Created by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane on Aug 16, 2016 @ 1:08pm

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS

The PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION is the head of state and the head of government of the United Federation of Planets. The President is elected from among the members of the Federation Council, and serves for an unlimited numbers of 4-year terms. To date, no President has stayed in office more than two terms.

Instituted as part of the Articles of Federation in 2161, the President acts as the Federation's chief executive officer. Normally, the President would act as an overseer of the vast Federation bureaucracy and serve as commander-in-chief of Starfleet, but the office also carries with it the use of certain special emergency powers, and the President's office is generally also responsible for foreign policy matters. The President is also supported by a Cabinet that is comprised of the various departmental Secretaries.

In 2429, the Federation President was Moray, an experienced and respected Denobulan administrator in his second term. During his tenure, the Neo-Essentialists managed to provoke the Romulan Star Empire into attacking the Neutral Zone, precipitating a crisis within the Federation government. The Federation Council declared martial law across the Federation and put Starfleet Chief of Staff Richard Edgerton in command of the government, with President Moray retaining his position as commander-in-chief.

Unknown to all, Richard Edgerton was the leader of the Neo-Essentialist movement. Once installed in his new role, Edgerton engineered the assassination of President Moray and most of his Cabinet, assuming the duties of the President and head of state himself.

A rival President - Sardak of Vulcan - was acclaimed by loyalist Starfleet officers in the distant Elandipole system, and under his political leadership, loyalist elements of Starfleet overthrew the Neo-Essentialists in 2431 and restored the government. However, Sardak's tenure as President did not last long, as deep divisions emerged in the Federation Assembly and Council over the question of Human political power in the Federation. Sardak resigned the Presidency in early 2432.

The current holder of the office is Kevak of Andor, an experienced statesman and lawmaker elected in 2433.