Articles of Confederation
Purpose
Treaty outlining the rights, duties, and restrictions of member civilizations in the Interstellar Federation. It also establishes the membership criteria and lays out the procedures by which new civilizations may join the Federation.
Document Structure
Clauses
The articles have several divisions:
- Non-Negotiable - These clauses MUST be ratified by the government (or all governments) of every civilization within the Federation, with no option to apply for exemption. Failure to abide by these clauses in practice can be grounds for suspension and even expulsion of a civilization from the Federation. These include things such as the ban on slavery, warp-space stability measures, non-contact with non-space-faring civilizations, banning the maintenance of non-Federation military forces capable of waging interplanetary wars, and the abolishment of currency, the death penalty, and un-screened interplanetary travel.
- Negotiable Articles: Each civilization is allowed up to five exemptions from articles in this section. Certain exemptions are mutually exclusive and cannot be granted at the same time. Articles in this section include such things as the ban on social caste systems without avenues for upward mobility, the repealing of laws criminalizing non-biologically-viable sexual relations, the adoption of Federation Standard measurement units, etc.
- Optional Articles: These individual articles may or may not be ratified by a civilization; but any civilization that ratifies them is required to notify the Federation before retracting their ratification.
Publication Status
The articles must be made available to any and all sentient beings within the boundaries of or in contact with the Interstellar Federation.
Legal status
The articles of confederation are legally binding and supersede all relevant local statutes where conflicts arise. Local governments continue to function as usual within the restrictions of the treaty; and may apply for exemption from select articles for cultural or logistical reasons.
Type
Treaty, Diplomatic
Medium
Digital Recording, Text
Signatories (Characters)
Signatories (Organizations)
Comments