Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on Aug 16, 2016 @ 1:06pm

THE COUNCIL OF THE UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS

The FEDERATION COUNCIL is the 'inner circle' of the government of the United Federation of Planets. It is responsible for ensuring the peace and security of the Federation as a whole, and acts as an upper house for the Federation Assembly. Once bills of law are passed in the Assembly, they are ratified by the Council. The Council is also possessed of special powers, including voting on changes to the Federation Charter and approving the use of military action by Starfleet.

There are 15 member worlds of the Federation Council, although several other organisations (Starfleet, for example) are admitted as observers. Three of them, (Andor, Tellar, and Vulcan) are permanent members, but they do not possess any other special powers (such as a veto). The other 12 are elected from the ranks of the Federation Assembly for a 2-year term. The President of the Federation is then elected from among the members of the Council. In practice, this means that the Founding Worlds have a greater chance of seeing one of their number be elected to the highest office, something which does not often sit well with Assembly members who feel marginalised from the reins of power. Critics of the Council say it is undemocratic and that the presence of permanent members gives too much influence to the four founding worlds.

In 2429, the Federation Council voted to suspend the Federation Charter and declare martial law across the Federation, suspending its own existence and giving power of government to Starfleet. Unbeknownst to the Council, the Neo-Essentialist movement had infiltrated Starfleet to such a degree that they had, in effect, given legal permission for a coup to take place. For the next two years, the Council languished in limbo, until the defeat of the Neo-Essentialists at the Battle of Earth in 2431 saw the Federation government restored.

The capital of the Federation was moved to Vulcan following the destruction of the city of Paris in the Battle of Earth. In an effort to curb Human political power, the Council also voted to remove Earth as a permanent member. Since then, the Council has met in the Hall of Voices in the Vulcan city of ShiKahr.

Currently, the fifteen worlds and peoples represented and/or elected to the Federation Council in 2436 are:

PRESIDENT
Kevak of Andoria

VICE-PRESIDENT
T'Pau (Vulcan female)

COUNCIL MEMBERS
Saanvi Wang (Earth, female)
Dashnith Shishlil (Tellar, male)
Garshor (Denobula, male)
Grok (Ferenginar, male)
Soliss (Cait, female)
Mego (Sauria, male)
Lonan-Yuja (Grazer, male)
Oradir (Kelpia, male)
0110110101100101("Me")/011110010110111101110101("You") (Bynaus)
Yamlon Nuk (Yridia, female)
Surskrit (Kaferia, female)
Charol Jovari (Risa, male)
Fenna Golan (Trill, female)

The next Council elections will be held in the summer of 2438. The next Presidential election is set for late 2437.