| Name | Federation Council |
| Type | Governing and legislative body |
| Authority | Defers to member governments' sovereignty |
| Structure | Decentralized, advisory model |
| Organization | |
| Responsibilities | Coordinate shared policies • Manage resources and infrastructure • Represent member worlds' interests |
The Federation Council is the primary governing and legislative body of the United Federation of Planets, a loose alliance of multiple spacefaring civilizations. Unlike the more powerful Confederation Council found in the main timeline, the Federation Council operates on a decentralized, advisory model, representing the collective interests of its member worlds rather than holding direct executive or judicial authority.
The Federation Council is composed of elected or appointed representatives from the governments of each member world within the United Federation of Planets. The number of Council seats per member world is typically proportional to their population and level of participation in the Federation, though the specific formula can vary.
The Council is led by a Council President, who serves as the presiding officer and public face of the body. This position is usually rotated among the member worlds on a regular basis. The Council also consists of various specialized committees and subgroups that handle specific policy areas.
The Federation Council's primary role is to coordinate shared policies, resources, and infrastructure among the member states of the United Federation of Planets. This includes:
However, the Council lacks the direct executive, legislative, and judicial powers of the more centralized Confederation Council. Member governments maintain a high degree of sovereignty and are not legally bound to implement Council decisions. The Council primarily operates in an advisory capacity, serving as a forum for deliberation and consensus-building.
The Federation Council operates on a consensus-based model, with most decisions requiring the support of a majority of member representatives. Voting procedures allow for a range of options, including simple majority, supermajority, and unanimous consent, depending on the issue at hand.
Member worlds retain the power to veto or opt-out of specific Council decisions that conflict with their own national interests or policies. This decentralized approach helps ensure that the Council respects the sovereignty of its diverse member states, even if it can sometimes lead to gridlock or inaction on certain issues.
The Council's advisory role and dependence on voluntary member compliance stands in contrast to the more authoritative and unitary structure of the Confederation Council in the main timeline. This difference in governance models reflects the distinct philosophies and power dynamics within the two interstellar alliances.
