulsion (Star Trek Online and Picard), and cloaking is comparable to 23rd-century cloaking.

It must also be noted that the USF is far smaller than the Federation. By Voyager (2470s), it is estimated that the Federation had 157 member-worlds and over 6,000 colonies, with a total population of some 980 billion. The USF by the 2470s had a population of about 90 billion. In 2530, it had 112 billion, almost 9 times less than the Federation 60 years earlier. This also is important in regard to the reach of Human influence and habitation. The USF is much more density packed and compact than the Federation. There aren't a lot of wide expanses of space yet to be explored within their space.